InClass

Get off on the right foot to ensure you don’t get behind.

It’s the final countdown. Most of us are in our last week of sweet summer freedom. If you’re a lucky one with a more traditional start date, you’re definitely feeling the back-to-school butterflies right about now.

1. Make daily, weekly, and monthly to-do lists.

Every Type-A person will agree: To-do lists are your tool for success. As the tests and bell work piles up, it’s really easy to feel buried and lose sight of the basic things that help your classroom run smoothly. What’s a teacher to do? Streamline your to-do lists. Right now, while you’re not overwhelmed with a stack of essays, write out what you need to do on a regular basis in Google Drive or a document on your desktop. That could be writing a positive note home every week, reorganizing the classroom bins, or checking for possibly failing students. For daily to-do lists, you have two options: at the end of the day (EOD) or first thing in the morning. EOD lists are great because they allow you to go home with a clear conscience; there’s nothing worse than thinking “I can’t forget to do _____ tomorrow,” as you’re trying to fall asleep at night. Get it on paper before you leave the classroom and be done with it!

2. Binders are your best friend.

The last thing you need is to be scrambling to prep a sub for an unexpected sick day, or scouring hundreds of emails looking for an ID or password. Binders can be a teacher’s lifesaver, and now is the time to bang them out. Head over to 6 Make-Ahead Binders to Knock Out Before School Starts for a detailed checklist of what to stuff ‘em with. Whether it’s a sub binder or one for assessments, this will be a huge way to save time as the year goes on.

3. Ask your peers and mentors for help.

Gone are the days of every educator for his and herself. But it’s still easy to struggle, and not ask for help until it feels like it’s almost too late. Share with your teachers, whether it’s a killer PowerPoint or decorations you no longer use, and don’t be afraid to reach out to your fellow team teachers, admin, or mentor if you have questions or could use some direction. They’ve all been there, too.

Ready to up your time management game even more? National Board Certified Teacher LeAnna Wolkis has four A+ strategies to help you get it done, quickly and well.