A Teacher’s Guide to Moving Classrooms
Although the school year is winding down, it’s also that time of year when you find out if you will be moving to a different grade level and/or changing classrooms. I found out that I will be moving from Kindergarten to 4th grade. Changing classrooms and grade levels can be a very daunting task. Since I started teaching, this will be my 6th time changing classrooms, and my 4th time changing grade levels. After doing it so many times over the past 8 years, I think I can say I am officially a pro! Here are some steps to follow for those of you who will be making the switch to a different grade level and/or classroom next year!
Packing Up
Organization is key when you are packing up your classroom. Why? It will help you when you move into your new classroom. As you are packing up, put things into boxes and make sure to label them. That way you’ll know which boxes to unpack and which ones to store away when you get to your new classroom.
As you are packing up, this is the perfect time for you to go through what you have and decide what you will be keep and what you can leave behind for the next teacher. Try your best to leave things in an organized manner. I know that packing and moving to a new classroom can be stressful. There have been many times when I have been on the receiving end of coming into a classroom that is a complete disaster. Be conscious of how you are leaving your classroom behind for the next teacher. Is there trash or junk you’re leaving behind? If so, throw it away or donate those items. Believe me, they will really appreciate it if you are able to leave things somewhat organized. And remember, since you’re moving into a new classroom, you’re really going to appreciate going into a classroom that’s organized!
Before You Unpack
You’ve moved into your classroom, so now what? Before you start unpacking all of your boxes, you need to organize what’s currently in the classroom. What does that mean? It’s time to start pulling everything out to see what has been left behind. And when I mean everything...I mean every single item that is in the closet, cabinets, and bookshelves. As you go through items that have been previously left behind, you’ll notice that they fall into a few different categories:
Category 1: “This is awesome!” If you find yourself saying this, make sure to hold onto the item because you’ll most likely find a use for it next year.
Category 2: “What’s this? I definitely do not see myself using this next year.” Either give it to another teacher, put it in the staff room for others to use, donate it, or as a last resort, throw it away.
Category 3: “Wow! I think I found a buried treasure!” Every now and then you may come across a buried treasure, and if you do, it is definitely worth holding onto. The past classroom I moved into, I found an old record player and records. Do I use the record player on a regular basis? No. But it is something that I find value in keeping and pulling out to show and use with my students every now and then.
Category 4: “Hmmm… I’m not exactly sure if I’ll use this or not.” If you come across items that you are unsure about using, hold onto them for the school year. By the end of the school year, you can reevaluate those items. Did they sit in the back of your closet, or did you find a purpose for it? If I didn’t find a use for it, I would definitely recommend getting rid of it. After changing classrooms numerous times, I’ve learned the importance of only keeping things that I actually use. Plus, if you have to move classrooms again, you’ll be thankful for only holding onto the most essential items.
Organizing and unpacking can take a lot of time. Remember this: if you take the time to organize everything before the school year starts, it will definitely pay off in the long run, because during the school year, you can devote all of your time to lesson planning, teaching, assessing, and all the other things we do as teachers on a daily basis.
Setting up your classroom space
Now that you’re feeling more settled in your classroom, it’s time to start thinking about how you would like to set up and decorate your new space. I like to always start by rearranging the furniture and prioritizing which spaces will be most important. Some things to keep in mind are:
Where will your meeting area be?
Where/how will you arrange student desks?
Where will you set up your classroom library and other important learning spaces?
Do you need a teacher desk/teacher area?
How do you imagine the flow of your classroom on a daily basis?
One of my favorite parts of moving into a new classroom is when it is time to rearrange the furniture. When you get to this step, you are finally making this space your own!
It’s time to decorate!
Your furniture is arranged and your classroom is all set up. It’s time to put in those final touches and decorate. Some things to keep in mind are:
Is there a theme that you’d like to have?
How many bulletin boards will you have? Where will they be? What color paper or fabric will you use? What about the borders?
How/where will you organize student materials?
Now that everything is set up, is there anything you think is missing? I like to wait until my classroom is all set up before I buy anything. The majority of the time, I’ve found that I have almost everything I need, and there isn’t much left that I have to purchase for my classroom space.
Reach out to family, friends, and colleagues
Just because you’re changing classrooms, doesn’t mean that you have to do it alone. Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Reach out to family, friends, and colleagues. You will find that there will be some loved ones who will be able to help you out. Plus, if you say that there will be pizza, who could turn that down?
Remember, moving classrooms and changing grade levels is a big change. As you are organizing and moving, your classroom space will look very messy, but in the end, I promise that it will all come together and your students will be enthused to learn everyday in the classroom space that you have created.