Maximizing Our Time
As educators, we are always looking for more time; more time
to meet with small groups, more time for extensions and remediation, more time
for RTI, more time for planning, and more time to run to the restroom. It is a
gift that we seldom are blessed with, but are desperately need. What are some
ways we find extra minutes in our day? What can you do to maximize your time
throughout the day?
One, look at what you are doing. Are you a perfectionist
that has to have everything done perfectly? Are you feeling overwhelmed and cannot
prioritize tasks? Do you have a hard time asking for help? Look at your day and
see where you spend the majority of your time. Spend time either Monday morning
or Sunday night to look at your week; take a few minutes to organize the tasks
you need to get done. Look to see if there are tasks that you and your team can
work together to accomplish more efficiently. Find a weekly or daily planner
that helps you see what has to be done, needs to be worked on, and can wait
until later. By organizing your tasks, you can focus on what needs to be done
first and save time worrying about getting it all done at once.
Is your team working as a team? Does everyone have their
“job” done on time? How can being a more efficient team help your workload? Look
at the procedures you have in place for your PLC; do they all ensure your team
is working efficiently? If team members are not living up to their part of the
pact, it needs to be addressed before it builds up animosity. It is important
to be able to discuss concerns with your team, less stressful work environments
make it easier to work. A good rule of
thumb is to document who is responsible for what task and what day it needs to
be completed by.
An effective way to make your PLCs more focused and
efficient is to incorporate protocols into the agenda. Look at your PLC agenda
and see where you can maximize time with a protocol. There are protocols for
all types of conversations from analyzing data to focusing on student work to
observing one another teach; they are research-based and a tried and true way
to keep your eye on the topic, get the information you are looking for, and
utilize your time wisely. A great website for protocols is the SRI: School
Reform Initiatives (https://www.schoolreforminitiative.org/protocols/).
It has many protocols and explanations of how to use them.
And if push comes to shove and you are overwhelmed….take a
break. Odds are you need to breathe, clear your mind, and regroup. It is
important to not work yourself into a state that your mental health is not
being taken care of. Most deadlines are able to be extended, if only asked;
there is support for teachers who need it- from content support to classroom
management support, if the support staff knows you are needing assistance. Ask
for help when it is needed; we all need help periodically!
You got into this fantastic profession for a reason, do not
allow the tasks and deadlines to burn you out of a career you were made for.
