| Being organized makes life easier for anyone, but for | | | | slew of other activities. |
| teachers it goes beyond making life easier - it really is | | | | 2. Once you have decided on a planner here is the |
| a necessity. There are so many things that a teacher | | | | key - USE IT. You would be surprised to find how |
| must accomplish in a day. It is impossible (no matter | | | | many teachers will purchase a planner at the beginning |
| how good you are at remembering) to remember | | | | of the year and then tuck it neatly in their desk drawer |
| every detail for every day. As a teacher, you are likely | | | | where it never gets to see the light of day. You have |
| well adept at lesson planning; it is a talent that goes | | | | to make a habit of using your planner. Take it home |
| hand and hand with the occupation. Over time the | | | | with you each day and bring it back to school with you |
| talent to plan lessons effectively really takes hold. | | | | in the morning. Make notes and plans and stick to |
| If teaching was the only thing that teachers were | | | | them. |
| responsible for, then this article would end now, and | | | | 3. Make your planner your constant companion- yes |
| there would be nothing else to write about. Teaching | | | | be one of those people- take your planner with you to |
| has a horde of responsibilities both inside the | | | | every meeting so it will be handy to jot down any |
| classroom and outside the classroom - which makes a | | | | important dates. If you make this your habit you will |
| planner a real asset to staying organized! The most | | | | feel less overwhelmed with trying to remember dates |
| effective teachers know that just as their lesson plans | | | | and times. You will have all the pertinent information |
| keep them on track with the curriculum for their | | | | right at your finger tips. |
| classrooms, a teacher's planner can also help them to | | | | 4. Schedule everything that you need to get done. You |
| undertake all of the other planning that is required to | | | | will be surprised how much more work you can get |
| meet all their ever-expanding list of responsibilities. | | | | done if you set aside time to do it. For example if you |
| Let's look at some tips for choosing and using a | | | | know you have to grade papers from 6-8 P.M., then |
| teacher's planner. | | | | you can clearly see that is what you planned to do |
| 1. Pick a planner, not a calendar. Everyone has a | | | | and carry it out without feeling like you should be doing |
| calendar that they can jot things down on, but a | | | | something else. What you plan for you will accomplish. |
| teacher needs a planner - not just a calendar. There | | | | 5. Getting organized is going to make you a better |
| are so many things that happen each month that need | | | | teacher, for several reasons - the most obvious of |
| to be planned for. You need a planner that can be | | | | which is that you will make more efficient use of the |
| portable enough to carry to meetings and large | | | | time that you have. A teacher's planner can also help |
| enough to fit in all the things that you must plan for like | | | | you to better prioritize your activities so that you get |
| IEP meetings, parent teacher conferences, staff | | | | the truly important things on your daily schedule |
| meetings, book turn ins, fund raiser information and a | | | | accomplished first. |