The Schoolyard Podcast S2, E1: Back to School Magic

Host: Nancy Chung @fancynancyin5th:
Hiya buddies! Welcome again to the Schoolyard Podcast dropped at you by College Specialty. That is our Episode 1 of Season 2.

Host: Nancy Chung @fancynancyin5th:
I’m your host, Nancy Chung, a fun-loving trainer and content material creator also referred to as @fancynancyin5th on social media, and I’m thrilled that you simply’re right here. A particular shout-out to College Specialty, who gives important academic provides and full studying setting options that will help you rework greater than school rooms. That is the Schoolyard Podcast, a podcast by educators, for educators, the place the magic of studying unfolds. In the present day, our fantastic friends, Stephanie Osmondson and Loreal Hemenway of @happilyeverelementary have again to highschool in thoughts. Like many academics proper now, we will probably be discussing what we love a lot, which is sharing classroom setup suggestions and sensible concepts on creating useful and welcoming areas. These two academics are usually not solely colourful and artistic, they’re so enjoyable and dynamic. Stephanie and Loreal convey a wealth of expertise to the desk. Stephanie has a background in early childhood schooling with over a decade of expertise specializing in creating participating and interactive studying environments. Loreal comes from a background in elementary schooling, specializing in integrating expertise and artistic educating methods to boost pupil studying. Collectively, they based @happilyeverelementary on Instagram and TikTok, the place they share their progressive concepts, classroom setups, and educating suggestions with the colourful neighborhood over 279,000 followers. Their mission is to encourage and assist fellow educators by offering sensible recommendation, uplifting tales, cute outfit concepts, and an entire lot of positivity. Welcome again to the schoolyard, Stephanie and Loreal. It’s so good to have you ever again.

Visitors: Stephanie Osmundson & Loreal Hemenway @happilyeverelementary:
Thanks. What a heat welcome, Nancy. Good to nearly see you.

Host: Nancy Chung @fancynancyin5th:
I do know, it’s been too lengthy. I understand how busy you guys are. So thanks a lot for carving out your time to be right here at present. Final time you had been on our podcast, you share some wonderful recommendations on creating an inclusive classroom setting that may spark creativity. We acquired an unbelievable quantity of constructive suggestions in your episode. And I’m not shocked by this, but it surely was our hottest, most streamed episode.

Visitors: Stephanie Osmundson & Loreal Hemenway @happilyeverelementary:
So thanks. Thanks for listening, guys.

Host: Nancy Chung @fancynancyin5th:
You guys are superior. You’re clearly cherished by everyone. So I do know we’re recording this mid July. However I can see that you simply’re in your classroom and you’ve got been stepping into. How excited are you for a contemporary new college yr?

Visitors: Stephanie Osmundson & Loreal Hemenway @happilyeverelementary:
We’re all the time excited to type of soar again in. There’s simply one thing concerning the power you get on a college campus that sadly, regardless that we’re like filling our personal cup through the summer season, it’s not essentially the identical power, particularly as two mothers. We’re residence and we actually aren’t resting that a lot proper now with our littles. And there’s something about checking in together with your college neighborhood that does provide you with this like elevate and this jolt of power that we’re actually excited to faucet again into seeing our employees members and our college students once more.

Host: Nancy Chung @fancynancyin5th:
Oh, I really like that. And I do know you’re you’ve been redoing bulletin boards for lots of academics in your campus, proper? Sure.

Visitors: Stephanie Osmundson & Loreal Hemenway @happilyeverelementary:
How’s that going? Yeah, this summer season, we’re not doing a classroom makeover. And so we determined how can we serve academics nonetheless doing the issues we love. And we seemed in our lockers which are sitting behind us proper now. And now we have two panels which are stuffed with bulletin board kits that we’ve created for our Academics Pay Instructor Retailer. We’ve had them on show, after which we all the time save the items in a pleasant Ziploc bag, and so they’re simply sitting there. So we thought, what higher approach to assist our personal academics in our constructing by providing to do their bulletin boards? So we’re engaged on 12 to fifteen bulletin boards that we’re delivering throughout our faculty, throughout grade ranges, and we all know how a lot it’s serving to our academics proper now, and they’re simply so grateful to take one thing off of their plate.

Host: Nancy Chung @fancynancyin5th:
Oh, my gosh, I guess. I guess if you happen to took signups on-line, you’ll get like 1000s and 1000s of individuals saying come to our faculty and do a board for us.

