When I first started teaching, I was lucky to have Mr. Clay as my head custodian. Until I left that school, I had no idea about packing up my classroom for the summer break. Mr. Clay had done everything for me. So the tips I share with you today are not truly mine. They come from the greatest custodian ever!
Why You Should Pack Up Your Classroom for the Summer
Not every school requires that teachers pack up their classrooms for the summer, but over the years I have learned that it is still a good idea. It was a surprise to me that our classrooms do not simply lay dormant over the break. Your classroom floors may be re-waxed. Summer school students may have access to your classroom. And random visitors may take it upon themselves to enter your space. (My greatest pet peeve!)
In all of these situations, protecting your resources will save you so much time and stress when you return at the end of summer.
What to Do First When Packing Up Your Classroom
- Sketch the layout of your classroom. It is likely that you’ve found a way to configure your classroom that worked best for your students this year. Draw it on the board, create a layout on your computer, or simply sketch it on a piece of paper and tuck it safely away in your desk. This will save you time when you come back to find your desks neatly placed in boring rows. *If you sketch this out on your board, be sure to write “DO NOT ERASE” in very large print. Or, snap a photo on your cell phone.
- Throw away what you know you will not use again. Some lessons and resources simply don’t work. Don’t save them for the sake of saving them. Keeping your classroom clean not only saves you time but creates a better learning environment for your students. The clutter must go!
- Clean everything knowing you will be cleaning it again. The grime will enter your classroom over the summer no matter what you do. But, it is still a good idea to wipe everything down before you start packing up. This will keep creepy crawlies out of boxes and enclosed spaces and remove that first layer of dust so you aren’t scrubbing before back to school orientation.
- Start stacks. I simply start creating unit stacks onto desks in my cleaning and packing process. This helps me organize my classroom better, but it also helps me for planning out my units in the coming year. Once sorted, pack them neatly into boxes (or containers) so you can easily access them later.
- Pack into containers for organization. Your containers don’t have to be boxes. Choose containers you love. Choose containers that help facilitate the way you teach. Or, choose containers that help create a climate that is best for your students. Pack units into these containers so that you won’t have to unpack them when the school year starts. They will simply be functional.
- Label everything! Especially when packing into containers, label everything clearly. It will not serve you (or your students) if you are frantically sorting through containers looking for unit one. Organize in a way that will serve you when trying to find things later.
Actually Packing Up Your Classroom for the Summer
It is very important to know that everything in your classroom is likely to be moved over summer break. In every building I’ve taught, the custodians have moved everything into the hallway to strip and re-wax the floors. Keep that in mind. Everything will go out of your classroom door.
- Pack up your desk. After leaving Mr. Clay, I left my desk intact at my new school when I left for summer. I came back to find it in the same place I had left it, but everything inside the desk was in chaos. This includes paperclips wedged in the drawer slides, so that I could no longer get them open. Pack it all up!
- Safely pack what is most important. If you have keepsakes or knick knacks in your classroom, make sure these are secured in ways that they can’t get broken or destroyed. Also keep in mind that packed items may sit in the hallway. Anything in an open container may be seen as free for the taking.
- Tidy up your tech. Not only do you need to worry about keeping your tech from being stolen, but you also need to protect it from damage. Wrap up cords, double check that all screens are closed tightly, and bubble wrap the whole dang cart if you have the opportunity.
Final Steps
It may be easy to ignore everything on your walls as you pack up for summer. Don’t do this! Take down your decor for two simple reasons.
- You may come back to mustaches or other adornments added to your posters. If students have access to your classroom over the summer, you may find vandalized posters when you return.
- You need to be changing up your classroom decor anyway! Taking it down at this point is the best way to do that.
Pack up what you will want first… LAST! Make sure it is a well-marked container so that it is easy to locate when you return. This includes your hot glue gun, laminator sheets, and your first unit.
Packing up your classroom may seem like an unnecessary chore, but taking the time to do this early will save you plenty of time and stress when you return for the fall semester.
Happy Packing and Happy Summer Break!
