Give your January self a gift, and take some time to declutter these 8 things from your space before Christmas Break:

Craft supplies you haven’t used this school year

Speaking of that large grocery bag full of empty paper towel rolls… just be done with it. Unless you have the activity already on the calendar, with all the supplies accessible, you should seriously consider your space’s actual capacity for someday project storage. If you can replace it for less than $20 or borrow it from a friend when the time comes, just let your storage space breathe.

Books your kids don’t like

You know those books with really beautiful illustrations or sentimental characters? Those books you were so excited to introduce, and were sure would work for your students… until they didn’t. Yeah, those are the books you should take off the shelf. Let someone else love them. I promise you, nothing kills a love of literature like being forced to read something you loathe.

Broken things

You should’ve thrown it away when you saw it the first time, but instead it got tossed into the drawer or shoved back into the bin. Today is the day. If you’re broke, you can’t stay. (Yes, I am a poet.) All those crayons, pencils, dried up markers, paper scraps, lonely puzzle pieces, etc. have got to go. 

Games and puzzles that are worn out

Speaking of missing puzzle pieces, time to find out which games and puzzles have seen better days. Kids can be rough on toys, and it may be time to let some of them cross over the rainbow bridge to board game heaven. RIP Chutes and Ladders. 

Fall and Christmas decor you didn’t use

If you didn’t want to display it this year, consider passing it on to someone who will. Do you really want to  pack it up and manage that inventory for ANOTHER year, only to dislike it again next time? Donate it or toss it, and enjoy the seasonal decorations you do love!

Flat surfaces

Potentially controversial this one: I’m going to suggest that you put all your flat surfaces on trial. Every table, shelf, countertop, and desk is a place for STUFF to pile up. Every flat surface in your student’s learning environment is an invitation to set something down, and an additional area for you to continuously tidy up. So, look around your space and be ruthless. Is there any furniture that can go? 

Your Desk or Planning Area

This place should be your peaceful spot. It should be a place that welcomes you, calms you, and helps you do your best work. Whether you have a desk in your classroom, a basket for your homeschool planning, or anything in between, I’m guessing over the Fall some clutter has built up. Won’t it be wonderful to show up in January to a space that makes you WANT to plan and prep?

Curriculum and teacher guides that you aren’t using 

This is where our frugal brain starts panicking. That extra curriculum we might use next year (except we've been saying that for three years already...) Take an honest look through your curriculum and teacher guides. Are there any that aren’t serving you this year? Resources you never ended up using or no longer need? Stop storing them for free. Let someone else benefit from them, or if they’re used up toss them right now.

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