Happy Saturday everyone! I have been working in my classroom like crazy these last few days and I am finally starting to see all of my hard work pay off. There have been a few {okay a lot} of panic-fueled moments during this set-up process. But yesterday as I looked around my classroom, I realized something that I wanted to share here.
This is my first back to school season as a seller on Teachers Pay Teachers. I have ALWAYS loved setting up my classroom for a new school year, but this year has just felt different. As I looked around and admired my classroom, I realized that even though it wasn’t perfect and it may not look exactly like the beautiful pictures I’ve seen on Pinterest, it was MINE.
A little truth talk here, a few days this week I have been beating myself up over the fact that my “vision,” or picture in my head, has not been panning out like I thought it would. I had a few fits where I freaked out about not having enough bins, or the perfect ribbon to back my labels with, or enough border to cover the faux bulletin board behind my ABC line. Please tell me I’m not alone here!
I needed to take a step back and hit the reset button. I had to stop to appreciate all the work that has been going into the different parts of my room. The different parts that were beginning to come together to create a space where my new firsties would feel appreciated and excited. Going from this:
just piles and piles of books! To something that I could truly be proud of:
is no small feat. Not only did I see that all of my hard work has finally started to come together, but I realized, “hey wait a minute! I made those labels!” I wanted to create something for my own room and I did it successfully. I saw a need for my classroom and I was able to fill it and share it with others. That was a phenomenal realization and one that I needed desperately.
Once I realized this, I had less of a desire to throw my stapler out the window. Less of a feeling might I add, not completely, but it’s a start! I started to look around my classroom and see all of the personal touches that I’ve added to it.
I saw the schedule cards that I had created to fit all of the changing moments to our day. I found the focus wall headers that I had made to work with our ever-evolving curriculum. And I saw my ABC posters that are now (finally) hanging around my SMART board.
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| {sorry for the blurry shot, I’ll have better ones soon!} |
I began to realize, that for the first year, this classroom had pieces of me everywhere I turned. With the help of Teachers Pay Teachers and all of the lessons I’ve learned from bloggers and fellow sellers, my second home was becoming an extension of myself. That in itself is something to be proud of. Am I saying that every teacher needs to create their own things to feel proud?! ABSOLUTELY NOT! All I’m saying is that we need to take a step back, look at all of our hard work, and say hey I did that. I created a place where I can be proud to teach my students in!
I can’t wait to share all of my hard work with my students in a space that I had a hand in designing.
Of course, I can’t help but share my new quote that’s finally hanging proudly above my closet.
I think this quote best symbolizes not only my feelings for back to school, to have courage in doing the things I know are right for my students. But, also a great message to teach my kids and carry forward throughout the whole year!
So this back to school season, as stressful as it can be, I vow to pride myself on the things that I have created that I at one point wish existed and turned into reality. I will not compare my classroom to others and I will be excited to share my new space with a fresh group of incoming first graders.
I hope we can all find pride in our little home away from home.
Thanks so much for stopping by and reading my thoughts! I can’t wait to share my full classroom reveal with you once the stapler throwing, border ripping, and library leveling comes to an end.
Have a great weekend everyone!
6 Comments
Amen sister! Such a wonderful post. Pinterest can be wonderful but it can also make us feel inadequate. I see rooms that look like something out of a magazine and I want to create the same thing. Realistically I know that I am human and can only do so much. It's so important for us to celebrate all that we HAVE accomplished, not focus on what we feel we have left to do. Thank you so much for the reminder.
XO,
Andrea
Always Kindergarten
Well said! I have people dis me sometimes for spending my own money on stuff for my classroom. When I spend that kind of time somewhere I want it to feel good not just for my kiddos but for me too! Take pride and celebrate everything you can!!
Jenny
Girl, I FEEL ya!! I LOVE your library! It is an AMAZING feeling, seeing our personal touches on our classroom. I totally agree with Andrea. Comparison is the thief of joy, and as long as your students are learning, dreaming, and being encouraged, you are DOING YOUR JOB! You rock, Jayme, and your transparency is SO encouraging!!
Erin
Very Perry Classroom
I love this post! I'm a first year teacher and I have been feeling the exact same way. I know that panic feeling all too well. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one that has such a hard time creating the perfect learning space. Thank you for this post and your honesty! š
I love this post! I'm a first year teacher and I have been feeling the exact same way. I know that panic feeling all too well. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one that has such a hard time creating the perfect learning space. Thank you for this post and your honesty! š
This is a great post Jayme, and I feel like a lot of teachers can relate to it. Your classroom looks awesome! Keep up the great work. I love your leveled library. This is the first school year I have started the year creating too, and it is so rewarding to see your hard work posted. Thanks for sharing!