Thursday, Friday, Satuday....

Zoom, there went the first week with kids.

It felt like a routine is building and that feels good.   Sadly, I have jury duty next week and probably report on Tuesday.   I'm praying not to get put on a jury.  I have much too much to do!

List update:

• Start screenings from Kindergarten referrals-It's started, waiting for permission slips
•  IEP monthly calendar to post-I have no idea what I meant. Finish big calendar for wall w/IEP due dates on it.
• Set up a system to remind teachers when an IEP is due.
• Adjust two existing bulletin boards over the desks.  
• Empty one file drawer/day containing decluttered items-I decided 2 drawer/week is good enough.  Haven't yet done one, sigh.
• Organize file cabinet with articulation and phonology resources, no progress yet.
• Maybe put up one new bulletin board depending on first kids projects for days 1 and 2, have done!  

 So, Friday, after my morning student and preschoolers I have my assessment block but no kids to assess yet so I got those K referrals organizes and some permission slips sent out.  Then I put up a bulletin board.   My lone Friday afternoon preschooler showed up and we had a good hour.  I didn't think he would work that long but he did.   Of course, my version of preschool work looks a lot like play.   After he and mom left I put up the last two big bulletin boards.   I have one small one to put up and the one to shift a few inches.   Will try to remember to take photos if I'm in next week.

Today I wrapped up my re-organize the yarn project that I've been working on for 5 weeks.   It was supposed to be a one week project!    Might go take a photo of the closet and might not.   I took a big box and a small bag of yarns to a high school teacher who sponsors a knitting club.   She was so happy that most of the yarns were not pastels.   I have another big box to ship across country to a fellow knitter who says that she and her local knitting friends would love to play with the boucles that I do not like, the goofy novelty yarns that I'm tired of,  and as many of the odds and ends that will fit in the box.  Yay.

Then I have a bag for knitters and quilters at church.  A choir friend knits lap blankets for veterans and the quilters use yarns to tie off some of the quilts they make.  Yay.

Closet, top left

Closet, bottom left

Closet, right side

 Start of re-organizing the yarn project.

The emptied closet:

I have barely had time since Tuesday to knit on my Mystery shawl.  I'm half a clue behind so need to hop to it and knit but here is what I have done.

Sigh

Stayed home to sleep off a migraine.   I feel bad about the parent I stood up this morning.  Got no help from the folks at work.  arrggg.  I need to collect a few cell phone numbers from my colleagues.

At any rate, once I slept off most of the headache I was able to do some knitting.  Missed choir.  Bummer.  

Yesterday and Today

First days with Kids.

I realized when I went to bed last night that I forgot to post and almost did it again tonight. 

I've now seen all of my groups, less the non-intensive preschoolers.  I've started getting those kids scheduled.   I'm working on how to approach the Kindergarten screening requests and I think I've prioritized getting through 11 screenings.  I'll send the first 3 parent permissions home tomorrow and then wait 3 days to send the next 3.    Hopefully that spreads them out enough.

Ok, where's that list:

• Start scheduling the non-intensive and intervention preschoolers
• Start screenings from Kindergarten referrals-almost started
• Re-arrange the desks
•  IEP monthly calendar to post-I have no idea what I meant. 
• Set up a system to remind teachers when an IEP is due.
• Adjust two existing bulletin boards over the desks.  
• See kids!
• Empty one file drawer/day containing decluttered items-I decided 2 drawer/week is good enough.
• Organize file cabinet with articulation and phonology resources
• Maybe put up one new bulletin board depending on first kids projects for days 1 and 2 

We'll see what I can get done the rest of this week.   Still three days to go.  

From a first grader who ran out of blocks but pointed at me:

"Mystery" Shawl Knit-along

The mystery is not knowing what the final shawl will look like.   We get a clue once a week.   I just finished the 2nd clue and have the 3rd waiting for me in my inbox.   It's an easy knit (loom knitting) but it does take time to keep up! 

 Progress as of 45 minutes ago:

Weekend!

I was too tired to TGIF yesterday.   I did have dinner with a friend who lives near work. 

Yesterday was pretty much a paperwork day.  My three paperwork tasks were first, finishing with the online IEP manager to make sure that my IEP dates were accurate and matched the paper copies of the document.  Second was to, concurrently with the first task, to enter all IEP dates into my calendar.  My third task was making up teacher packets that included student goals/objectives, classroom accommodations, and a cover letter that included the time and days I would be seeing the student(s) in each teacher's class. 

