Walking back into your classroom in August can be a very exciting and depressing time. Over the years, I’ve entered thinking, “It’s time to revamp everything!” But then other years thinking, “I’m keeping what I had before.” For me, it depends on what the personality of the last class was like and if it brings good memories or not. (Just being honest.) Here are my typical questions that get me from the big pile, that the sweet summer custodial staff has left, to the classroom ready for kiddos.

1. Who else is already here?  You might as well walk the building now and say hello and ask about their break. You know that you’re curious. Who has come up early and already has their room set-up? Who is just sitting in their classroom wondering, “Where do I even begin?” Go on, it will prove you’re not alone in this challenge to prepare everything. Go check out someone’s cute color or design change. And breathe.
2. Where will the loud zones, quiet zones, and technology placement be? In some classrooms, I’ve had electrical outlets or technology hook-ups that dictated the furniture arrangement. Don’t be frustrated, just go with what you have, you will make it work. Try to envision the kiddos doing the activities that will take place in your classroom. Is there enough room to build that block tower? What will the blocks fall on? Where will puzzles (large and small) be used? Where will the kiddos read to themselves? Are there blind spots, where you won’t have a clear vantage point of all of the kiddos? Are there bookshelves giving someone a place to hide as you’re trying to get the class to lunch on time? I know, so many things to ponder, but so much easier to do it now, without 24 little bodies running around.
   
3. What will the bulletin board designs be? Will the areas be small or large? I have always like oversized bulletin boards. You’ll probably have to be adventurous in trying to arrange for at least 24 spots to highlight student work. You can make yourself crazy determining how to set-up your “Word Wall”. Breathe as you surf the web. Should it be interactive? If it’s not interactive, then what size should the font be so they can see it across the room? (My fav for vocabulary is 144 pt :-)) Do you need space for calendar, morning message, objectives, or “I can __” statements? Pocket charts? Anchor charts? On the years that I looped with my students, the bulletins were usually just cleared for new student work and anchor charts, but the border and nonfading paper remained.
4. Where will the kiddos work?  I typically have had 6 tables (3 round, 3 rectangular) for students. I’ve found in Kinder and First, it was beneficial to have places for everyone to write all at the same time. For some whole group instruction/activities, I wanted them to have table access, their own space to work. A space they can be responsible for and call their own. For small group or individual work space, clipboards and/or whiteboards can go a long way.
5. Where will small group instruction take place? A space where you will have quick assess to what you’ll need: whiteboards, markers, anchor charts, or Assessment Binders. During Language Arts, my small group instruction usually happened at my “Teacher Table” or on our rug (depending on my back as they day went on). For Math, it varied, either my “Teacher Table” or at a particular work station if the kiddos were struggling with an activity. Once an area was designated for small group instruction, I found it easier to set guidelines for the behavior of those kiddos I was not meeting with… a no disturb zone.
   In August, what are things you consider when you walk in and face the big pile?