Efficiency

The start of a new school year should set the tone for the rest of the year. Most people start the year with renewed energy, focus and vigour. They have enjoyed a well-earned break and are ready for another challenging year. Whilst it is important to ‘hit the ground running’, we need to guard against ‘going too hard, too fast and burning ourselves out’. This can be a fine line.   Establishing systems and good habits are essential at this time of the year. Our intentions are good and hopefully our reserves are replenished. However having good intentions aren’t enough. It is our actions that count.   Whilst organisation is one of the keys to time management, many staff in…

Report writing time is stressful – fact! It is an additional task to do as well as your usual day-to-day responsibilities as a teacher. It also comes at the end of term when we are most vulnerable. However the stress is to be expected – don’t be surprised. It happens at this time every year! It is important to monitor your self-talk and keep the stress in proportion. It is particularly important to maintain the activities that reduce stress when we are at our most vulnerable. Often the first thing that we stop doing when we add the extra demands at report writing time, is our exercise routine. Taking a break to get some fresh air, raise the pulse and…

Working in a school environment or teaching in a classroom is challenging in a myriad of ways. One of the causes for stress and work dissatisfaction is the number and severity of interruptions experienced by staff. We’ve all felt the frustration of getting stuck into a work task or classroom lesson, gaining momentum and starting to see great results, when… BAM – there’s a knock on the door; the phone rings; a student arrives late or must leave early; and so on. Rarely does it matter WHAT the interruption is, the focus is lost and it can be difficult, sometimes impossible, to regain momentum in the available timeframe. Whilst it’s tempting to throw your hands in the air and bemoan…

Like it or not, data cannot be dismissed as “just another four letter word”. Now, more than ever, gathering, synthesising, analysing and reporting on data is an intrinsic part of working in education. Therefore it is both essential and wise to invest time in developing strategies and systems to not only cope, but thrive, in the data-informed school environment. Here are some ideas for lightening the load: Work backwards – start where you hope to end up. Know WHAT you need to assess, WHEN you need to report on it and WHO you are sharing that information with. Understanding the difference between formative and summative assessment is critical to this step. Leaders need to ensure staff are clear on their…