At the end of the day I completely decluttered my speech area thanks to empty drawers in the file cabinets.  Now I have a daily project to empty one drawer each day and have things truly decluttered rather than hidden.

I'm feeling better now that some of this paperwork is accomplished and that I will start seeing kids on Monday.  

"After" photos of a mostly neatened room:

Tada!  Finally have my tables ready.

This last area will be an ongoing project!  I'm actually thinking

of turning my desk into my assistant's desk and using her

table next to my computer table.   Right now I'm using
a small table.  I'd move the intern's desk to where Assistant's
desk is in this photo which would free up the space in the soft

corner and have all "teachers'" desks less accessible to 

children.  Anything personal of mine in the desk can be

moved to the file cabinet next to the desk. 

The List update:

• Start scheduling non-intensive and intervention preschoolers.
• Set up the speech area (seriously, just do it!)
• declutter, declutter, declutter, ongoing but happy with today's progress
  
• make those duplicate keys
• Organize speech area AND make a plan for Monday's groups.
• Start arranging K screenings.
• Finish setting up my calendar with IEP dates and important school dates.  Oh, I need to go get a set of highlighters.  Mine are all dry.
• Make teachers a copy of their speech students' goals and classroom accommodations with cover letter.  Distribute.  
• Make teachers a copy of the speech schedule.
• Oh, yeah, the bulletin boards.   These just keep falling farther and farther down the list.  

For next week:

• Start scheduling the non-intensive and intervention preschoolers
• Start screenings from Kindergarten referrals
• Re-arrange the desks
•  IEP monthly calendar to post
• Set up a system to remind teachers when an IEP is due.
• Adjust two existing bulletin boards over the desks.  
• See kids!
• Empty one file drawer/day containing decluttered items
• Organize file cabinet with articulation and phonology resources
• Maybe put up one new bulletin board depending on first kids projects for days 1 and 2

And we can mark Schedule off the list.

Yay, finally had some time when the Assistant Principal was available.  We knocked out that schedule in 30 minutes.  I had already made preliminary groups and she knew just when to schedule for each grade level.  Done.   Now to retype and distribute to teachers.  

I get to cross something off the list!  

From Monday, with items crossed off:

• Finish putting up bulletin boards including moving assistants over a few inches.
• Set up speech therapy shelf/area.   
• Talk with admin about list of screenings.
• Start arranging K screenings from summer referrals. 
• Discuss set up of groups, re: timing, avoiding core teaching times
• Organize groups for next week.  I've been procrastinating because it's going to take a huge chunk of time.   Must be done
• Organize my speech area in main classroom/office
• Have duplicate keys made on way home for all locking file cabinets.  I'd like a set for each SLP (2), my assistant, and the principal.  The last for back up.  There were 4 locking file cabinets in the room I've inherited and only one had a key.
• Set up my speech area.
• Continue decluttering main classroom/office.
• Once I know my schedule I need to start scheduling my non-intensive and intervention preschoolers. 

So, the new list:  

• Start scheduling non-intensive and intervention preschoolers.
• Set up the speech area (seriously, just do it!)
• declutter, declutter, declutter
• make those duplicate keys
• Organize speech area AND make a plan for Monday's groups.
• Start arranging K screenings.
• Finish setting up my calendar with IEP dates and important school dates.  Oh, I need to go get a set of highlighters.  Mine are all dry.
• Make teachers a copy of their speech students' goals and classroom accommodations with cover letter.  Distribute.  
• Make teachers a copy of the speech schedule.
• Oh, yeah, the bulletin boards.   These just keep falling farther and farther down the list.   

Today was setting up my calendar.  I got all but 5 students IEP dates entered.   I can bring home the school dates and my calendar and do those at home this weekend.   And highlight/color code the entries.  

At the beginning of the day I had the pleasure of meeting and talking with one of our interns.    At the end of the day my site's intern came by and I enjoyed another good conversation.   This young woman is teaching me so much about organization.   I told her I was thrilled to be learning from her.   

Time to knit.  I need to get the current clue well underway in my mystery shawl loom along.  I was too tired to knit last night.   Not going to let tonight get too far away from me.   

Remember Chatty Cathy?