Visitors: Stephanie Osmundson & Loreal Hemenway @happilyeverelementary:
We frequently get folks within the feedback like come see me and do my board. And we had been that the majority of our employees did fill out the Google kind and was and it made us really feel very flattered. But additionally we had been like, man, I want we may do actually everybody’s battle enormous. And we’ll do that once more. As a result of it’s been such an expertise. I don’t suppose we couldn’t. beginning it and it feels good to take one factor, only one tiny factor off of a gen ed trainer’s plate as a result of we all know how shortly issues pile up on the again to highschool season and having peace of thoughts that they will are available in and their board is finished was one thing we had been actually excited to present to them.

Host: Nancy Chung @fancynancyin5th:
That’s wonderful. You guys are simply giving again to your college and simply all the time trying to assist others. I really like that. So while you’re planning your classroom group and decor for the next college yr, the place do you begin? Nicely, I all the time have to begin out like once I get again to highschool, I simply stroll round in circles for the entire day. I’m like, actually, actually strolling round in circles. The place do you begin?

Visitors: Stephanie Osmundson & Loreal Hemenway @happilyeverelementary:
I’ve observed that as effectively with different folks is like, once they’re like day one classroom arrange the primary day gazing all the things like yeah. We’ll see as artwork academics, our dynamic and record of tasks is so extremely completely different. We’re not having to prep our Meet the Instructor letters in the identical approach. We now have alternatives like that as specialists, but it surely’s not the identical approach you’re accountable for your class. We’re not having to laminate homework folders or issues like that. Nonetheless, we do have a tendency to begin with perform. And for us as artwork academics, and we did this within the Gen Ed classroom as effectively, we try to take into consideration, effectively, what may enhance from final yr and make it possible for we’re like type of reflecting on the actual fact of like, oh, that that was a wrestle for me like time and time once more. And truthfully, we might in all probability be enthusiastic about that the earlier college yr after which begin working in the direction of implementing one thing higher in the summertime. However going again to highschool, it’s like the thrill, however like behind attempting one thing new that would work and I feel that’s why on our social media we’re so obsessed with saying like we’re attempting this new factor and you realize we need to share it with you guys and see if it may be just right for you is as a result of like we’ve simply discovered time and time once more that you realize as you be taught and develop you realize your college students have extra alternative as effectively um however yeah I feel for our academics particularly there have been issues like um that we wished to enhance A kind of issues for us specifically was like settle down kits to make it possible for we’re accommodating the wants of all of our college students. And so I do know we put an enormous concentrate on that this summer season. But when we had been within the classroom, that may very well be quite a lot of issues, whether or not it’s like, you realize, adapting to new curriculum or wanting higher pupil group. However I feel these are issues that we and the varsity you’re wanting ahead to bettering going into a brand new one.

Host: Nancy Chung @fancynancyin5th:
I really like that plenty of instances skilled academics type of get within the rut of doing the identical factor yr after yr. And I feel that’s that would trigger burnout, too, in my my opinion, like our personalities, we’ll get so bored. Proper. So yeah. Yeah. So it’s not I imply, it’s after all, it’s for the youngsters, too. However for our sake, too, once we are attempting new issues, we really feel you realize, we really feel extra refreshed and we really feel extra impressed for the varsity yr. Completely. In your expertise, what classroom design components have probably the most constructive affect on pupil engagement and studying outcomes?

Visitors: Stephanie Osmundson & Loreal Hemenway @happilyeverelementary:
There’s plenty of school rooms that Stephanie and I’ve designed in our educating careers from our personal school rooms to summer season makeovers. After which our personal artwork room. And when it comes right down to it, creating an aesthetic of a welcoming setting with colours and vibrancy and issues that interact college students actually does make an enormous change within the pupil tradition and having the youngsters really feel welcome into your room. There’s nothing higher than wanting on the face of a pupil strolling right into a classroom the primary time. It’s fingers down one in all our favourite experiences. After we do makeovers, we love seeing the trainer’s response. That’s fairly rad. However when the scholars are available in, it brings us to tears. as a result of you’ll be able to see it on their face. They gentle up and see the little touches that you simply suppose nobody’s going to note. And youngsters will stroll proper as much as them and need to contact them or take a look at them. And it’s actually magical creating these environments for college kids. And it simply units the tone for your complete college yr. So I simply suppose the general aesthetic of a room and the vibrancy and the flexibility to make it welcoming for college kids is tremendous necessary. And it’s undoubtedly one in all our favourite components.

Host: Nancy Chung @fancynancyin5th:
Oh, and I’m positive that fuels you much more, proper? Since you don’t need to get that response once more. I really like that.

