Time Management- the clock is ticking.

I promised in my last post that I would talk about getting it all done.  And how that was impossible.  I know that's not looking on the bright side.  I know I sound like Debbie Downer.  (See video on the right for a little comic relief if you're an SNL fan.)  I think that's what I've found to be the most distressing besides not feeling prepared for a lesson is that the work outside of the classroom is never ending.

The first thing I can say is- Get Organized!  Now, you may have to tweak your system, but remember this is a marathon not a sprint.  If you are already an organized person, what is your blog address?  I must add it to my Google Reader.  Seriously, if you're naturally organized, some of the challenge of being a first year teacher will be eliminated because you will naturally find a system that works for you and stick to it.  For those creative, free spirits out there, can I get a What What?!?!  We do make good teachers, but we have to work REALLY HARD TO KEEP IT ALL TOGETHER.  It can be so stressful and everyone-you, your family, your friends, your students, your administrators, suffer.  So even though it takes more thinking and perhaps a little more up front planning, it's worth it.  Find a system that works for you when it comes to grading, when it comes to communicating with parents and students about their grades, when it comes to lesson planning and doing those extras that are always looming.  Make yourself stay after school for 20 minutes to get ready for the next day.  Go ahead and make those copies or now that we're in the Web 2.0 Era, get the computer set up or the room arranged the way you want it.  You tell yourself, "Oh, I'll just get there early in the morning."  Nope.  That's when the uber-organized teacher is already at the copier making copies for a lesson that is 2 months down the road.  Whatever.  Do it now.  Don't wait.  You will regret it and then you'll take it out on everybody and they weren't the ones who decided to wait.  You were.  You waited.  Don't wait.

Secondly, try to anticipate that the next day is coming, the next unit, the next 9 weeks.  They're all coming.  Try to do a calendar for each unit with at least pencil lessons so that you have an idea of where you're going.  Map out each unit in pencil and of course if something shifts go in and edit those mapped out units so you don't surprise yourself later.  Even as I'm typing this tip, it seems so elementary to think about, but thinking and doing feel very differently.  Teaching is micro and macro.  You have to think about the minute details like how many copies you need or books to order or papers to grade and then you have to think about the big picture like- when am I going to teach the Research Paper Unit.  Do the big work ahead of time looking at the whole school calendar and the Course of Study and how long you will need on certain concepts.  Remember, you can always go back and adjust it.

Thirdly, don't be afraid to do a little bit along the way.  Grade a few papers.  Work on your lesson a little bit.  Do a little bit everyday that will get you closer to feeling prepared and at least in the game if not ahead of it!  You will never have 4 hours to sit and drink coffee and grade papers or prepare for a lesson.  And even if you do get those 4 hours that's something we like to call SLEEP.  You should do that.  You should sleep.

Fourth, take care of yourself.  I'm a hypocrite.  When I'm stressed, I don't crave apples and oranges and water.  I crave coffee, chocolate, and cheese dip.  And if I'm working late and burning the midnight oil, I am not reaching for healthy snacks.  Nope, I'm stealing from my son's stash of Dum Dums or justifying some sort of horrific binge that I will later regret.  There will be late nights, but when you are able, go to bed.  Do not get sucked into a rerun of The Housewives of Beverly Hills or Conan or Letterman or a Friends episode.  You will HATE yourself and it is not worth it.  Because I'm energized by teaching, I will lay awake thinking about all that I need or want to do and so sometimes, I have to wind down.  The wind down cannot begin at midnight.  Pace yourself and know when to call it a night.  After prepping one night until 4am, I knew a lot about Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, but I had no presentation skills because I was EXHAUSTED.  Ultimately, what you may lose in prep time, you will gain in the improvisation skills because you had sleep and your brain is ready for anything.  Not that you want to operate off of smoke and mirrors, but there will be days that you do not have every second planned.  And if you've had plenty of rest, you will be able to pay attention to what your class needs and adapt on the fly.

Fifth, watch the video clip on time management for teachers.  I think it offers terrifically practical advice that I hope to use as a part of my system.  Let me know what your system is or what you would like it to be.  I definitely work better in community so comment on this post so that I can learn and grow with you.

Sixth, go to sleep.