how to be organized when you're not

Home

Chat

Blogs

Collection

Directory

Home : 2007 : June : 30

how to be organized when you're not
By Teach'n'Learn

I'm no model of organization, so I have to work really hard at it. This is what has worked for me.

STUDENT WORK: Each of my students has a folder. ALL their papers to be turned in go in their folders, kept at their
desks all day. At the end of the day, I collect the folders. At no point is a student's paper ever on my desk. (Which has the bonus feature of avoiding the "But I turned it in, you must have lost it!" excuse.) Then I go through the folders and mark or look at everything that needs to be marked or looked at. Piles = 1 pile of neatly stacked folders on my desk from 3 p.m. to 8 a.m.

(unless I'm working with them)

FUTURE STUDENT WORK/LESSONS: Each day has it's own three-ring binder. I keep my lesson plans, all the worksheets and tests the kids will need that day, any handouts I have for them, and any notes I need for doing a lesson. I try to do all my photocopying 1-2 weeks in advance, and all those papers are in binders. Piles = none, 1 row of neatly stacked binders

MAIL/NOTES FROM HOME: I try to sort through all my box contents while I am in the office. If it is junk, it goes straight in the recycling box without ever making it to my desk. If I need to respond to it, I respond right there if it is at all possible. If I need to do something with it, I take it with me, but by this point it's usually only 1 or 2 pieces of paper. These papers go in a tray until they can be dealt with and filed. Piles = 1, neatly contained

VARIOUS NOTES TO SELF/CALENDARS/MEMOS/ETC.: Everything gets rewritten on my computer or my personal calendar. I do not keep any calendar updates or notes to myself on a memo board or desk. I have a word doc called "LOOK HERE OFTEN" (feel free to name yours whatever works for you :rolleyes: ). Every note or To-do item gets typed in there. I check it frequently. I also have one of those big desk blotter calendars. All dates are written down on that and the notice gets recycled/tossed.

I hope that helps.