Thank heavens it is the end of the year as we know it. And I totally feel fine.
This is my last week of school! Hallelujah! I posted earlier about not having my students move my classroom. A teammate did the math: if my 20 students each take one item from my classroom to the classroom I am moving into (the other teacher is taking my room- a totally even switch. Kinda, but she has a window and a storage room and a bathroom and I have…nothing. Maybe not so even.) and do this at 4 different times during the school day that would equal 80 items/ trips. It would be a good brain break…Hmmm… What do you do? Do kids help your teachers move at your school?
One thing my students WILL do is help clean up and close down the classroom. I have always had kids do this- it is their classroom too and they have to help take care of it. Plus, kids LOVE to help. I usually write a long list on the board and let kids pick a friend to do most jobs. So what do my kids do? Here’s a list of kid friendly tasks that are really helpful.
Does anyone have any jobs to add to the list? Please leave a comment and I will add the job to the list to make it more exhaustive. I love to keep ’em busy at this time of the year!
Mandy Gregory is a 2007 and 2012 Teacher of the Year. She has taught Kindergarten- 4th grades in both the general education and inclusion settings. She is currently a 1st grade Special Education teacher. She is the owner and creator of Mandy’s Tips for Teachers website (www.mandystipsforteachers.com) and has over 13 years of teaching experience. She is married with two beautiful children.
I'm a little mixed on whether or not teachers should have their students help them move. I had my students help "us" move into our new room when I looped up from Kindergarten to 1st grade. OK, not really they only helped me move their own belongings. But other than that I don't think that I would have the kids move the stuff for a couple of reasons. 1. it doesn't seem like that much fun and the end of the year is supposed to be fun 2. will they really put things where you want/need them without a lot of extra directions, in which case does it really save time? However, I do understand a lot to get done in a little bit of time and your third graders/almost fourth graders could totally help you without being in danger of any child labor law violations 🙂 All in all I think it is up to you. I'm sorry I was absolutely no help. Good luck deciding!
I always have my kids help and they love it to.. Your list is so complete. I can't wait to use it. Thanks.
Pamela
First Class Teacher
Oh girl, you need to have them move you. Here's what I did on my most recent move (which was the same situation as yours..me and another teacher swapping rooms).
We did one shelf, drawer, cupboard, etc at a time and had our kids each bring something from my room to her room and come back with something from her room to my room. We then put the items into their new location in the new room and repeated the process. It took us under 2 hours to not only move our entire rooms, but also have them basically set up. Happy last week of school!
❤Jodi from…
★★The Clutter-Free Classroom★★
Helping Teachers Get Organized
I have kinders and they love helping! At the beginning of the year we were a brand new school so I didn't have much time to get ready! Any time the students saw boxes off to the side we decided together where they should go and they wanted to do it themselves!!
Blessings,
Jessica Stanford
Mrs. Stanford's Class Blog is Having a Giveaway!
My TpT Store
I teach first grade and although I'm not moving classrooms, my kiddos will be helping me take things off of the walls and cleaning and storing stuff away for the year. I also pick up a few buckets, rags and scrubbers and let them clean. They love it! And it's such a help! 🙂
A Pirates Life for Us
I teach 8th grade and there are always a few kids who WANT something to do and something out of the ordinary and important like these examples! Thanks! I never thought of creating a check list of things they could do for me. This way I won't have to stop and think of something.
This list is awesome! Thank you for the suggestions! I plan on using it next week.
Kelly
A View Into My Classroom
I had my 1st grade students help me move rooms and it was not only successful, they took great pride in doing something that they were normally considered too little to do. I also had some students who were a little apprehensive and after the move they felt empowered. Just be careful and know which student to trust with certain items.