In Episode Two, I share about how time can be used, found and managed so that we can give our very best to our students, our families, our personal interests and ourselves. We are each given the same amount of time in our day and using it well makes it go further.
HOW TO USE YOUR TIME DURING BREAKS
a. Go to the bathroom. No, I mean it! That is often what those 5-minute breaks are for between classes. Many times a teacher comes with their class early while you are waiting with your class for their teacher to pick them up. Be considerate of the classroom teachers while also making sure you have a chance to take care of business.
b. Get a drink or a snack. Consider stocking up on some healthy options and keeping them in your desk or a basket.
c. Stretch a bit! Take deep breaths. Stretch your arms. It's quick, refreshing and sometimes just what you need to wake up and get energized!
d. Take notes about the previous class: what you completed in the lesson, what needs more work, where a good place to start next class would be. Put the ideas on a sticky note and add to your lesson plan book or in Google Keep or somewhere digitally.
e. Prep materials that need to be copied. Make notes of what to copy and have a place that you set everything so that when you have a longer break, you simply pick everything up and get it done more efficiently.
f. Practice a piece or part of a lesson that is coming up. This will be very brief!! You might sing through the melody of a new song you're teaching, play an instrument (recorder/piano/drum) and improvise.
g. Email - depends on how you like to spend time looking at emails! Sometimes this is less helpful and other times it might help you make a plan for who you need to contact later in the day.
a. Lesson plan - Try to focus on one grade level at a time.
b. Break the time into chunks - Spend time answering emails for 20 minutes and copying materials for another 20 minutes.
c. Phone a friend - Some teachers find it helpful to share lesson plans or share ideas. Spend time talking, skyping, or google chatting with another music teacher.
d. Seek out a mentor - similar to the previous idea, but taken a step further. Look into the AOSA (American Orff Schulwerk Association) Digital Mentorship program here. Note: You will need to be a member of AOSA to use this program.
FINDING MORE TIME
Three things that impact my productivity are my social media accounts, lack of energy and saying yes to everything.
1. Consider how much time you're spending on social media.
- Choose a time or times during the day to check email or use social media. Commit to that time and only do it then.
- Curate your feed so you're only seeing what you want to see.
- If you find a video clip you want to watch, save the video on Facebook or use the Evernote Web Clipper icon to save it to Evernote (if you use Evernote).
2. Find the time of day that you are the most productive and use it
For the times you are the most alert, active and focused, choose to tackle the tasks that need the most attention. If you lack energy during a specific time of day regularly, try to schedule menial tasks that take little to no effort or focus. Again, stock up on protein, fruit, nuts and drink water during the day to keep your energy more steady.
3. Say yes to only the things you want to say yes to
Don't over schedule yourself. Saying no to the right things means you can say yes to the things that matter most to you.
MANAGING TIME
1. Set Goals
Determine what you want to do and set goals to help you work towards those things.
2. Make To-Do Lists
-Use Google Keep, sticky notes or email yourself to keep up with a running list of what you need to get done.
3. Keep school at school
- Work a little later, if possible, so that you can leave work at work. This is really helpful for Fridays if it allows you to come home and actually enjoy the weekend without grading or working on music preparation.
When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing by Daniel H. Pink
Getting Things Done by David Allen
Eat the Frog by Brian Tracy
HOW TO USE YOUR TIME DURING BREAKS
5-15 minute breaks
Do something practical
b. Get a drink or a snack. Consider stocking up on some healthy options and keeping them in your desk or a basket.
c. Stretch a bit! Take deep breaths. Stretch your arms. It's quick, refreshing and sometimes just what you need to wake up and get energized!
d. Take notes about the previous class: what you completed in the lesson, what needs more work, where a good place to start next class would be. Put the ideas on a sticky note and add to your lesson plan book or in Google Keep or somewhere digitally.
e. Prep materials that need to be copied. Make notes of what to copy and have a place that you set everything so that when you have a longer break, you simply pick everything up and get it done more efficiently.
f. Practice a piece or part of a lesson that is coming up. This will be very brief!! You might sing through the melody of a new song you're teaching, play an instrument (recorder/piano/drum) and improvise.
g. Email - depends on how you like to spend time looking at emails! Sometimes this is less helpful and other times it might help you make a plan for who you need to contact later in the day.
45 minute or longer breaks
a. Lesson plan - Try to focus on one grade level at a time.
b. Break the time into chunks - Spend time answering emails for 20 minutes and copying materials for another 20 minutes.
c. Phone a friend - Some teachers find it helpful to share lesson plans or share ideas. Spend time talking, skyping, or google chatting with another music teacher.
d. Seek out a mentor - similar to the previous idea, but taken a step further. Look into the AOSA (American Orff Schulwerk Association) Digital Mentorship program here. Note: You will need to be a member of AOSA to use this program.
FINDING MORE TIME
Three things that impact my productivity are my social media accounts, lack of energy and saying yes to everything.
1. Consider how much time you're spending on social media.
- Choose a time or times during the day to check email or use social media. Commit to that time and only do it then.
- Curate your feed so you're only seeing what you want to see.
- If you find a video clip you want to watch, save the video on Facebook or use the Evernote Web Clipper icon to save it to Evernote (if you use Evernote).
2. Find the time of day that you are the most productive and use it
For the times you are the most alert, active and focused, choose to tackle the tasks that need the most attention. If you lack energy during a specific time of day regularly, try to schedule menial tasks that take little to no effort or focus. Again, stock up on protein, fruit, nuts and drink water during the day to keep your energy more steady.
3. Say yes to only the things you want to say yes to
Don't over schedule yourself. Saying no to the right things means you can say yes to the things that matter most to you.
MANAGING TIME
1. Set Goals
Determine what you want to do and set goals to help you work towards those things.
2. Make To-Do Lists
-Use Google Keep, sticky notes or email yourself to keep up with a running list of what you need to get done.
3. Keep school at school
- Work a little later, if possible, so that you can leave work at work. This is really helpful for Fridays if it allows you to come home and actually enjoy the weekend without grading or working on music preparation.
Articles and Book Recommendations (from the podcast)
Article
What's Your Most Productive Work Time? by Nicole Fallon
Books
Getting Things Done by David Allen
Eat the Frog by Brian Tracy
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