It often feels like there is never enough time. Emails, meetings, paperwork, planning, marking, conversations with parents and supporting students can quickly fill every minute of the day. The Pareto Principle, often called the 80/20 Rule, offers a simple way to think about your workload.
Report writing time can be stressful — late nights, pressure and additional workload at a busy time. Instead of dreading the approach of report writing time and using weak coping strategies like counting down the days till the holidays, try planning early (super-early – like, now!) to make reporting time much calmer. Planning early can make the whole process calmer and smoother.
Building a solid connection with parents at the beginning of the year is particularly beneficial. If parents see you as having credibility and trust you, they are less likely to challenge or cause you grief. An excellent way to build a positive and nurturing culture is to provide quality information sessions for parents to attend, in the first few weeks of the school year.
I’m a big fan of the reality TV show, “The Block”. Through watching the program, I realised that I am envious of tradies, especially tilers. At the end of each day a tradie can see the results of their work. A sparky can see the lights they installed, a plumber can count the toilets they have unblocked, a painter can see the walls they have painted and a tiler at the end of their week can see the beautiful bathroom they have produced.
Schools can be crazy busy places. The most common response you hear when you ask someone who works in a school, how they are, is busy! However, there is a fine line between being busy and being productive. Here are seven tips from international best-selling author Tim Ferriss.
Staff who work in schools, give so much — your time, energy and heart — to support your students and school community. But in the midst of caring for everyone else, it’s easy to put your own well-being last. Looking after your mental health isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity
Working in schools can sometimes feel as though we are running on a never-ending treadmill, constantly in pursuit of the lifestyle we aspire to. At times it can feel like our work is not appreciated. The website ActionForHappiness.org provides the following guidance on 10 keys to happier living.
Working in schools can be very rewarding but it also can be demanding. The following 5 tips can help to lower stress at times when you feel under pressure. Choose a positive attitude Our attitude has a HUGE impact on our stress levels and our resilience. It is vital to realise that our attitude is NOT imposed on us. We have a choice each and every day. We can choose to be positive and enthusiastic or negative and at the mercy of others. The choice is ours! The attitude that we choose is probably the most important decision that we make each day.
The final term of the school year is a crazy busy time in schools. End of year assessment and reporting, class allocations, timetabling, budgets and planning for next year, swamp us at a time when our energies are low and many of us feel we are running on empty. At the end of the year we are likely to be more sensitive than usual, perhaps a little ‘thin skinned’ and emotional because we are run down and in need of that well-earned break. We shouldn’t be surprised. The same thing happens at this time every year. The important thing is HOW we respond to this challenge. Monitoring our self-talk and our sensitivity are particularly important at this time of the…
1.Reflect on what you achieved One of the challenges of working in schools is we can’t necessarily see what we have achieved each day. Take a few moments to review how you used your time today. Clean up for a fresh start tomorrow Clutter, physical and virtual, takes a surprising toll on your energy. Tidy your desk at the end of each day — after saving your open work — close all of your computer’s unneeded windows and browser tabs. Cleaning up today, gives you a fresh start tomorrow. Prepare tomorrow’s to-do list in order of priority Doing this has two benefits. First of all, it gives you a sense of completion when you hand off tasks to another day.…