Teacher Appreciation - Appreciate Each Other

For many teachers school is about to begin (or may already have).  If you are prepping for your upcoming school year you are CRAZY busy like I am.  There are a hundred little things to do and no one understand this better than your co-workers! After all, we tread the same waters folks! :) 

If you are also like me, you rely on these co-workers to see you through the year.  These are the people you call last minute when you wake up to sick child, and you need sub plans STAT! These are people who ask you how your day is going and comfort you when things are tough, or encourage you when you need it most. These people are the same ones who sit across from you in PD and understand your thoughts from just a sideways glance.  These are the people who will send a student with a lunch menu to your door with a note saying "I think we need to have a working lunch today!" They may even be the same people who send a student carrying a dictionary to your door, which you in turn know is code for "can this little kiddo hang with you for a bit, we NEED some time apart!!" 

They are your peeps, your pals, your sidekicks.  I think it's so important that we take a minute to show these people how much they mean to us, and how important they are to have around. Because, not everyone will run to the copy machine for you on their prep just because YOU ran out of copies. :)  It just plain feels good to be appreciated and in turn be the person to appreciate others.  

This picture was posted by a teacher friend and made me just laugh out loud.  In her teammate's closet was this little hidden stash! How awesome would it be to have a teammate that knows you this well?! (and I can't help but giggle at the "note to self" on the 
Cheez-its in the background: more enjoyable when shared with friends!) 

So, in a conscious effort to appreciate my own teammates I made a few little treat tags that I plan to use 

with my teacher pals this year as well. (Stacey if you're reading close your eyes now! :) ) They include 8 different treat options that you can brighten someone's day with.  Here are some examples:

Classroom Design (A tribute to my larger classroom that someone new now owns)

Classroom design, it's all consuming.  Try furniture here... try furniture there...the kids go to gym and they come back and things have moved. :) I feel like every August I am always trying to create the perfect space.  One that's functional, organized, and works for all of us.  

Last year I had the job of moving classrooms.  You know the drill, spending several days weeks of your summer just schlepping every thing you own (and I own a lot) down the hall.  It's all kinds of fun! Honestly, that wasn't my biggest issue, the actual moving.  It was the size of my new space. It was smaller, considerably smaller, than what I was leaving.  Cue the gasps!! Storage, what's that? I had a huge wall of built in storage closets in my old space, every child had their own coat cubbie (which if you live in the north you understand the real need...snowpants, boots, mittens, hats... OY!)  and not to mention the ever coveted bathroom en suite.. not one but two...yes two! Oh yes, I was a spoiled gal, and I knew it! 

Once I got over my personal pity party about losing that awesome room I started trolling online blogs, watching for classroom reveals.  I became inspired to change color themes (go big or go home right?).  I can honestly say in the end I love my new room.  I think it's cozy and I have no real regrets about moving at all. After all, we spend more of our waking hours in this space than our own homes, so we need to love it right?! 

Since it's one of my most favorite times of year (seeing all the online classroom tours) I will show you my old room.  I have kissed it goodbye and only on days when it's sunny do I miss it #onewindownow #usedtohaveawholewallfull. Maybe you will get an idea or two from the pics. If you want to see my new space just click on the tab above labeled My Classroom.

If you are posting pics of your own classroom please be sure to comment below.  I would love to check them out! 

(these photos were taken around Halloween, the purple and orange table cloth/pumpkins is not part of my everyday style) 

:)