Visitors: Stephanie Osmundson & Loreal Hemenway @happilyeverelementary:
And that’s how it’s with all of our occasions. Once more, as specialists, we’re placing on plenty of occasion based mostly issues with our college students. And that’s how we meet our neighborhood. Since we don’t have like a category with dad and mom, they’ll come up our occasions, after which they’ll see what we’re about. And plenty of the instances there may be this preliminary shock issue with the areas we create. And like Laura stated, it’s often the youngsters, however there’s been a pair dad and mom that pull us apart and so they’re like, if I used to be coming to this college as a pupil, I’d be so excited to return again. And so they’ve stated issues like, clearly, like, I want our faculty had this type of factor rising up. And like, I can completely relate to that. And so like Loreal stated, it’s it’s there’s like this Feeling that setting can provide and that’s what we stand behind is a way of security safety Pleasure after which when youngsters are like purchased in in that approach, they’re able to be taught

Host: Nancy Chung @fancynancyin5th:
Oh, I do know. Oh my gosh. Like each time you share tales and present us like your classroom and what you guys are doing in there. I’m like, I want I may simply go reside in there. Like, not solely do I need to educate with you at your college. Yeah, I’ll take the I’ll take the decrease one. The most important one you could have. Okay, so what’s what’s the most transformative low price range change you’ve seen in a classroom makeover? I do know you guys are actually good with price range too.

Visitors: Stephanie Osmundson & Loreal Hemenway @happilyeverelementary:
Okay, so we talked about this as a result of there’s alternative ways to go about it. And folks’s budgets are completely different and generally you could have extra assist financially out of your college. Then others in relation to like our massive classroom makeovers and issues that like now we have been recognized for on social media, we’re clearly in a position to do much more as a result of we do have a price range. And now we have gotten plenty of permission from the varsity from the district from the trainer. And so paint can go a good distance if you happen to’re in a position to. Nonetheless, Loreal and I are considering again to love, the times once we weren’t a enterprise. And we had been doing makeovers for buddies and for faculties with zero price range and so we might solely use what the varsity had like of their lounge or of their trainer room and that meant paper. And so there’s a pair makeovers that come to thoughts straight away the place we solely use butcher paper and enormous building paper after which like had like possibly a $50 price range and we’re shopping for issues like burlap or like cricut mats and utilizing like our cricut machines that we each bought gifted for commencement presents in order that wasn’t even one thing we paid for however the distinction that it might probably make if you’re keen to love type of suppose creatively and suppose outdoors of the field like we had one of many makeovers was for a guardian volunteer room or a guardian work room and we wish the the principal had requested for it to be like actually inviting and on the time like farmhouse and burlap and like Buffalo examine had been popping off and we made probably the most we cherished it gorgeous paper flowers that had been like three toes in diameter I keep in mind I keep in mind this I’ve been following you for a very long time you’ll paint the paper. We did all types of issues, and we printed some buffalo examine with black ink on white paper. I keep in mind this, yeah. And that was free as a result of we had been printing in school on white paper, however the flowers had been large as a result of we used the 18 by 9 inch paper. After which we additionally folded a protracted piece of butcher paper and lower out slightly, what’s that known as? like a picket fence that went throughout the entire room and it was so stinking cute. After which we made a large buffalo examine wall simply by stapling up squares of paper that we had black, white, after which had drawn on to create that buffalo examine overlap look. However the affect that it made, and I’m positive the volunteers, as a result of that was not our faculty on the time, the volunteers that went in there, we may solely think about, had been like feeling heat and comfy and cute. And that was the aim. And we solely used paper and a few burlap for that complete makeover. And I feel the affect was nonetheless there, you realize? So don’t restrict your self to your price range. You understand, suppose outdoors the field and run together with your creativity as a result of quite a bit will be completed.

Host: Nancy Chung @fancynancyin5th:
Mm hmm. I feel that’s proper once I was beginning to comply with you guys. And we’re doing all these murals. And also you had been doing like, I really like the truth that you guys are simply utilizing paper and creating these wonderful, not only a focus wall, I simply felt like only a magical setting that you realize, that’s like, like a change of only a easy classroom. You guys have a magical contact.

