Organized Chaos

     If my mother was here to see that I was a guest blogger on a site called "The Organized Classroom", she'd certainly have something to say about it. She was never one to mince words. My husband also thinks it's pretty darn funny. I have to admit, I'm a little bewildered myself. In my classroom I live by the credo, a place for everything and everything in its place. I am notorious for walking around and straightening up kids' desks as I'm teaching because it drives me nuts when they're all crooked. My kids actually put their hands up in the air as if they're being held up when I come near their desks while I'm teaching because they don't want to get their fingers squashed when I straighten the groups.  You know that student who seems allergic to the contents of his pencil case, and drops every supply he touches (and then leaves it there)? That kid drives me insane on the daily. It takes all my restraint not to stop teaching and tell Messy Marvin to pick up his crayons and scissors and glue stick and...
     Then when I go home, uh...not so much. Now, I don't exactly qualify for an episode of Hoarders, but the mini mountain of shoes in the little nook right next to the closet would never fly in my classroom. Right now, on the end table beside me is an empty box of Cheez-its that has become a bit of a permanent fixture. I know I'm totally blowing my cover here, but if we're going to become friends, its important to be honest. So, now you know. My classroom is the picture of organization and my house is a bit more...um...relaxed. 
     I've stopped trying to figure myself out. It is what it is. I'm a real life Dr. Jekyll and Mrs. Hyde of organization and housework.  So, I invite you over to The Organized Classroom Blog to check out my superior (and puzzling) organizing tips for using task cards in your classroom. And now, I leave you with this thought from one of my favorites, the great Erma Bombeck:

My theory on housework is, if the item doesn't multiply, smell, catch fire, or block the refrigerator door, let it be.  No one else cares.  
Why should you?

Amazing use of space, if I do say so myself...




6 comments

  1. Could have written the same thing about myself! My classroom is beyond organised, and home....is well, a work in progress ;-)

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  2. Love the quote. I am so glad I found your blog. I will follow along. I am going to a new grade level in the fall so I am reading as many blogs as I can in anticipation of my new grade level which is still unknown.
    Mechele
    http://barrowshodgepodge.blogspot.com/

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  3. I was laughing out loud as I read this...it is so me! Thank God that my husband is laid back about the house...he is a huge help with his share anyway....but my bedside table has papers still to grade, an empty bag of cheetos, some ginger ale cans waiting to go to recycling...but my classroom...it runs like a well oiled machine! :)
    A☼L☼S☼O...about the messy kiddo....I will even stop instruction...even with the principal there and say, "Darling {Insert Name} please pick this up so old Mrs. Smith doesn't trip on it or any of your other wonderful classmates, we don't have time for an ER trip." One of my past principal even said in my formal evaluation that she appreciated that I was teaching my students life skills and safety skills! :)
    ~Fern
    Fern-Smith.Blogspot.com

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  4. Glad to see I'm in good company! I think it's just from being so "on" all day that we just have no energy for it when we get home!

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  5. So, funny! I do the same thing! I have my kids desk arranged in a big U shape with a row of double desks in the middle, and several times a day I find myself lining those rows up straight!

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