Getting Ready

I have a list of faceless names. Twenty one students whose stories remain untold, behavior unseen, and learning potential untapped. The many unknowns and mysteries that surround each of them exist now, but beginning at around 8:30 a.m. tomorrow morning, they will all disappear. Start to disappear. Maybe they will actually start to disappear at the beginning of week 3. That's what I hear anyway... when the novelty of newness to school and a classroom is gone. The reality sets in.

In anticipation of this new school year, I spent the past week getting ready in the classroom. The room was painted over the summer which required the removal of everything hanging on the walls, so we had to put up everything fresh. There will be some modifications even after the first day, and I hope to have a proper photo shoot probably in about a week. But in the meantime, here are a few Instagram pics.

Here are their "work crates." Each students has a set of books assigned to them and they are kept in their own crate during the school year. Here is a picture of them as they were coming together.

Here's a picture of the classroom and how the desks are arranged. The four corners of the rooms (which aren't really easily discernable in this) are various subject-based learning centers. The room only has a single window which you can see. I guess it's a pair of windows. Maybe?

On Thursday, Ruth came by to help prepare. She was able to help get a few bulletin boards set up. Here's a picture of us in front of a brand new Word Wall that is making it's classroom debut this year.

I'm pretty excited to get on with the show, as it were. Or to start the show. Opening day, tomorrow! Can't wait.