Visitors: Stephanie Osmundson & Loreal Hemenway @happilyeverelementary:
We by no means need academics to really feel like as a way to have a classroom of your desires or a classroom house that’s stunning and welcoming that it’s important to pour cash into it since you actually. shouldn’t and don’t must and thoughts you now we have suggestions and tips on how one can get cash if you need and free issues on your classroom however the backside line is you are able to do quite a bit simply being artistic with the issues which are both supplied to you or issues you could have round the home and we all the time wish to take home goods and different issues round that we may present that like this may very well be one thing that’s stunning and you could possibly rework it into one thing stunning and it doesn’t have to interrupt the financial institution.

Host: Nancy Chung @fancynancyin5th:
Proper. A whole lot of the questions that I get on-line is how a lot cash did you spend on the classroom? And I’ve to inform them, see this merchandise, I upcycled, I took an outdated shelf repainted it or like this, you realize, I bought like my I don’t know if you happen to guys have seen my sweet machines. I name them my information dispensers. That was a storage sale discover that I repainted and simply added little cute cricut letters onto. And so it was actually low price range however persons are like that’s a lot cash and I’m like no you simply must get artistic and spend the time.

Visitors: Stephanie Osmundson & Loreal Hemenway @happilyeverelementary:
Yeah, considering outdoors the field is the way you ask for issues. I feel some persons are snug simply asking, however like we used to place in our like open home slideshow, your trash may very well be our classroom’s treasure. So outdated toys or outdated books or outdated furnishings, simply possibly ship an e-mail to your trainer as a result of they might use that bookshelf or they might use that ottoman or no matter. And such as you stated, upcycle it for positive.

Host: Nancy Chung @fancynancyin5th:
So that may type of naturally result in a distinct query, which is, what’s the most uncommon or artistic upcycled merchandise you’ve ever integrated into a category journey design?

Visitors: Stephanie Osmundson & Loreal Hemenway @happilyeverelementary:
Um, I feel we’re most recognized for our lockers. I feel that proper behind you, plenty of our content material as a result of they’re stunning. And to be sincere, once we initially created this house, um, we flipped this classroom in 48 hours for a TV present. And in that point, we had been simply attempting to convey magic to each nook, however we’re lacking the perform and what we had their perform. Nicely, however as soon as we truly had youngsters within the room, we’re like, it may simply perform so significantly better. And so Stephanie on Fb market discovered a gentleman who’s promoting these outdated, outdated, they’re grey, dusty, beat up lockers. And the method was truly terrible to color them. We simply had somebody ask us like, what particular paint did you utilize? And my girlfriend, we use leftover paint, spray paint. I imply, as a way to paint colours, I imply, we don’t know what we’re doing half the time, however we’re not afraid to do it. however we took one thing that actually was somebody’s trash and made it into one in all our most useful. A kind of is jam-packed. We use it day by day and it’s stunning. It simply suits their house so significantly better and it simply took a little bit of a threat to purchase them and to present it a attempt.

Host: Nancy Chung @fancynancyin5th:
I’m simply curious the place he even bought a set of lockers.

Visitors: Stephanie Osmundson & Loreal Hemenway @happilyeverelementary:
He advised us, proper? He bought them from a highschool and had them in his storage and he had like a piece setup. It was for odds and ends, however he was transferring and so they had been fairly dusty. He left, keep in mind? Yeah, he left like a backpack and a few instruments. We’re just like the male. Yeah. Oh, wow. However it’s beautiful.

Host: Nancy Chung @fancynancyin5th:
It’s stunning.

Visitors: Stephanie Osmundson & Loreal Hemenway @happilyeverelementary:
If you happen to ever see one thing on the facet of the street of a desk, we’ll discuss like our studying nook tables or small group tables or any tables we had a littles in our classroom had been most the time one thing we discovered on the facet of the street, a small picnic desk, painted it, made it new and getting that new life in our classroom. And so it didn’t must take us going to the shop and shopping for a $200, $300 desk.

Host: Nancy Chung @fancynancyin5th:
Proper. And what I really like is you’re not simply bringing this stuff into your classroom as a result of they’re fairly or as a result of they’re cute, however you discover useful objects. Like, I feel you could have a imaginative and prescient. You see one thing you’re like, I can use this for this. And it’s not simply to brighten, but it surely’s making a useful house. So how do you stability creating an aesthetically pleasing room which there’s nothing flawed with. We spend a lot of our faculty day within the classroom. So after all, I would like it to be very aesthetically pleasing too. However how do you discover the stability between simply having a good looking classroom versus sustaining a useful studying setting?

