7 Tips on How to Be a More Productive Teacher

Teaching can be a demanding job. And, if the last few years have taught us anything, it was this. It is almost impossible to keep up with all the paperwork, be a successful teacher, and still have a family life. However, it can be done. But, how? What can you do to get it all done in a day and still have time for your family and yourself? Here are 7 things that you can do to increase your productivity at work while still maintaining your personal sanity.

Get a Good Start

Breakfast is the first meal of the day. And, no, you shouldn’t skip it because you are in a hurry to get to work and get started. Eating breakfast provide you with the fuel you need to make it through a hectic day at school. It is difficult to deal with a room full of excited, rambunctious children when you are hungry.

• Plan Your Mornings Ahead of Time

I know somedays it can be difficult to grab a bit before rushing headlong into the day. So, that’s where planning ahead for breakfast comes into play. Even before school starts, begin to think about those hectic days. Purchase or pre-make smoothies. I’m not a big advocate for instant meals, but they can be a lifesaver. Add Breakfast bowls and breakfast drinks like Carnation Breakfast Essentials. Protein bars aren’t just restricted to athletes. Consider purchasing some and keeping them either in your car or your classroom for those days you forget to get breakfast. They can even turn into a quick snack later in the day. A simple piece of toast, a handful of nuts, and some type of protein will even suffice.

Know When You are at Your Best

Get to know yourself. Figure out when you work best. Are you a morning person? Are you more productive at night? Knowing when you are at your best can help you to carefully plan out your schedule or workload.

I know as teachers we have a set schedule. However, you can arrange how you complete other tasks. If lesson planning is stress or requires a lot of attention, then you want to plan to get it done when you are at your most alert. Don’t check your email and respond to it first thing in the mornings if this is an activity that drains your strength. Instead, do this at a later time in the day.

Stephen Covey outlines the 4 quadrant model for time management in his book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. He explains how to determine which activities should warrant the majority of your time and focus. This is Habit 3: Put First Things First.

Get Focused

As teachers, we know how important it is to stay focused. Meditate can help you keep things in perspective. During your meditation sessions focus on the positive things in life. You might even want to go over your positive affirmations to help you gain some clarity before beginning your day.

Exercise encourages the body to release serotonin. This is called the “Feel Good” hormone. It help to improve our mood.

You can also try reading. Going for a walk or simply enjoy a simple cup of coffee. Do whatever it takes to get your mind focused and ready for the school day.

Stop Multi-Tasking

Years ago, multi-tasking used to be encouraged. It was claimed that you could get more done. Well, while that might be true for some, it is not true for all. For some of us, when we try to do more than one thing at a time,  we end up creating a mess. Often, when we are trying to switch from one thing to the next, our brains are more prone to make errors. Our work suffers. Now, the emphasis is on completing one task at a time.  

As teachers we are bouncing from one thing to the next trying to get it all done. However, when we are a “jack of all trades, we are a master of none”. Focus on one thing at a time.

Organize

One of the best ways to be more productive as a teacher is to be more organized. I have found that my day runs a lot better when my desk is clean and my files in place. Plus, I get a lot more work done. Trust me.

The golden rule is: Everything has a place. To make things earlier to find for you and your students, you will want to have a designated place for everything. Plastic bins and carriers are life savers. Be sure to add labels that are clearly visible and that indicate what is in each container. I know you are busy but take the time to get organized. It will help to save you time and improve your productivity.

Have a Routine

Create a routine that’s easy for you to follow and use it consistently. This will help you and your students to know what to expect. It will build trust and provide a sense of security for your students. It will also give you a peace of mind.

Designate certain days for giving test and quizzes. For example, Wednesdays may be “Writing Wednesday”. So, your students know that on Wednesday they will be writing. Thursdays may be “Testing Thursday”. If your district does not use a “Pacing Guide”, you might want to create one of your own. Then, choose set days to teach each of your state objectives. And, you can check your objectives off as you teach them. This is also a way to easily keep up with who did or did not master each objective.

Complete Lesson Plans Early

One of the keys to being a more productive teacher is planning. Plan your lessons early. I know this can be difficult to plan days before you finish the lesson you are currently on. However, this ensures that you don’t get behind on all those tons of paperwork. Remember, these are only plans. Nothing is set in stone. And, you can always go back and make changes to your lesson plans.

It is possible to be a more productive teacher. Have a set routine. Plan effectively. Get organized and stop trying to do it all at one time.

Happy Teaching!!!