Recently, my friend Mary got a job offer to become a Math Recovery teacher. She’d be leaving her 1st grade classroom at one school and relocating to another campus. It was a bit overwhelming to think of moving all her stuff to a new place.
I asked if she’d like help in packing and moving, since I had actually written a book about this! I told her we could get her room ready in one day. She looked at me like I was a bit crazy, but agreed to let me assist.
Two days before Moving Day, I gave Mary a copy of Spaces & Places and asked her to read the chapter on “Packing and Moving.” I also helped her make a list of what was important for her to pack and take along to use in her new job. She made a 2nd list of packing supplies needed for the move, so we wouldn’t waste any time on Moving Day. And I took photos of areas around her room to help her remember how we’d set up spaces that worked well for her. On Moving Day, we’d tape those pics to the outside of the boxes we packed her materials in.
Friday was Moving Day. Our friend, Christe (who used to be Mary’s teammate), Sara (Christe’s daughter) and I showed up at 1:30 PM on Mary’s last day at school after the kids had left. Little did we know that the custodians would be locking the building at 4 PM and we’d have to be out by then.
Not to worry—we had a plan! See what we did in just 2 ½ hours. Many hands make light work!
Mary and Christe empty the cabinets to prepare for packing
All of Mary’s stuff sorted into piles. Each has a label: math, language arts, office supplies, Martin Elem., etc.
Sara helps us make labels for boxes to be moved. Each will have a photo of the kind of stuff that’s in the box taped to the outside.
Christe cleans out Mary’s files, and Mary gasps with horror that she has to part with stuff she’ll never use again!
Two and and a half hour later… everything Mary keeps is in a labeled box ready for moving
Look at all those containers Mary had!
We’ll put the containers in an XXL ziplock bag and move them to her new building.
Debbie Diller 