Back To School - Table Organizers!

This past week was my preplanning week.  It was EXHAUSTING!  I can tell when I have worked hard by how well I sleep, and I slept WELL this week.  :-)

Every year I change my table baskets for organization.  I have used every tub, can, jar, basket, etc. that you can think of and I am never happy.  It seems as if I always walk into another teachers room and feel jealous of their bins for student supplies - but even when I "copy" their idea, I am not content.

This year, I was at Hobby Lobby and I saw these awesome long wooden boxes with about ten different compartments.  DONE.  I loved them for many reasons - none of which were the price!  They were 24.99 each - not a deal - and I needed six of them.  I waited until they were 50% off and purchased them at 12.49 each.  Still expensive, but my thought is that they are so decorative that I can use them in other ways at home or for a graduation party or whatever.  It was a splurge, but I do love the results.

They have nine compartments and I have filled each with a different resource for my students.  These are almost everything they will need in math for lessons and their ISN.  They have:
- dry erase markers and highlighters
- dry erase erasers
- fat markers
- fine tip markers
- glue sticks (oh how I love them!)
- colored pencils
- calculators
- scratch paper and protractors
- scissors and rulers

I love how thin they are.  They fit down the center of my tables easily with plenty of room for kids to work, and everything is RIGHT there.  I love it!

I also love that the compartments are "built in".  No jars or cups or cans stuck in a basket to separate items. I think this is the solution I have been looking for and they make me very happy.  Teachers are so great - we get excited about the simplest things don't we?

By the way, I did go to Home Depot and price out 1/4 inch wood to have cut and then used to make these, but by the time I bought all the wood, paid for the cuts, and put them together, It was about the same as what I spent at Hobby Lobby and all the work was already done.  Here is one last close up!

First Day of Pre Planning for Me!

Wow! It is that time, and today was my FIRST day of planning.  I am tired, excited, overwhelmed, and more tired!!!  Last night, I tried to go to bed at 10:30, but I was still awake at 1 a.m. because I was thinking of everything I needed to do, and I was .... nervous!  I am not sure why!  This is not new for me, but I truly felt nervous about going to work today.  My school has a new Middle School Head, so there are changes coming.  I am excited about that and looking forward to the new life and breath that change brings - but still nervous!

I teach at a Christian School and we begin each new semester with worship.  It is the most wonderful part of the year....all of us as staff singing and hearing God's word as inspiration to do the job He has called us to do.  I love it!  Below is a link to a clip of our service today.  This man singing is one of our custodians and he walks the halls every day singing as he cleans.....what a blessing.  I actually sat in tears at my desk one day this summer.  I was working in my calm and quiet room and this sweet servant hearted man was sweeping and singing praise.  It is a beautiful thing!

Happy start to your year - I hope and pray it is AWESOME!

Click here for a blessing!  Scroll down to the video!