....the doll that talked when you pulled a string?   Well, I felt like that this afternoon!  I worked most of the day of getting to know goals and objectives and setting up some preliminary groups.   I went over to a colleague's room after the kids went home and, boy, was I chatty.   I think maybe I've spent way too much time in my room by myself!

So, today....the list has pretty much gone by the wayside but everything on it still needs to be done!

Today I started printing summaries of each child's goals/objectives.  That quickly led to mini-summaries on little sticky notes.   I put all of the stickies in group by grade level on the inside of an old file folder.   As I printed each summary I noted the date the IEP would be due and the minutes/week of services for each child.    I only did this for the K-3 caseload.  I still need to set up my therapy binders for preschool.

In the middle of that I stopped and went to start an assessment with one of the preschoolers.  Need to figure out what days a few other attend so I can start their assessments for their annual meetings, too.

When I returned to the room I continued my project until lunch.  I'm trying to eat with different grade levels on different days.  It's tricky!  The K teachers have lunch so early!  I might have to skip breakfast once a week and make a point to plan a day to have lunch at K lunch time.

After lunch I looked over all of my sticky notes and within each grade made some preliminary groups.  I may need to combine grades at some point but for now the number of groups doesn't look too bad.   I've asked Principal and AP for a sit down so we can discuss schedule and so I can get some advice about that scheduling.

After my Chatty Cathy episode I returned to my room and assembled the little shelf I bought.   Then I switched it's location with a different shelf.   Now I'm back to needing to work on the clutter, lol!

I took a couple photos today.   Off to upload them and then I'll come back and post.

The two areas I'm most happy with:

All Ms Bee's bee things in one place.  

The soft corner.  It occurred to me while reviewing these 

photos that I have room in the classroom for a separate

play area.  I think I'll move the babies and the pink carpet.

And the two areas that just won't get organized.  I'm going to have to have a big cleaning, filing, setting up push these next two days.   This frustrates me:

But, I have the new little shelf so that will help.   

The office area, looks like I've been at it for a year.

Oh!  The little shelf I assembled:

Now that I see these photos I realize that two of those three file cabinets are empty and I can use them to help organize this area.   Yay.  Two good realizations from looking at photos.

Just because I have been knitting I'm going to post a photo of my current project.  I'm participating in a mystery shawl loom along.  We have 80+ participating and it's so much fun to see everyone's yarn choices turning into pretty shawls.    Here's mine:

List? What list?

The day started with a little more helping to direct parents and students to their classrooms.   A lot of kids didn't start yesterday.    I tried to find and print a report for a colleague only to discover that I don't have the necessary permissions.    ?????????   Bumped into our media clerk and told her I'd just e-mailed her.  She came right to the room to investigate.  She solved a couple of my "permissions" problems but couldn't get access to my documents.   So, now there's a "fix it ticket" somewhere in district.  I hope it doesn't take them long.

Then I decided it was time to reconcile the school site list of kids in speech with the IEP software and with the files in the cabinet.   There were a lot of discrepancies between the site list and and the IEP list.   I went up to the office and one of the secretaries helped resolve most of the "missing" kids.   Then I went through the file cabinets to make sure I had files for every student on the other two lists and found three student files for kids who were on neither list.   Two were "no show" students who may yet show up to enroll for this year.   The third moved to another school.  

Since I had my hands in the student files I decided to organize them by grade level.   Much nicer.   Lunch was with 2nd and 3rd grade teachers.    They were happy that I was aware of the kids in their rooms on my caseloads.   A couple mentioned possible screenings and I asked them to wait a couple weeks so I could get my Kinder screenings started and finished before moving on to older kids.

After lunch I met with the colleague who needed the report that I couldn't print, sigh.  I felt bad that she took time to come over but she said she was already between campuses and that it was ok.  Still felt bad! 

Next was to go to the support service office and help my preschool secretary reconcile my files with what the IEP program says as far as type and minutes of services.    I found a couple documents in files that I didn't have and was able to make copies of those.   After we finished I took my files back to school and added them to the happily organized cabinet. 

Having those files back means I have another big job.   For some reason none of the IEP and transition paperwork that I did in April and May got recorded in the IEP program.   Can we guess what I need to do now?   Yep, re-enter everything.   Sigh.   Like I need a hole in my head!   And yes, I cried.   Then I went to my water class.

Now it's time for a little knitting before the evening gets away from me.  

First Day of School: Well, that was a let down and then some.

