Time-Saving Tips for Educators n
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18
Keep a notebook with a page for each child. When students borrow a book from the classroom to take home, write title and date on page, paper clip a slip of paper to each book for parents to fill out. Organize materials into folders for individuals and groups. The time spent setting it all up is more than worth it in time saved later. You may want electronic folders as well. Use grading sheets or rubrics to grade essays and limit what you’re looking for in each essay. Computerize as many of your school functions as you can. It will save lots of hours over the long haul. Check with your District policies about timelines for lesson plans. If you are able, complete lesson plans by Thursday for the following week. Set priorities. Stick to them. Have a nightly “stop time” for any work-related tasks — anything not done by then can wait. Communicate your deadline to family and friends. Make and return all phone calls at a set time, such as between 8 and 9 a.m. and between 3 and 4 p.m., unless it’s an emergency. Deal with paper only once — make a decision, respond right away on the same sheet or trash immediately. If you teach a foreign language, tape oral tests ahead of time. Leave the lights out in your classroom when you’re there working — people may not know you’re there and you’ll work undisturbed.