These 5 tips for packing up your classroom will save you so much time next fall when it’s time to unpack. You may be tempted to shove everything in a box or closet. However, your future self will thank you later. Plus you have a classroom full of students right now that can help!
Tip #1: Pack Up with a Purpose
Ask yourself what you can do now that will help you unpack. For years, I threw all my classroom library books in a giant storage tub. Then every fall, I’d have to sort them back out again. Now I store each basket in a giant baggie. Setting up my library is now a breeze! I also asked my administration if I could leave things up on my walls. Things I knew for sure I was going to keep up for the next year.
Tip #2 Purge Your Things
While you’re going through your things and packing them, decide what items you no longer need. Create a donate, toss, and sell box. I also send home things with students like extra worksheets. Sometimes as a teacher, it’s hard to get rid of things. If I haven’t used it in 2 years, I’ll pass it along to another teacher.
Tip #3: Take Inventory of Supplies
Start making a list of supplies or items you need to stock up on. That way you purchase things you actually need over the summer. You can also recruit your students to help you go through your supplies. They can test out markers, get rid of broken crayons, etc.
Tip #4: Take Pictures of Everything
As you’re cleaning out and organizing, you can make a list of bins and baskets you need to label. So instead of making a list, you can just take a picture with your phone. You can also take pictures of the different setups you want to do again or things you want to change. You can take pictures of your walls, bulletin boards, and classroom door too. This way you can insert them into the background of PowerPoint and add designs on top to see if you like it. I know I want to change this wall and area, so I took a picture so I could work on it over the summer.
Tip #5: Create a Classroom Setup Box
Find a box or tub that you pack up last but that you will unpack first in the fall. Inside include things like:
- stapler
- tape
- scissors
- pen
- cleaning supplies
Now when you start setting up your classroom in the fall, you’ll know exactly where some of the most important things are!
I actually have a checklist that I use every year to help me set up my classroom that I’ll put in this box too. Click here to grab a free copy.
These 5 tips for packing up your classroom will allow you to leave for the summer knowing you’ll be ready as soon as you get back in the fall!
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