Today, the first day of school, was more of the same as far as unpacking, organizing the classroom, I added in a little of organizing the caseload but not a lot.  More of that tomorrow. 

I forgot that I don't have a hammer at work (I used to!) so I couldn't assemble my new shelf.   Will take a hammer with me tomorrow. 

What was really hard today was not starting a classroom of children and being with them all day.  I missed the classroom and the children more than I can say.   I felt lonely and lost most of the day.   I don't start picking up kids for group until next week which is fine but I sure didn't know what to do with myself.  It was a good thing that there is so much to organize and unpack.  I did my best to keep busy and did pretty well. 

I found and made copies of IEPs in four more files.  I need to go over to the SS Office and make copies of the ones I took over on Friday so I can have my files back.    I brought my two hampers in for toy storage and opened up both boxes of stuffed animals.  I chose a nice assortment for the main office/classroom and need to do the same for the preschool office area.   There will be leftover animals to store somewhere.  

At the beginning of the day I was able to help straighten out an unexpected snafu.   None of the kids who left my classroom were correctly assigned to their K classes.   They were all assigned to the special day class!   I talked to support services and my principal.   The secretary re-assigned all of them.  It was their files that I located and made copies of for the support service office.   Parents are all happy and I felt useful.

The lists are making me crazy so I'm making a fresh one.

• Finish putting up bulletin boards including moving assistants over a few inches.
• Set up speech therapy shelf/area.   
• Talk with admin about list of screenings.
• Start arranging K screenings from summer referrals. 
• Discuss set up of groups, re: timing, avoiding core teaching times
• Organize groups for next week.  I've been procrastinating because it's going to take a huge chunk of time.   Must be done
• Organize my speech area in main classroom/office
• Have duplicate keys made on way home for all locking file cabinets.  I'd like a set for each SLP (2), my assistant, and the principal.  The last for back up.  There were 4 locking file cabinets in the room I've inherited and only one had a key.
• Set up my speech area.
• Continue decluttering main classroom/office.
• Once I know my schedule I need to start scheduling my non-intensive and intervention preschoolers.  

Hopefully tomorrow I'll finally get to take some "after" photos.    The soft area looks nice, my "Miss Bee" collection looks nice, the speech area is finally moving in the right direction.  Much of the room has been decluttered.  I have two bulletin boards areas yet to do.   Progress.

Day Off but not for my Brain

Just can't stop thinking about things that need to be done.  I decided not to go out to school today.  I need to get laundry done so I have clothes to wear to work, wash the dishes, and such.  

I went to Lowe's yesterday late afternoon.   I was pondering over why I can't seem to get my speech area set up and decided that it's because I don't have enough storage.  I like to have the materials for the day on a shelving unit near enough that I can reach it while at the table.   The same unit usually has a box with all the supplies that we need for a group whether it's crayons and scissors or the assessments for the day.  

I found a six cubby storage unit, the kind that takes canvas totes as drawers.   I'm only planning to use the totes in the cubbies that don't have a back.   The rest of them will be perfect for what I need and I can put group binders on the top.  

I also found a laundry basket and hamper that will coordinate with the colors of the puzzle mats in the soft corner.    Now I can get out some of the stuffed animals that live in my room and add them to the soft corner.  

With any luck I'll get up early and get to work early tomorrow and get that unit set up and the area organized.    If I don't there's still the late afternoon to be assembling and then setting up.   Hopefully this will do it and I can get that area of the room set up.

Yes, I went to my classroom on a Saturday

Sigh.   I just can't get enough done, quickly enough.

I took the preschool assessments to my preschool office along with a bucket of soapy water and some paper towels (no sink in that room).    I wiped down the cupboard designated for my use and the cubbie/shelf unit.   Then I emptied all the boxes and stored most of the items in the cupboard.  I put a few of the assessments into the cubbies and the rest on the top shelf in the cupboard.    I pushed the furniture into a better arrangement.   I put up two bulletin boards and forgot to take photos.

After that I went back to my main office/classroom.  I set up the soft corner of the room, opened and emptied another box, and put up one bulletin board.   I did take photos of the still unfinished room.

