New Grade, New Room, New Stuff!

          Even though school doesn't start until the very end of August, whenever August first comes around, I am itching to get into my classroom.  I'm changing grade levels and classrooms this year, so I'm super excited about finding a new layout.  I went into school for about 2 hours yesterday just to play with furniture arrangements.  When I walked in, this is how it looked:

          I'm always amazed at how quickly and efficiently the custodians clean the whole school.  The always do an awesome job.
          I sat and pondered for a long time on how I wanted the room to look.  I moved furniture, didn't like it, so I moved it again and again.  The SmartBoard is on one side of the room, and I have a whole white board on the other side, so I want the room set up in a way that both ends can be the front.  There's also no cubbies or coat racks because the kids will have lockers, but I had to make a space for them to keep their stuff like water bottles.
          Anyway, after a mostly unproductive 2 hours, I think I have an idea of how the classroom will be set up.  That's the easy part.  Unpacking and finding homes and preparing for the kids is a whole other job - but I'm excited!  

          The library shelves are under the white board, and the horse-shoe table is in the corner with the bean bag on top.  I stood on my desk to take the picture, so it's shoved off in the back corner.  
          I wish I could go in more, but unfortunately grad school assignments are eagerly waiting to be finished.  We have class all day on Monday and then the summer semester is over!  Only two more long, full semesters left!