The most successful teachers are the ones who are able to push themselves and their students to reach their highest levels of achievements.
Part of how this is accomplished are the little things they make sure to do everyday. To achieve success, we suggest making sure you are doing these 5 things daily:
Have A To-Do List
A successful teacher knows what he or she needs to accomplish each day, and beyond being organized about it, he or she knows how to prioritize. There are things that must be done every day that don’t take much discipline, such as taking attendance every period, but feel free to put it on the list. The act of checking off these tasks will create positive momentum as you go through your day. Make sure your To-Do List is reasonable as you want to set yourself to succeed.
Set a Schedule… And Remain Flexible
A personalized schedule can be a helpful guide for the day, but knowing when to make that call to a parent or when to finish grading today’s quizzes will really determine if the teacher is making the most of his or her time in the day. Let’s face it, things come up, whether at school working with students, or in our personal lives. When you are scheduled to grade or write lesson plans, make that the only thing you focus on. When you have meetings with colleagues or personal life activities, make sure they are separated from your work load. You’ll be amazed how much more you can accomplish in a day if you stick to your schedule. And when you need to be flexible and take on the unexpected, your schedule will allow you to adjust on the fly.
Listen to Others
In the frenzy of any given day teaching, it’s easy to become overwhelmed and stuck in our head about all the work we need to accomplish. The most successful teachers are the ones who can maintain their focus and be mindful of everyone with whom they interact. This includes their students, other teachers, aides, and administrators. Being present in your conversations and interactions will not only make your day run smoother, it will help those in distress. It’s working together and listening to each other that will help make sure everyone is achieving at the highest level.
Keep a Clean and Organized Work Environment
Whether it’s your entire classroom, your desk, or your spot at home where you work, the successful teacher will have it well organized and clutter free. Knowing where everything you need from the “To-Be Graded” pile to your supply of stamps and post-it note pads will help you save time. Looking out over a clean workspace will also help keep you calmer, especially during those days and nights when it feels the most overwhelming.
Takes Time For Yourself
Last and certainly not least, successful teachers know how to make time for themselves. Whether it’s with a daily exercise routine, time with their spouse and family, even time spent cooking dinner, it’s important to “clock-out” for even a little while. Allowing oneself to stress at all times will only make the tasks at hand harder. It’s a long school year, save yourself from burnout by implementing self-care every day. Then you’ll be a little more rested and ready to achieve success.
What are things you do daily to ensure you have success?