The list turned out to be overly ambitious:

• Clean the storage cupboard in the preschool office and stash as much stuff as possible in the cupboard and locking file cabinet so Principal relaxes. 
• Have duplicate keys made on way home for all locking file cabinets.  I'd like a set for each SLP (2), my assistant, and the principal.  The last for back up.  There were 4 locking file cabinets in the room I've inherited and only one had a key.  Too hot, didn't stop.
• Bulletin boards in both rooms!   Partial, still need to do more in main office.
  
• Clean bulletin board materials off of assistants desk area.   Move her bulletin board over 4 inches so it isn't hidden by the bookshelf.
• Set up "soft" corner of the room with foam puzzle mats and bean bag chairs.   
• Set up my speech area.
• Continue decluttering main classroom/office.  A bit done today.

Photos!

 Intern's desk and "soft" corner

Office corner with boxes yet to unpack, clutter to clear.

My speech group area, untouched since last photos, 

for the most part.

This area with the big table will be for IEP meetings.

I don't know where the little trapezoid tables will end up.  

Maybe for now under that bulletin board would work.

Assistant's area.  Needs decluttering.

Some Old Friends

Just because I needed a change of pace.

TGIF

But sadly not TGI-Finished.   I'm finding it very frustrating that I can't seem to get it all done.   There's just so much to get done.   We have open campus tomorrow 8-12 and I'll be there.   sigh

Ok, so today's progress, what did I do.........moved preschool materials out to my preschool office.  Freaked out the principal who thought I was putting everything on the shelves.   No, just dumping boxes.  Haven't done a thing setting up in that room.   Principal is concerned that because my office is in a room shared with the after school program that my materials will be rummaged through or broken.  I understand her concern and just haven't taken the time to put things away.

Unpacked desk boxes.  Shared out some supplies with intern (district, not mine) so she'd have something to start with as neither of us has submitted a supplies request.   Not like I don't have anything.  I'm pretty well stocked.

Took everything out of the tall book shelf and moved it over 4 inches so Intern could have network connection for her computer.   Hooked up her power cord and internet connection.

Emptied my assessment boxes and sorted everything to take over to the preschool room.   I really need a low bookshelf in there.    Boxed up expired assessment to take to Support Service office on Monday. I broke down the bankers boxes I purchased for the move and stored them in a cupboard.  

Hauled all my preschool files to the Support Services office so they can figure out what paperwork they are missing.   Big snafu, causing me a fair amount of stress, offered to help go through files and match them up.

More happened but I'm not remembering.   List check:

• Unpack classroom library into built in library shelf.   
• Take all assessment materials out of file cabinet and boxes and set them up in an orderly manner in one of the big cupboards.   
• Get all of the assessment protocols neatly filed and labeled.
• Finish putting up bulletin boards.
• Set up desk.
• Get help with laptop updates that require administrative permissions.  Seriously annoying.
• Unpack resource materials into the tall bookshelf. 
• Decide how and where to store preschool materials.   
• Ask for extra file cabinets to be removed. 
• Set up speech therapy shelf/area.   
• Talk with admin about list of screenings.
• Start arranging K screenings from summer referrals. 
• Discuss set up of groups, re: timing, avoiding core teaching times.
• Attend all meetings.  No forgetting.

So, it looks like tomorrow's priorities will be:

• Taking preschool materials to the my preschool office area.   The new teacher decided not to use an older, beat up looking cubby type shelving unit.  It will be a great shelf for storing some of our materials.   Need to check in on what Principal is providing for locking storage.
• Organize groups for next week.  I've been procrastinating because it's going to take a huge chunk of time.   Must be done
• Organize my speech area in main classroom/office
• Move large bookshelf 6 inches to left, sigh, so partner SLP can access network.  Set up her power cord since it will run behind the shelf.
• Neaten the room, get rid of the clutter, partial success

For Saturday:

• Clean the storage cupboard in the preschool office and stash as much stuff as possible in the cupboard and locking file cabinet so Principal relaxes. 
• Have duplicate keys made on way home for all locking file cabinets.  I'd like a set for each SLP (2), my assistant, and the principal.  The last for back up.  There were 4 locking file cabinets in the room I've inherited and only one had a key.
• Bulletin boards in both rooms!  
• Clean bulletin board materials off of assistants desk area.   Move her bulletin board over 4 inches so it isn't hidden by the bookshelf.
• Set up "soft" corner of the room with foam puzzle mats and bean bag chairs.   
• Set up my speech area.
• Continue decluttering main classroom/office.