Visitors: Stephanie Osmundson & Loreal Hemenway @happilyeverelementary:
So we love this query. And Nancy, we bought to know you first at a convention the place we had been each presenting, and we truly offered on this. And we’re so fast to say, we’re perform first. We’re aesthetic girlies, but additionally aesthetic is subjective. And if you happen to’re not there with the perform first, the house isn’t going to serve you. And finally, that’s our backside line, is the house is there to serve each the trainer and the scholars for the utmost efficient engagement and instruction. We’re actually obsessed with like once we, we do classroom makers for others we like have this complete interview course of the place it’s like what’s working what’s not working what do you completely have to see once more that you simply’ve had in your. And what would you want to enhance upon like we talked to having this actually reflective course of and for us. uh perform and aesthetics go hand in hand and like we stated aesthetics are subjective and and truthfully developments and issues are type of fleeting so if you’re have like a strong group system you probably have pupil group you probably have your supplies organized and issues after which you’ll be able to simply type of change and tweak the issues that convey you pleasure as a result of that may change additionally all through time um you’re going to be strong so we might advise folks to begin by what their classroom must perform, whether or not that’s like, okay, my carpet time must function this manner, or I would like my studying nook to ask college students in with this type of e book group. Begin with these issues after which discover like the lovable aesthetic labels and discover the realm rug that you simply’re like, oh, that is how I need to invite them to the carpet, you realize, however As soon as you are feeling such as you perceive like your personal wants as a trainer instructionally, then it’s it provides the additional enjoyable to say like, okay, I’d actually like this type of a studying chair with like possibly like a pom pom on this throw pillow. However attempting to suit your classroom into an aesthetic is one thing we might not advise. As a result of developments type of come and go. And we once we began educating was it rainbow with chalkboard? Yeah, it was like actually aesthetic. uh-huh you keep in mind that it was like oh yeah rock board and that i keep in mind chevron was like popping off oh yeah uh-huh chevron all the things we’re each in our classroom for positive and clearly that point has handed um however we stand by the issues that we’re in a position to do functionally in our classroom so we might say begin there make a listing of all your main educational wants after which type of fill within the gaps with the issues which are stunning and that convey you pleasure

Host: Nancy Chung @fancynancyin5th:
Now, our listeners can’t see, however I’ve this like, dorky smirk on my face proper now. You understand, as you guys are speaking, I used to be simply smirking away as a result of, you realize, once I was youthful, my motto was like style earlier than perform, proper? It’s like, you realize, whether or not it’s no matter it was style earlier than perform, so I may very well be sporting like probably the most uncomfortable sneakers and persons are like, how do you stroll in these and I’d say like style earlier than perform, however

Visitors: Stephanie Osmundson & Loreal Hemenway @happilyeverelementary:
Now that I’m outdated, it’s like perform, perform, perform, perform, no, no, truly, I feel with our garments, we may relate to you on that. I’m sporting a wedge that like, truthfully, shouldn’t be reasonable for a trainer to be sporting. However in relation to the pregnant trainer to be sporting actually however like as an individual who um began educating and was thrown right into a classroom like like a pair months into the yr and was extraordinarily unorganized my first yr it devastated me i felt like i used to be always like attempting to love hold my head above water and now realizing the methods that like now we have in place collectively in our artwork room it brings us a lot peace of thoughts um realizing that like even when stuff comes up in a day like our classroom is serving us so like we’re good we are able to determine something out as a result of there’s so many different issues which were achieved so deliberately and nonetheless stunning after all however um yeah so we may have style and performance Sure.

Host: Nancy Chung @fancynancyin5th:
So change the mannequin. Yeah, we’ll change the mannequin to style perform perform.

Visitors: Stephanie Osmundson & Loreal Hemenway @happilyeverelementary:
All the identical style perform enjoyable.

Host: Nancy Chung @fancynancyin5th:
Oh, oh, I really like that. Go up on my wall. Yeah, I do know we talked about price range earlier than. So if you happen to had a limiteless price range for only one space, not for the entire, like for the entire classroom, however possibly only for one space of the classroom, which might you select? And the way would you make it completely extraordinary?

