stress!

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Home : 2003 : September : 29

stress!
By tia

HA! (When do you get your life back?) Well, I just worked a big chunk of the weekend--granted, it was mid-term report time today--to get ready for the week, and here it is Monday at 5:30 and I'm still at school.(This is
my 11th year teaching.) I do have another "life"; I have a husband and 2 small children.
I think if things ever get easy, then you've turned into that burned out teacher who needs to retire. (I did NOT say things wouldn't get easier--just be wary of things becoming EASY.)
I offer this small piece of advice--but note that I'm still at school! ha ha
Don't write lists of things to

do--or if you do, tuck it away where you won't see it every day. Each day write down your BIG 3. The 3 things that MUST be done that day--paperwork to fill out for referring a student to spec. ed, those book orders that have been in your desk for 2 WEEKS--oops, that stack of papers to grade and return. And make those the things you focus on that day--if you get extra time, bonus! Finish something else.

Also, decide if you are really going to do something if you take it home. If you think you might not have time or energy to do it, leave it at school. You don't need that guilt.

One time management technique that has helped me stay on task when doing something and to not dilly-dally is to use my timer--it's an electronic one that we teachers got to practice timed readings--so I use it in other ways? I decide how long it should take to do something. Grading that stack? 15 minutes--then I race the clock. Tear down that bulletin board? 5 minutes! It's a race! Even if it goes off before I'm done, it's a reminder to get cracking.I even allow myself only so much time for pleasurable activities--15 minutes of proteach and then I have to stop.

Good luck; hang in there!