 For Sunday/Monday: 

• Talk with admin about list of screenings.
• Start arranging K screenings from summer referrals. 
• Discuss set up of groups, re: timing, avoiding core teaching times.

Work! Still getting ready.

Getting ready for kids!

Wednesday was all inservice and almost all day.  I did come back to school to eat my lunch and do some small unpackings.

Today, it feel like a blur, lets see what I remember doing.   Oh, ok, we had our school site staff meeting and I stood up for the first time as one of the site SLPs and explained the screening referral process.   After the meeting I printed out schedules from my preschool years for the new teacher.

I lunched while assembling more magazine storage type boxes for assessments.   Then I caught up on e-mail.   After I finished lunch I revised the screening referral form, had it approved by principal, made a few copies and installed binder of said copies in my box for teachers to find. 

The afternoon was mostly taken up by making a written inventory of the assessments and their sorry state.   I then put them into a spread sheet (yay, me) and sent it off to the director.   We have some holes to plug.  I also asked a respected colleague to look over my inventory and give me her thoughts on keep/pitch and what she would consider a good basic assessment battery.   

While I was working the inventory a team of custodians delivered a desk for my partner SLP, an intern who is taking the 4th and 5th grade caseload.  I'm glad the principal had noticed earlier in the day that she didn't have her own desk and made sure that happened.   Principal also tasked custodial team to remove the file cabinets that were brought in by mistake.  Nice to have those out of the way and now that they're gone I can pull the ugly grey cloth off the wall.  

The inventory took up the rest of the afternoon and I happily came home to leftovers and an evening nap.

No photos.  I really want to pick up the clutter and have "after" photos.  Better get that done tomorrow. 

List check up:

• Unpack classroom library into built in library shelf.   
• Take all assessment materials out of file cabinet and boxes and set them up in an orderly manner in one of the big cupboards.   
• Get all of the assessment protocols neatly filed and labeled.
• Finish putting up bulletin boards.
• Set up desk.
• Get help with laptop updates that require administrative permissions.  Seriously annoying.
• Unpack resource materials into the tall bookshelf.  May need to get more magazine display boxes.   Currently $4.99/set of 3 at Target.   Maybe this should be near the top of the priority so I'll know how many of those things to buy.   Hm, should price at Amazon.  Cheaper by 10 cents/holder.   Ordered.   Will be delivered Wednesday.
• Decide how and where to store preschool materials.   
• Ask for extra file cabinets to be removed. 
• Set up speech therapy shelf/area.   
• Talk with admin about list of screenings.
• Start arranging K screenings from summer referrals. 
• Discuss set up of groups, re: timing, avoiding core teaching times.
• Attend all meetings.  No forgetting.

So, it looks like tomorrow's priorities will be:

•  Taking preschool materials to the my preschool office area.   The new teacher decided not to use an older, beat up looking cubby type shelving unit.  It will be a great shelf for storing some of our materials.   Need to check in on what Principal is providing for locking storage.
• Organize groups for next week.  I've been procrastinating because it's going to take a huge chunk of time.   Must be done
• Organize my speech area in main classroom/office
• Move large bookshelf 6 inches to left, sigh, so partner SLP can access network.  Set up her power cord since it will run behind the shelf.
• Neaten the room, get rid of the clutter.

Screenings will have to wait until next week for scheduling but that's ok.    Hopefully I'll have time to set up the desk.  In my mind it's under getting rid of clutter.

Ok, enough of all that.   Last day of prep tomorrow then the big show.

Getting Ready at Work Day 7

Some boxes actually get emptied.

I forgot to take photos again, phooey.   Thursday will be the next time I'm in the classroom.   The morning was a productive one.  I'm pretty happy with what I accomplished today.

Here's the list from yesterday with finished items crossed out:

• Unpack classroom library into built in library shelf.   
• Take all assessment materials out of file cabinet and boxes and set them up in an orderly manner in one of the big cupboards.   
• Get all of the assessment protocols neatly filed and labeled.
• Finish putting up bulletin boards.
• Set up desk.
• Get help with laptop updates that require administrative permissions.  Seriously annoying.
• Unpack resource materials into the tall bookshelf.  May need to get more magazine display boxes.   Currently $4.99/set of 3 at Target.   Maybe this should be near the top of the priority so I'll know how many of those things to buy.   Hm, should price at Amazon.  Cheaper by 10 cents/holder.   Ordered.   Will be delivered Wednesday.
• Decide how and where to store preschool materials.   
• Ask for extra file cabinets to be removed. 
• Set up speech therapy shelf/area.   
• Talk with admin about list of screenings.
• Start arranging K screenings from summer referrals. 
• Discuss set up of groups, re: timing, avoiding core teaching times.
• Attend all meetings.  No forgetting. 