Visitors: Stephanie Osmundson & Loreal Hemenway @happilyeverelementary:
Oh, wow, this query bought us considering. So thanks. bringing that to gentle as a result of we don’t ever take into consideration a world the place now we have a limiteless price range. It’s by no means crossed our thoughts. So to dream slightly bit was actually enjoyable. And once we suppose to our makeover winners, A whole lot of instances, plenty of our price range does go to different seating choices of their classroom. As a result of plenty of the instances in your classroom, what you’re given by your college is a set of furnishings that will not serve your college students. And so versatile seating is one thing that We like to reward academics within the instances the place we do have a price range and plenty of our price range does go to no matter their wants are and if that’s what their wants are and so they need to see versatile seating for his or her college students, we love to do this. So I feel within the artwork room, We had been enthusiastic about our tables don’t serve us the best way we want to see it in an artwork room both. They’re very massive tables. We frequently have little college students reaching throughout which you realize will be disastrous. Paint cups and waters and paintbrush. So I feel that we might in all probability do some improve on our desk scenario. We might eliminate the classroom tables that had been simply handed to us that we simply make work in our surroundings and possibly get some features higher for our artwork room. However I feel plenty of academics would agree that While you’re handed the desks that you simply, and generally academics do not need a selection at our faculty, they’d stroll into their room and so they had tables once they wished desks, or that they had desks once they wished tables, and also you simply must make these issues work. And we’ve achieved a reasonably good job making it work. However in that scenario, we had a limiteless price range. I feel we might regulate our furnishings scenario in right here, as we’re oftentimes welcoming 50 college students at one time, 8 college students round one desk and so they’re sharing a small quantity of provides and you may think about it. It’s not all the time clear and it’s not all the time functioning the very best to its means. You understand, price range, we’d make smaller class sizes.

Host: Nancy Chung @fancynancyin5th:
Yeah. Oh, is that even an choice?

Visitors: Stephanie Osmundson & Loreal Hemenway @happilyeverelementary:
You stated one space. Perhaps we’d add chandeliers and disco balls. Yeah, I don’t know. If it was limitless, we’d in all probability go, I do know.

Host: Nancy Chung @fancynancyin5th:
Proper. In January, I used to be lucky sufficient to go together with College Specialty as they did a classroom makeover for a trainer. They stunned this trainer in Houston. And guess what sort of room it was? It was an artwork room. So the furnishings, the tables, simply the group methods, not simply the provides, however the entire room was simply reworked. And I used to be like, drooling. I used to be like, I didn’t even know they made issues like this. So it was wonderful to see College Specialty coming in and like simply reworking this complete house. And it was unbelievable. So you could possibly try a few of these tables and desks too. Yeah. And there may very well be like Barry that will probably be like, right here you go.

Visitors: Stephanie Osmundson & Loreal Hemenway @happilyeverelementary:
Listed here are the tables. Yeah. Somebody on the market.

Host: Nancy Chung @fancynancyin5th:
Wink wink. Wink wink. I do know. Okay. Think about you could possibly journey again in time to your first yr of educating. What’s the single most impactful classroom group hack you’d share together with your youthful self and why?

Visitors: Stephanie Osmundson & Loreal Hemenway @happilyeverelementary:
It’s humorous as a result of we truly suppose so fondly of our first school rooms as a result of clearly it was like our first impression of educating and we cared a lot about our school rooms that we dreamed of for years. And I discovered quite a bit from Loreal in faculty as a result of she graduated two years earlier than me and had had a classroom for 2 years. So I’d like go in and like volunteer for her simply to love, you realize, get slightly style of like educating whereas I used to be nonetheless in faculty. However I keep in mind each of our first school rooms and one factor that we each valued a ton was clearly storage. We now have a a lot bigger room now as artwork academics, however on the time there have been so many issues in kinder and first grade that you could possibly maintain on to as like manipulatives or as like, you realize, with sure thematic learn alouds that you simply’re like, oh, I’ve to maintain this stuffy for that one lesson. Like, there’s simply so many issues. After which in relation to storage within the rooms that we had, it was, there was, Both you wanted to go slightly bit excessive and have issues anchored excessive above your wardrobes or have issues low. Loreal was actually good. Her complete again wall was bulletin boards, however she had tables in entrance of them. And so then beneath each desk, she had totes or storage bins that had been actually massive that held a ton of stuff, however you wouldn’t see any of it as a result of she had this like stunning curtain that was like a theme. colour scheme that coated all the things that was alongside the sting of her desk. And so like issues like that, the place it’s important to like, not simply take the storage. We got these apothecary wardrobes the place there’s 1,000,000 drawers. And issues like that don’t slot in these drawers. A minimum of ours had been very slim and lengthy and deep. And so there have been issues that like a storage tote is what you would wish. And so issues like that, we’d get artistic with and you may cowl it up if you happen to’re in a position to stack issues excessive. I do know there’s some instances the place it’s important to be certain security is, thought-about. However there’s numerous issues like that the place it’s like if you have to retailer stuff, like get artistic about it, cowl it up. It’s all good. However I’ll conceal all of them. Personally, for first yr academics and for second yr academics or no matter. If you happen to’re not utilizing it, I’d say don’t really feel the trainer guilt of like, but it surely was free or somebody left it for me. Eliminate stuff if you happen to’re not utilizing it. Or if it’s not truly purposeful in your room, as a result of that was one thing I struggled with for in all probability 4 years, at the very least was like, holding on to a ton of stuff. And it like type of frazzled my mind, however I always felt like there was potential to make use of sure issues instructionally. And thoughts you, once more, backyard I had facilities circulating and altering each single week. So something may have been used for a middle, however don’t be scared to type of edit your stuff yearly. Edit it down. Is that this working for me? Is it not? May one other trainer use it greater than I may? I may reward it to another person or simply donate or trash it relying on what it’s. However I feel that was one thing that like took me a very long time to be taught personally as a result of Loreal has been all the time actually good at enhancing her stuff. I really feel that I really needed to work on as a result of for the longest time I hoarded stuff in my wardrobes and stuff. And till I removed it, did I actually see group, like true group the place I’m like, all the things right here has a house, has a goal.

