As an educator, it seems like there is never enough time in the day. Every task feels critical. Every interruption feels like an emergency. Educators often pride themselves on being multitaskers. These feelings are partially to blame for my leaving the traditional classroom. I was tired of not having time to complete everything. I was tired of always feeling like everything needed my full attention every minute of the day. I was tired of working on multiple tasks at the same time but never feeling accomplished. I came to realize that a tired teacher is not a good teacher. My students deserved better. So, I left the classroom.
Deciding to leave the traditional classroom was the hardest professional decision I ever had to make. It’s a decision I question frequently. However, this time away from the traditional classroom has given me opportunities that I never would have had had I continued on the path I described in the previous paragraph. I’ve learned more about being a teacher while away from the classroom than all of the years I spent in the classroom. Should the opportunity to return to the traditional classroom environment become available to me in the future, I feel much more confident in my abilities to be effective.
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned in my non-traditional educator experiences is to place value on my time. Prioritizing tasks and declining tasks that will not ultimately benefit my students has been one of the most freeing experiences of my career. Recognizing that not everything is critical has saved my teaching career. Learning to wait 24 hours to respond to non-critical messages has saved my sanity. Taking time to analyze and prioritize my teacher tasks has made me a more effective educator. Focusing on one task at a time rather than being a multitasking machine leaves me feeling energized rather than drained. “Teacher tired” is no longer a feeling I experience, and my students are the beneficiaries of a rested and happy teacher.
Teachers, your time is precious. And, you deserve to not feel drained by the profession you love. My hope this summer is to share with you how I’m setting myself and my students up for success in the upcoming school year by placing our focus on how to manage our time effectively and efficiently. I would love to know your tips and strategies for good time management.
PinaRose Education 