classroom arranging

Hello! I'm back. Having survived the onslaught of new faces, new information and getting settled in, I thought I'd quickly share with you the transformation that my little withdrawal room has undergone over the past month.

This is what my room was the first time I saw it:

TIP: Make sure you have (at least) one totally shelf-free wall with nothing stacked up against it - and it will make your room seem like you have oodles more space!!

With much excitement and anticipation, I add a little, change a little and rearrange a lot more of my little space each afternoon as part of my 'wind down' from a busy day at school.

Here's what my space looks like now:

The room still has a bit of a way to go, but with a bit of TLC, colour, desk re-arranging and time, I've quickly come to love the little space that is mine. Bit by bit, and as what we do changes, the wall arrangements will keep being altered, but I love that each afternoon, I have many curious little Kindergarten and Year 1s popping their heads into my room to say hello and see what's changed.

It's a pretty fun workspace :)

New year, new job

So, I know it's been a while since I last posted (last year, to be precise) but summer has been one big thing after another - and this week is no exception! You're now reading the blog of a full-time ESL teacher - crazy times, and very unexpected. It still feels very surreal to me, and today, being the first day, was just this whirlwind of names, faces and discovering my own little classroom, tucked into a corner of the Early Stage One building.

I love it.

I'm still getting over the shock of having a job, and then I have this quiet feeling of apprehension as I list off all the bits and pieces that lie ahead - including meeting parents, programming, decorating my own classroom (!) and finally meeting the kiddiwinks who I'll have the privilege of teaching. I only hope I can meet the challenges to come.

So here's to a new year, a new job and, at long last, a new blog post.

Wheee!