Host: Nancy Chung @fancynancyin5th:
Yeah. And I do know we’ve had earlier conversations about that being like organized hoarders or like having like, oh gosh, my home proper now, my summer season trip aim was to eliminate plenty of my stuff. And it’s

Visitors: Stephanie Osmundson & Loreal Hemenway @happilyeverelementary:
all right here nonetheless. Each summer season child, each summer season.

Host: Nancy Chung @fancynancyin5th:
By yourself time. Perhaps spring break, winter break, yeah.

Visitors: Stephanie Osmundson & Loreal Hemenway @happilyeverelementary:
Nicely I feel it’s laborious for folks such as you and I too as a result of while you’re a artistic particular person you see potential that you could possibly change this or that or have this particular perform and so I feel that doesn’t assist. I do know. And I’ll simply paint it or I’ll simply carry on it.

Host: Nancy Chung @fancynancyin5th:
Uh-huh. Nicely, we simply want any person to return and say, I really want this. Can I’ve it? And we’ll be like, right here you go. So you are feeling like there’s a goal, that may be a dream. I simply can’t eliminate it.

Visitors: Stephanie Osmundson & Loreal Hemenway @happilyeverelementary:
However I do know, however otherwise you want a Loreal as a result of she’s like professional.

Host: Nancy Chung @fancynancyin5th:
Sure, sure, I do know. Loreal, what are you doing tomorrow?

Visitors: Stephanie Osmundson & Loreal Hemenway @happilyeverelementary:
She wasn’t educating. I really feel like she may simply be like a house organizer.

Host: Nancy Chung @fancynancyin5th:
Yeah, you’re like, say goodbye. Say thanks for the enjoyment that it introduced you. Marie Kondo it. Yep. I really like that. Yeah. No, however thanks a lot for being right here. Now. We now have a section on our podcast known as Tag You’re It, the place the listeners write in with a query. And at present’s query shouldn’t be educating associated. It comes from Jordan P. And the query is, if you happen to may change locations with somebody, anybody for a day, who would it not be? And why?

Visitors: Stephanie Osmundson & Loreal Hemenway @happilyeverelementary:
Oh my gosh. Okay. I’ve my reply.

Host: Nancy Chung @fancynancyin5th:
I’ve mine too.

Visitors: Stephanie Osmundson & Loreal Hemenway @happilyeverelementary:
Oh, I wouldn’t have stated it on the digicam. Oh, yeah.

Host: Nancy Chung @fancynancyin5th:
Okay, right here’s Stephanie Taylor Swift, Taylor.

Visitors: Stephanie Osmundson & Loreal Hemenway @happilyeverelementary:
You’ll change your reply as a result of we talked about this on a regular basis. We reside the identical life, however so no completely different. And it will be so useful, insightful, and so insightful. And simply each of us to actually which is humorous as a result of like, I’d be residence and she or he could be right here and it will be I need a day within the life along with her on her days. And as a lot as like, I really feel like we do reside a mirrored life, it will be very insightful to only spend a day in her sneakers. Now, you’re proper. I used to be not considering massive.

Host: Nancy Chung @fancynancyin5th:
Okay, no, I do know.

