Welp MagazineSo, your exams are over and now you need to move your classroom. This can be the most stressful and strenuous activity for teachers and school staff. You need to pack your stuff and relocate everything to a new room, which may or may not be in the same building. It gets even more stressful when you have to relocate to a classroom on a different floor.
A few easy tips can work wonders for making this shift a lot easier and stress-free for teachers and staff. Below we have listed 7 essential tips for a smooth classroom move.
1. Get your Crates
Regular cardboard boxes are not ideal for classroom items. You may have to pack a lot of stuff, including text books, IT equipment, assignments for the year, furniture, and more. There is a lot to pack, and heavy and valuable items cannot go into the regular boxes.
Instead, moving crates are a much better option. These crates are sturdy, easy to use, and spacious enough to house plenty of items. You don’t need to keep these on hand all year – you can rent them from a company like Teacrate for quick and hassle-free packing.
2. Get Help
It’s not possible to move a classroom alone, no matter how small your classroom is. A few extra hands will speed up packing and unpacking. Ask a friend or a colleague for help. Boxing up an entire classroom is not a cakewalk and you’ll need some help for packing and transportation.
3. Pack Only What You Will Use
It’s time to say goodbye to those old-school teaching kits that are no longer useful for kids in the digital era. As you start sorting your files and assignments, you will see that most of the resources and educational material are saved digitally. Only pack what you will use for teaching.
There is absolutely no point in packing the heavy items that are worthless for your next batch of students. For example, if you have 20 bulletin boards, narrow down your options to the top five or so and ask your students to make new boards for the new classroom. Donate the rest if they are in good condition.
Now that you are moving to a new classroom, it is time to sort through your classroom equipment – keep items that are in good condition and throw the old and broken ones out. Let your students enjoy the feel of a new classroom with new classroom items.
4. Organize Your Classroom Properly
You can’t just throw dusters, chalk, bulletin boards, paper clips, books, and other classroom items in one big box. Once you have your crates, start categorizing your items and use separate boxes for each type.
For example, all the assignments and files should be in one box while a separate crate should be used for text books. Organizing your items while packing will save you a lot of time later and make it so much easier to unpack to a new classroom.
6. Label and Number Each Box
This may sound like a no-brainer, but it’s the most important part of packing. You don’t want to rush this step and be unable to find important items when you go to start the new term. Labelling each box makes unpacking easier. Numbering the boxes will help to ensure that nothing goes astray or gets left behind.
It will also be easier to relocate all your classroom items when each box is labelled. This will let everyone know where each box must be placed, and avoid you having to spend time opening each box to see which category of items are there. You could also number each box for smooth transportation.
7. Plan a Few Days for Move
It is not a one-day job. You may have helpers assisting you with the move, but the process takes time and it’s better to take it slow. You don’t want the expensive items to get damaged on the way to their new classroom. Pack your stuff in the crates and label each one properly. It’s okay if the process takes two to three days, as you will have to spend less time unpacking when your stuff arrives at a new place.
8. Dress Comfy
Last but not least, prepare yourself for the moving day. Wear what you feel comfortable in. Put on your sneakers and old clothes that you don’t care if they get dusty and get ready to do the heavy lifting.
Moving a bunch of heavy boxes to a new classroom is not easy. However, classroom relocation doesn’t have to be as difficult and time-consuming as it sounds. We hope the above tips helped you to prepare yourself for the big move. Good luck with the move!
