Set-up

I’m a 1st year teacher… went in today for classroom set-up, and the classroom was jam-packed with bins upon bins upon bins of toys, manipulatives, craft supplies, cars, blocks, etc. 2 walls of shelves filled with these bins, plus 2 large cabinets. Everything was dirty and gross.

Used to be an after-school program room. Chalkboard was ripped off the wall leaving an ugly gray rectangle with brown paint splotches. Ugly brown old rug, debris on the floor, mismatched tables, no teacher desk, old crappy furniture, whiteboard leaning against wall not attached. I spent 6 hours just getting HALF the crap out of the room.

Meanwhile literacy coord is bringing in a shit ton of curriculum. Admin said they will order new furniture, rug, etc., but I only have 2 more full days to set up before in-service. They said furniture will take months to arrive and I’ll have to use temporary solutions until then. I have no idea how I’m going to actually set up put everything in place. People stopped by, including my mentor, about different things, but no one stayed to help move all the crap out.. just big smiles and “It’ll come together!”

Also.. I am in a wing with no other 1st grade teachers.. we are scattered across the building. I share a connecting door with OT/PT and she warned me about her kids knocking on it all the time. Is this situation normal??? I’m overwhelmed and have no idea how this is going to work.