Visitors: Stephanie Osmundson & Loreal Hemenway @happilyeverelementary:
He’s proper, although. I’ll say I feel as mothers too the truth that we’re extraordinarily clear with one another it actually helps how sincere we’re as a result of it provides us plenty of perception when like plenty of issues as dad and mom you are feeling like oh am I doing the fitting factor or what are my selections like there are issues Loreal has introduced right into a dialog I’m like I’ve by no means considered that and our kids are so completely different too that it brings completely different methods up clearly my son’s on the spectrum so there’s plenty of issues that come up that she’s like I I didn’t know that you realize and vice versa

Host: Nancy Chung @fancynancyin5th:
However I need to know why you selected Taylor Swift.

Visitors: Stephanie Osmundson & Loreal Hemenway @happilyeverelementary:
Let me inform you. And it’s not essentially as a result of folks at Travis can see something. No, I simply really feel like that is so egocentric now. I really feel horrible. Don’t really feel unhealthy. Rising up, I had this, and I’ve to thank my mother for this, I had this unreal, like I simply accepted the truth that someday I used to be going to be a well-known pop star. And I in all probability believed that with full certainty till I used to be like 15 years outdated. After which actuality began hitting once I bought my first job and I’m like, what’s a W-2? Like, I used to be like, oh, this isn’t on the desk for you and that’s okay. However I used to be like a theater and choir child and I really believed that. And so I feel someday identical to realizing what it’s actually wish to be like a pop star and like, she’s clearly a mega icon. and businesswoman and identical to all the things, I simply suppose it will be enjoyable. Like, you realize, and to be on a stage and all that. That’s so egocentric in comparison with the place Loreal is. I simply give it some thought daily as a result of I’d love to only stroll a day in her life. And I’d love for her to stroll a day in my life. And I simply suppose that may be so cool simply to, yeah, simply expertise.

Host: Nancy Chung @fancynancyin5th:
And I simply Stephanie that you could possibly stroll round, you could possibly stroll round and say, Loreal needs to be me.

Visitors: Stephanie Osmundson & Loreal Hemenway @happilyeverelementary:
She needs to be me. No, there’s issues although, if I used to be in Loreal’s like life that I really feel like I’d be like, okay, let me do this on for dimension. As a result of like she stated, it’s humorous how mirrored are like, yeah, there’s like very particular issues that like may by no means even be near the identical. Yeah, it will be fascinating. However that’s enjoyable.

Host: Nancy Chung @fancynancyin5th:
Oh, you guys are so fortunate to have one another and dealing collectively so effectively. Yeah. I want each trainer had a piece buddy, like work sister work buddy like that, you realize, of their faculties, lots of people reaching out, they’re like, I want I had that.

Visitors: Stephanie Osmundson & Loreal Hemenway @happilyeverelementary:
And we want so deeply that everybody brings the consolation and care of like an excellent buddy, particularly occupation. Yeah.

Host: Nancy Chung @fancynancyin5th:
Nicely, it actually you guys actually shine via within the quick little reels and the tick tocks that you simply guys share it actually your positivity and love for one another and love for the youngsters actually shine via. So thanks for making that contagious love, you realize, simply, you realize, unfold to everybody who follows you.

Visitors: Stephanie Osmundson & Loreal Hemenway @happilyeverelementary:
We’ve had a privilege to see you, Nancy, and it has been such a privilege as a result of we’ve discovered a lot.

Host: Nancy Chung @fancynancyin5th:
So thanks for sharing your time with us. Thanks. Thanks a lot. Nicely, it was fantastic having you again. Nicely, I hope to have you ever guys again once more for for different extra episodes. However thanks. Thanks for being right here. We love you.

Visitors: Stephanie Osmundson & Loreal Hemenway @happilyeverelementary:
Love you. Thanks, guys.

Host: Nancy Chung @fancynancyin5th:
Bye. Thanks for becoming a member of us for the seventh episode of The Schoolyard Podcast.

Host: Nancy Chung @fancynancyin5th:
Keep in mind to pack your curiosity and meet us again within the schoolyard for our subsequent episode.

Host: Nancy Chung @fancynancyin5th:
However earlier than you go, tag you’re it! Now it’s your flip to write down in with a query which we’ll reply right here on The Schoolyard Podcast for our section known as Tag You’re It.

Host: Nancy Chung @fancynancyin5th:
Tag us on Fb, Instagram, Pinterest, or Twitter, at SchoolSpecialty, and hashtag SchoolyardTagYourIt, with a query that you really want answered. One query will probably be chosen per episode to be answered by our featured visitor and myself, and in case your query is chosen to be answered on the podcast, we’ll ship you a really particular Schoolyard Podcast t-shirt. Class dismissed!