Working Smarter, Not Harder

With Spring Break coming, we will not have a staff meeting so you can plan for after break.  I hope  you all have an awesome week off with family and friends!!!

Some common question educators ask themselves are:

• How can I balance the work as a teacher and my life?                           I could be working all day and night and it's never done.
• How can I be the best teacher?
• How can I continue to grow as a teacher?
• How can I feel good about the work I do?
• How can I meet all of my students' needs?

• How can I work SMARTER, not harder?

Here are some tips:  

Prioritize your work
Ask yourself:  
Is this something I should do or the kids should do?
Can a volunteer do this?
How can I sort the work as what I need to do to teach, personalize instruction, and provide strong feedback for students.

Collaborate
Share the work oad.
Share your work and learn from your colleagues.
Plan guided reading lessons together

Get it done
Set aside some time, shut your door and get it done.  Minimize conversations, distractions, phones, and concentrate on your tasks.

Invest in students
Give them jobs in the classroom.
Think about how students can have choice and voice in the classroom.
Have students responsible for teaching each other.

Take care of yourself
Exercise
Enjoy time with family and friends
Schedule these times in your calendar.
Work hard and play hard!

Here are some great resources:
15 Ways to Work Smarter Not Harder by Genia Connell
Work Smarter, Not Harder:  10 Tips for Teachers

Please add a tip below to share with your colleagues on working smarter not harder.