Ok, well, now that I've crossed them out it doesn't look so productive.   I unpacked the file boxes except for the assessments as that is a work in progress.   I unpacked my personal classroom library and am probably the only speech/language pathologist for miles and miles around that has a classroom library.  Yay, me.   I emptied the cupboard that will hold our assessments and assembled 18 of those magazine holder boxes.   I unpacked most of the boxes that have resources that go into the tall bookshelf.    When I finished there were 9 boxes outside the door to be disposed of.   

I solved the laptop problem by giving it back.   I have a desktop in my main office/classroom.  I don't need the laptop.  We don't have wifi so a laptop is pretty much just a pretty thing that can more easily be stolen, in my opinion.   Our computer person can reassign it to someone else.  I did tell her what updates it needed that couldn't be done by a recipient.    

And, I attended a special education staff meeting.    We need staff meetings but it's very, very odd that it was scheduled the day before we are officially back on duty.   Weird, but done.

Getting Ready for Work, Day 6

Wherein I open all the boxes.......

I did get some of the filing done today.   I also opened every box and re-located it to the area of the room where it will be unpacked or stored.   The frenetic looking bulletin board is fixed but I forgot to take any photos today.  

The last overly bright bulletin board paper and trim came down once I got the boxes shuffled about the room and the counter cleared off.    Next will be the dungeon gray fabric bulletin board.   It's just ugly and must come down.

On the agenda for the rest of the week: 

• Unpack classroom library into built in library shelf.   
• Take all assessment materials out of file cabinet and boxes and set them up in an orderly manner in one of the big cupboards.   
• Get all of the assessment protocols neatly filed and labeled.
• Finish putting up bulletin boards.
• Set up desk.
• Get help with laptop updates that require administrative permissions.  Seriously annoying.
• Unpack resource materials into the tall bookshelf.  May need to get more magazine display boxes.   Currently $4.99/set of 3 at Target.   Maybe this should be near the top of the priority so I'll know how many of those things to buy.   Hm, should price at Amazon.  Cheaper by 10 cents/holder.   Ordered.   Will be delivered Wednesday.
• Decide how and where to store preschool materials.   
• Ask for extra file cabinets to be removed. 
• Set up speech therapy shelf/area.   
• Talk with admin about list of screenings.
• Start arranging K screenings from summer referrals. 
• Discuss set up of groups, re: timing, avoiding core teaching times.
• Attend all meetings.  No forgetting.

That's all I can think of for now.

Finished a knitting project this weekend.   I turned a cowl pattern into a scarf and love both the pattern and the yarn that I used.    Loved it so much I had to take a photo of myself, lol!

GRaW, Day 5 and TGIF

I started in on the file cabinets but didn't get far mostly because I forgot to go get kitchen gloves to protect my fingers.   Pushed the furniture around some more and put more materials into cupboards.   I asked my principal yesterday if I could switch out a table and she agreed.   Today the custodians gave me a tip on which rooms had the extra tables and I found what I needed.   When I went back to thank them for the tip they hopped up and went and moved the new tables in and the old table out.   Great team!

I looked at my caseload, both the files in the drawer and in our IEP program online.  It doesn't look scary yet.   I have a sneaking suspicion that I'm not seeing all of the files I thought I'd see.

I put up two bulletin boards so I could see how the new bordette looks with the background paper.   I like it!  I'll be modifying the 2nd and didn't take a photo because it's so frenetic.   Couldn't stand it. 

This is my assistant's work table.  

Cute bordette, isn't it?

 

GRaW, day 4

I've been leaving work tired (respiratory infection) and keep forgetting some shopping I want to do.  So today I reversed my day and went shopping first.   Score!  Sandals at 50% off, yay.   And, at the next stop an outfit at 50% off and a cute, lightweight, reversible jacket for only $15. 

Once in my room I realized that my desk/office area was all wrong.   I liked where I had my desk but the computer guys didn't know that and had set up the computer and printer on a different wall, sigh.   Moved the desk, several file cabinets, and the big (empty) bookshelf.   I set up my assistant's desk near mine and I'm mostly happy about that corner of the world.

