Ready to Start

Hi there!
It's back to school time here in Kuwait. At my school we have a long pre-service to get everything set up.  Unlike in the States, we aren't allowed to keep anything up in our classrooms over the summer, which in some ways is a pain and in others ways is a fresh, clean start.

I am starting my second year teaching and again I am here in Kuwait. Same classroom, same grade. I'm excited to meet my new group of kids, even though it won't happen until the 4th of September for open house and then the first day of school is on the 9th.

I am sticking with an ocean theme, partially because I love the ocean and partially because I have all the materials. I start and end the year with the ocean and beach. There are some parts of my room that I keep ocean-themed all year long like my library and the word wall, which makes my life and my TA's life easier. The other big board in my room has to be related to the theme of the month  and my small board is Superstar.

 One thing that is really important at my school is decorations, making sure that the classrooms and the halls are decorated. Constantly new and heavily detailed. All. Year. Long. It is a ton of work that I always felt like I was rushing to finish, but this year I am planning things out in advance and having my TA work on the boards before the beginning of school. Crazy, I know. But there were many times during the school year that I felt, and probably seemed to others, that I was just barely treading water.  That's not a great feeling to have.  So I'm getting organized and getting my weekly schedule ready to implement with due dates for deliverables and other important things.

Here's to a great year!