Time Management

I am a first year teacher and for the first part of the school year I also coached volleyball. As many of you know teachers normally spend a lot of time working on school stuff. First year teachers it can be even more becasue you do not know the curriculum or have any ideas ready, you re starting from scratch. I think this is great becasue I am passionate about helping my students be the best they can be, but I also did not want my job to take over my entire life. I set some basic ground rules and done a few things that have helped me with that time management.

1) Keep work at work. Unless it is something I can mindlessly do in front of the TV I do not bring work home. I will stay at school later and do my work there. This helps with the teacher burnout you hear about. I need time to relax and just take care of myself.

2) Get to school early. My contract time requires me to be at school at 7:30. I get there at 7:00 and spend that half an hour really working on stuff before my contract requirements start.

3) I eat lunch in my room. I do not do this to be antisocial, but I have about 40 minute while my kids are at recess and lunch. I take the time to spend about 15 minutes in peace eating, then I spend the rest of the time working.

4) Be planned for the next week. I am completely planned for the next week before I leave school Fruday. I have planning time right away Monday morning so I begin planning for the following week. I start things that I know I will not skip and can begin planning.

5) This has a little to do for school, but more about time management in general. I cook a big meal Sunday and use it all week. I will cook a pan of chiecken and then I have it with dinners all week.

I hope some of these tips help you. I know these tips are not possible for everyone, but I hope you can take parts of them and they can help you.