Title?

I am cautiously optimistic that by the end of the day tomorrow I might be able to show you a classroom that is almost ready for students. I have spent the past 3 days sorting through 12 years worth of crap. I am determined to ruthlessly weed out the stuff that I never use.

The stuff I have been HOARDING. 

And this is only a very small fraction of the crap in my classroom.

I know I said I wanted to document the process, but I have been having trouble stopping what I am doing to take pictures. I basically emptied the closet, reorganized all the stuff, and filled several trash bags. Items that can be recycled or donated are in my car right now. Many, many items.

 In an attempt to trick other teachers into taking my shit, I set up a "Free Stuff" table outside my classroom. It totally worked! They haven't taken everything, but they've taken a bunch of stuff. Teachers are pathetic, I tells ya. 

In between my attempts to get organized, I have been attending meetings. The best meeting ever was our team meeting yesterday which was only half over when the building began to shake. And rattle. And sway. Somewhat insistently. We stood up and milled around the room saying things like, "Dude, was that an earthquake?" Then we all whipped out our phones and started checking Facebook and Twitter to see what was what. The meeting kind of petered out after that.

I have more to tell you, but I am so very exhausted and achy from carrying and lifting and sorting that I am on my way to bed after swallowing a couple of Advil.

My ass is kicked.

Comments

[Liza Lee Miller]

You will get it done. Glad you all survived the shake! I have survived Day 2 of the school year. I came home and took an hour long nap to recover. :)

[Margaret]

You've made so much progress. Yes, teachers are pathetic about taking free stuff since we have to pay for SO MUCH. :) I was shocked by that earthquake. We expect them here, but in DC? Now Ashley has to fly back to NYC in the (sort of) middle of a HURRICANE. I'm not happy about that. And tomorrow I have to get lots of work done at school too. Yucky.

[the bee]

You will get there because every year it gets done. In my office to get rid of stuff we ask people not to take it. It is gone within minutes.
Another helpful teacher tip from a non teacher.
Get some rest and let Rosie take over.

[Cathy S.]

Glad to know you are okay. Sounds like you have been working hard, but it will be worth it when you can go into your closet and instantly know where something is! But, do save some energy for the first day of school!

[Pam L]

I hope all those plastic baskets are from the dollar store and not Michaels or something- man!, that's a lot of plastic! I would be lost forever sorting them by size , color, use etc. and never get done. You, on the other hand will. It's good to have deadlines, brings clarity.

[Keri]

And you COULD have expended that energy helping me get my asscrap organized instead, damn it. ;) Love.

[FC]

Ahhhh rubbermaid, the teacher's friend.

[jean]

Yes, first the earthquake and now a hurricane. Make sure all your stuff stays dry.

[bonnie]

Schoolly, quaky -
Now you're achy.
Still, I need your translation
For my Ebonics is shaky:

http://blogs.phillymag.com/the_philly_post/2011/08/24/qa-one-schoolly/

If my best wishes were bucks,
You'd be rich in dollars.
Be well, Miz S,
And enjoy your new scholars!

[maddy]

You are the queen of plastic bins. Or...you WERE the queen of plastic bins.

Congrats on all the sorting out. It always feels good to have more space.

[Margaret]

Hope you're in a safe place, in regards to the hurricane.

[MsCellania]

Well, I am waiting on tenterhooks for the after photo.