What’s the best way to maintain your sanity this year? I’ve compiled a list of the single most important teaching tip from 39 teachers just like you so please have a look, crack a smile, and realize you’re not alone.
1. File away papers as soon as I am done with them instead of stacking them for later.
2. Take deep breaths and step back for a few minutes when I feel overwhelmed and let my program assistant help more.
3. Seeing at least one positive side in every situation.
4. I am going to be more diligent in my time management
5. Number my assignments so that the students and I can keep track of them more easily.
6. Hot Yoga and Snowshoeing!
7. I am going to leave promptly on Fridays and get a massage!
8. Dropbox. I never have to worry about where I worked or what computer I used!
9. Know your limits: Help others when you can, Ask for help when you need it, and remember it is OK to say no.
10. Be more selective with what I assign that needs to be graded! Stop grading homework!
11. I am going to be more diligent in my time management this year.
12. Make me a priority, even if it’s a10-minutee yoga de-stress or walk during my conference period
13. Creating assessments that are able to be graded quickly and easily.
14. I need to plan smarter not harder. Doing project based activities through real world experiences throughout the community. This way I could teach activities that are cross-curricular.
15. Try not to take negative student behaviour personally. It is rarely (if ever) about you 🙂
16. No social media distractions while working
17. Be kind to yourself 🙂
18. Mark/grade at least one assignment per school day to avoid buildups on the weekends.
19. Not bring (a ton of) work home so I can spend more time with my family.
20. I’ve adjusted how I react to digressions in behaviour. I have adopted a low-key, non-confrontational approach and no longer confront students and assign detentions. I now quietly hand the perp a form letter to be hand carried home and returned the following day with a parent signature. Easy peasy and has worked a charm so far.
21. Me time, I don’t care if it’s a 10-minute walk outside during my conference or a long bath at home.
22. Taking a few minutes to declutter my desk before I leave each day
23. To laugh more in my classroom
24. Stay on-top of grading and ask more deliberate H.O.T. questions
25. Grade papers in class with students, using grading pens. Cuts down on my grading time, they get feedback right away, and they get to ask questions right away. They verbally tell me scores which I write down.
26. I’m going to use Google forms even more, and I’m going to stop bringing school work home.
If it doesn’t get done at school, it’ll have to wait!
27. Plan and grade on different days—NOT the weekend!
28. Use an absentee form so students know what they need to do makes the makeup work easier to track as information is on the form
29. Create more fun projects
30. Splurge on a good Pinot noir
31. Doing a better job picking my battles. I’m dealing with teenagers, after all… if I can get them working and learning, I can let a little chit chat or gum chewing go ?
32. Focus more energy on the amazing, fun, kind kids in the room and how lucky I am to spend my day with them!
33. Keep reminding myself that if I don’t finish everything during one prep there is always tomorrow…
34. Keep up with my planning and grading. Kid number two has thrown that all off and haven’t got back on track.
35. Start each period with yoga. I did a little but if it last year towards the end of the year and it seemed to increase focus and calm within the classroom (especially during semester exams !).
36. Take a deep breathe and don’t take anything too personally.
37. I am going to remind myself to continue to be grateful I have a teaching job with co-workers and kids I love!
38. Focus more on positive behavior!
39. Work out every day
Did I miss one? Please leave it in the comments below.
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