Teachers can be weird about their stuff. Lots of teachers only use certain kinds of pens. Some have to have two pieces of paper on the desk before they can write (guilty). You name it, we have preferences- dry erase markers, pencils, fonts we use, etc. Well my weirdness is customization. I love stuff that is MINE. Things that aren’t like everyone else’s stuff.
Because of this, I search for many things on Google, and I end up finding some really interesting items. Recently, I began looking for a lesson plan/gradebook for next year (I know, I’m weird). I went on Etsy and found some planners with a Harry Potter theme. WHAT?!?! I must own one of these. I found one shop that would customize my planner for a VERY reasonable price. This is important because I don’t need all the stuff elementary teachers have in their planners. Birthdays? I have 125 kids. Your list for 25 kids isn’t going to cut it. Seating charts? I have 6 classes of teenagers. That crap can change daily. Parent contacts? I have a 3 inch binder to hold all of that documentation. The 5 pages you provide won’t even last for the first nine weeks grading period.
So you can see how this customization option would appeal to me. I can buy a planner that I won’t immediately begin to tear apart to make it work. I will have a planner for next school year that is truly mine. Awesome.
I’m sharing this because I realized I have spent this school year making my space at work truly mine. My classroom is cozy, warm, and decorated to my taste. Hey, I spend all day in here! So that comfy chair I bought on Facebook Marketplace? Yeah, I need that. Table stolen out of Mom’s garage? Yep, gimme that too. But you know what, when I walk in here every day, I smile. I do! I smile! I’m in a good place, both mentally and physically. And I’m going to enjoy it while it lasts.
If you need me, I’ll be in my comfy chair writing lessons in my new planner. 🙂
