School's in for the Summer

School is starting in a week and a half. Can you believe it? Where did the summer go? In Minnesota, I bet you are quizzically furrowing your eyebrows and thinking that there is another month of summer to enjoy. I was once a believer that summer was June, July, and August. However, in Arizona, summer is May, June, July, August, and September. These poor kids are stuck inside their summer break because it's too hot to even breathe! There are no kids riding their bikes around the neighborhood, no mamas pushing their strollers to the park, and no kids running drills on soccer fields. Since we have such dormant summers, they start school EXTRA early.

I don't have to go back to work. Ha! Not until September 5th, when the rest of the country starts the day after Labor Day. You are probably excited and smiling for me that I get to have time with Tommy at home. And goodness knows I deserve the time off because I hoarded my sick days and didn't take any personal days for the last two years so I could have a full pay maternity leave. I accomplished that, plus another six weeks, just in case.

Unfortunately, this job doesn't just start itself. I accepted a fifth grade position for this year and had to move rooms down a different hallway. I also knew that I wasn't going to start the school year either, which adds some extra stress to this big mess. The end of last year, I was one week away from giving birth (technically 3 days) and I was hauling boxes, books, and binders down the hall with my students dragging the really big items. I dumped it in the hallway outside the door where the teacher whose classroom I was taking had not even started packing up her room. When I left on May 26th, I was relieved to be done, but anticipating the mess I would walk into come the end of July with a small baby.

As much as I never want the end of my break to come, there is some excitement to setting up my classroom. Have you ever moved and packed up your things over a period of time and then when you unpacked your boxes in your new place, you are always surprised by a few items? That's what it's kind of like when I set up my classroom each year. Oh, I had forgotten about you, I say to some hot pink fabric. And this new Eric Carle border will compliment you so well. I buy new punch out letters that have a great pattern on them. How super fun will you look on my walls? I spend long hours and late nights painstakingly stapling up all my bulletin boards, borders, lettering, posters, and pocket charts. I use my best creative handwriting to write "Mrs. Huberty" on my welcome poster. I can't wait to get my hands on my class list so I can finally write out nameplates for their desks. I put together their supply buckets neatly and make sure all their Crayola crayons have pointy tips and none of their scissors have glue or tape stuck to the metal. The room is always colorful, inviting, a little overwhelming at first, but totally awesome.

This year didn't have the same excitement and attention to detail that I always try and improve upon each year. Trips to Target were late this season because I can't take Tommy in public. The Lakeshore trip was uneventful as I grabbed my usual supplies, but nothing extra to save a little money. I was given two small windows of time that my sister would be able to watch Tommy during the day last week. I would drive 40 minutes down to Casa Grande and run into my room--literally, I was jogging with the flatbed cart down the hallway so I wouldn't waste any time. I locked my door and turned up Glee Volume 1.

The first day I scrubbed, wiped and dusted all my shelving and organizers (those things get dusty in a year!). I threw things in piles and pushed all my desks and chairs to the center of the room. It has been quite liberating to not be pregnant, I've gone back to my old obnoxious carrying-and-pushing-things-that-I-really-shouldn't ways. When I left that first day, I felt a bit defeated and my muscles ached. There was no way I could revive this classroom in the little time that I had. The next day I again ran to my classroom and I started unpacking boxes. I didn't marvel at their old newness or attempt to conjure up old memories. They were put into a pile in a general location where they would be later. I hauled things out, I tossed out anything that looked like crap, I sorted books and all of my curriculum and when I left, it still looked like a tornado had passed through it. How did four hours go by like five minutes? Again, I left feeling tired, but at least my mess was an organized one.

This week I knew I only had two days to whip my classroom together. It was a big day yesterday. I'm no spring chicken and this is my sixth year putting together a classroom. I ran and I was literally out of breath stapling with such haste. Fabrics were flying up at lightning speed, borders were quickly disguising my poor cutting jobs. Lettering was signifying all of my focus walls for all subjects. I organized my desk into neat purple plastic boxes. I had things in cubbies and my teacher manuals lined up in order. I left again four hours later with a sweaty brow and somewhat of a classroom.

Oh, but today....today was huge! My sister came with me and we brought the little monster. We didn't really know how it would go, but alas, with a constant parade of visitors in the room, the two of us finished the room. One would feed Tommy while the other put together supply buckets. One would cuddle Tommy while the other cut folders. Both of us would staple while Tommy was in his swing sleeping. Tommy watched from his bouncy seat as I arranged the desks and stacked chairs.

As we were just packing up to leave (with carrier, stroller, bouncy chair, travel swing, diaper bag, breast pump and two purses in tow) my principal and our school's reading coach walked into my room. It was the true test. I took a deep breath as they surveyed my room. I crossed my fingers as they took in each wall and corner.

"Oh, my gosh!" they said with shocked voices. Was it good or was it bad? Smiles spread across their faces. They couldn't believe that I had taken four walls, piled up furniture, and my mess shoved into a corner and created my masterpiece. They said it was perfect. It was ready for my substitute to come in and start the year. It was bright, it was inviting, it was a little overwhelming at first, and it was TOTALLY AWESOME.

What a relief to have it done. And just before I left, I put in my final touch and hung up a picture. Casey and Tommy sitting together and smiling pleasantly back at me. Now it was the perfect classroom.

WHEW!