I didn't get the filing done but I did get the boxes categorized.  Procrastination.  I always cut my fingers when I load up the file cabinets.  I think I'm going to buy some kitchen gloves and wear them when putting the files away.

While sorting boxes I emptied another big cupboard and finished cleaning it.  I re-installed two shelves that for some reason were not being used.  Now I have more room to neatly store materials.   That's a relief as a lot of them were being stored on an open shelf on one wall.  I don't like them being out.  Too many kids over the years begging to use something they can see but that is not what has been planned.  Out of sight, out of mind!

Today's progress:

Office corner with to be filed boxes in foreground.  

Must decorate!

This, I think will end up being my speech/language area.  

Assistant's work area, all the materials on this shelf 

will go into the cupboard I cleaned today.

The newly cleaned and "re-shelved" cupboard.

Decoration!   This box was on my porch when 

I got home today.   I ordered it Tuesday.  Love Amazon.

Getting Ready at Work, Day 3

In spite of knowing the carpet would be wet I went to work, mostly to meet with my partner in preschool.   We found the files I needed and I took a few things she didn't want to my speech room.   Since the room was quite humid with wet carpeting I decided to work a bit on my satellite office.   I mostly pushed some furniture around and turned in circles.  I won't be able to really tell how it's working until I get some kids in there.   Time enough.

I had left my speech room open while I worked on the other room with both windows open, too.  It was less humid and mostly bearable so I pushed furniture around in that room, too.   I put a few things in a cupboards but mostly have more to unpack.    I did decide that tomorrow will be loading up the file cabinets.  That will take a lot of boxes out of play and hopefully make it feel less overwhelming.

I might put up some bulletin boards but probably not.  I ordered bordette and still need to get a better feel for what I want up and where.

Here is the room, looking surprisingly neat, as it looked with everything pushed up on one side of the room for the 2nd stage of carpet cleaning.  These are my "before" pictures.  I'll take more when I get things set up.

The back wall where the window is will be the 

office area with file cabinets more orderly 

to the left and a work table to the right.  

 One group work/table area will be set up along the wall under the bee.

Oh, see the goofy looking black chair there on the left?
It's very comfortable.  I assembled it today.  From Costco. 

The second group/table area will be set up next to this

wall shelf and the contents of the shelf will be stored elsewhere.

This is where my assistant will have her groups.

 Sink and storage.  Much unpacking to do.

Getting Ready at Work, Day 2

I arrived at school and went on the hunt for a Master Key.   For some reason new things and fixes have to be done the week before we come back (and are often in working on our own time) rather than the other 7 weeks of summer.   This year it's re-keying the entire district.  I know, that's a lot of doors, it takes time.  But, we have new door handles, new locks, and 2 master keys.   The locksmiths have to come back and key each lock to a room key as well as the master.  PITA     It's frustrating to have to walk all over the school to find the person who last had the key but we're all doing it so we can all be frustrated together.

When I did get into my room I found that the custodial staff had pushed all the furniture up against one wall of the classroom.   After 28 years in the classroom I know what this means.  My carpets are going to get cleaned.  See rant in the first paragraph.    So, I decided to clean the insides of cupboards since that's not on the summer cleaning list.  I also pulled more bulletin board paper off the walls.   One more chunk to go and a couple of sections of fabric tacked to the wall.  I'm a bit afraid of looking under the fabric.   I don't know if it was the idea of the day or if it's ugly under there. 

Tomorrow will be a bust as the procedure is to haul all the furniture to the other side of the room and clean the carpet strip that was holding all the furniture today.    Phooey.  And I forgot the before photos.  Oh well, it will still be "before" on Thursday when the floors are dry.

School year 2013-2014 Unofficial Start.

I went in to work today to start making some sense out of the my new room.   We spent April-June packing and one week in June hauling things to the new location.   Stacks and stack of boxes to unpack, ugh.

Today was a bit of box shuffling so I could get to the furniture.   Then furniture got shoved around a bit.  After that I started ripping old bulletin board paper off the wall.    Now I'm tired!  I forgot to take my camera.  I'll try to remember tomorrow before it all starts looking too nice.  Must document the chaos.  

Photo to post elsewhere

Big wind day, school was filled w/tumbleweeds and downed branches.  5/6/13