…to prepare a teacher for her second first day of school.
I walked into my room armed with my painting supplies…
Thank goodness I found my leftover paint from last year! All it took was a few minutes of stirring before I was ready.
Believe me…I had a lot to do.
I wanted to paint the edges of the shelving…
I also needed to fix the border issue that I mentioned yesterday…
You might have noticed that the grey paint on the lower half of the wall is peeling. Well, it’s just going to have to peel. I don’t have the time of the money to fix it…yet. Perhaps that will be a project for next summer.
So, I got started painting.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve discovered that seemingly simple tasks take way longer to complete than one originally anticipates.
Such was the case today.
It was also a lot harder than I thought.
I was so grateful when a couple of reading teachers from down the hall stopped by…bearing surprises…and providing a much-needed break…
They returned a second time with more multi-colored bins and tins to hold a variety of school-related supplies.
I cannot tell you how touched I have been over the last few days. Every single person I’ve met at the school has extended a warm welcome and, as is the case with these ladies, lots of muscle power.
Folks, teachers do not make their rooms look amazing by wrinkling up their noses like Samantha (Bewitched) and blinking hard.
It takes a lot of work and a lot of creativity to pull things together.
Rooster came around noon and moved three bookcases to my classroom.
He’s a good boy, I tell you, despite what his father says.
Just kidding.
I rewarded him by taking him out to lunch, on the Mr’s dime. 😉
It was so nice to spend time with Rooster. He’s going to be a Senior this year, and next year, he’ll be gone.
Sigh.
We went our separate ways after lunch with me returning to the school, where I put in another four hours of work.
I decided to be brave and bold and painted my cabinet doors.
Sorry…no picture. I’ll take one tomorrow.
At first, I was not happy. I’m not the best painter in the world…proving the Mr. right (shhh…don’t tell him).
After the second coat of paint, I was a lot happier.
I finally got to the point where I could start arranging my room.
I hung the curtain that I had bought last year (you’ll see it in a second). I also moved the bookcases to the corner that will become my reading center.
I dragged a large table that I’d scored from the hallway this morning to the back (or front, depending on your viewpoint) of my room. This will be my guided reading center, where I will work with my students individually.
Quick piece of advice to all newbie teachers. If something’s in the hallway, and it doesn’t have a name on it, snatch it. Quickly.
Then, put your own name on it after you get it in your room.
That’s how I got a stool to accompany the podium I found yesterday.
Cha-Ching!
Around 5:00, I decided it was time for me to go. I was exhausted. My feet hurt, not to mention other parts of my body that hadn’t been moved since last summer.
Before leaving, I snapped a few photos to document my progress…
We start work, in an “official” capacity, tomorrow.
We have three days of planning.
I have loads of work to do still.
I’m trusting the Lord (yes, I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating).
I’m also realizing that it’s going to take a lot of people to help things come together.
I’m so grateful and honored to be a part of this village.
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AuburnChick's Adventures 