I love this quote from top to bottom, but I'm focusing my thoughts today on the bottom half.
Time can be hard to locate. There never seems to be enough of it. I live in a rather organized little bubble, and yet I rarely feel like my mental teacher list of things to do ever gets any shorter. As soon as one item is crossed off, a new one takes its place, and it doesn't get much better until the children deliver their final goodbye squeezes and I lock my classroom door one last time before summer takes over my mind.
With all that's on my plate, thinking about what I voluntarily make time for is worth contemplating. We all know there are times when teachery stuff takes precedence over moving students forward, pushing thinking and reflecting to the bottom of the list. By the time all the other things, like those listed in the quote, find themselves done, there's little energy left for reflections about instructional improvements. Granted, there are often things on a teachers plate that are must-dos and will never go away, but I also think there are things we sign ourselves up for that could be significantly less complicated and less time-consuming. Regie believes in simplifying, so we can concentrate on best teaching practices. I concur. On behalf of our students and moving them forward, we could use some pickiness when it comes to how we spend our time.
(Have you heard Debbie Diller's rule about time? It's a great one. See here.)
Well said! I try to ask myself is this just cute or is it helping my students craft new ways to think and look at things. There is so much "cute" on pintrest to get lost in, but we must dig deeper to find what is really important to develop great thinkers...A good book, a piece of paper and a pencil and of course meaningful instruction!
ReplyDeleteJenny
Owl Things First
Jenny, I love your comment. You and I are totally on the same page!
DeleteFirst of all, I know that I spend WAY too much time on the computer ... but that's like a Catch-22 because it's where I'm learning and sharing and reflecting ... and I probably spend entirely too much time on bulletin board displays (yep, guilty as charged) but it makes our school look so happy. Maybe it's different for a counselor v. a teacher? But you've certainly given me some food for thought ... I wonder (were I still in the classroom) if I'd be an effective time manager today.
ReplyDeleteBarbara, I'm guilty of time on the computer too. As a counselor, your bulletin boards are a school-wide teaching tool. I think it probably is very different for a teacher.
DeleteThere is so much out there vying for our attention and teachers are responsible for so much these days. It is easy to get lost in all of it. It is worth stepping back to take a look at what is using up our time and asking if it is beneficial to the students and their learning. I bet there are some things we could let go.
ReplyDeleteLori
Conversations in Literacy
Lori, very well said. We could let go of all kinds of stuff that really doesn't benefit our students as much as we'd hoped. You are so very right on.
DeleteDefinitely some food for thought! I think many of us are guilty of spending too much time on the wrong things and not being as effective as we can with out kiddos.
ReplyDeleteNotJustChild'sPlay
Miss Trayers, I agree. Our effectiveness can be so affected by the time we spend on things that aren't the best for kids.
DeleteMy principal issued a "paper/printer conservation" command; we are running out of paper and $. I share this because it has made me rethink my plans, as I now must cut quite a bit of paper from application assessments and centers. This rethinking has been a good thing!
ReplyDelete:-)ReadWriteSing
Chrissy, I hope the best comes out of your paper and money issues!
DeleteHi Tammy! I have definitely learned this over the last few years. I remember my first year, spending so much time and energy "decorating" and now I'm looking around saying, "What "decorations" can I get out of the way to use the space for more educational purposes?" I'm DEFINITELY thinking this way looking at my classroom for next year. Can you say TINY? And wall space--what wall space?
ReplyDeleteCrystal
Teaching Little Miracles
Crystal, back when I started teaching, changing bulletin boards was a monthly thing. Now our walls are more educational. Good luck with your tiny space!
DeleteI totally agree with Regie and Debbie. I took Regie's thoughts to heart many years ago and have tried to stick with them. Like you said, Tammy, we already have so much on our plates, that its important to spend our time more wisely.
ReplyDeleteBarbara
Grade ONEderful
Ruby Slippers Blog Designs
Barb, they are wise words to live by for sure. :)
Deletelove the quote! thanks!
ReplyDeleteTara
The Math Maniac
Tara, you're welcome and thank you for taking time to come by.
DeleteI LOVE this!!!!! If I do all the work in making things cute, I steal the joy and engagement that comes from allowing students to create and have ownership of their learning environment. You find such great sayings!
ReplyDeleteLaurie
Chickadee Jubilee
Laurie, you're very right. The kids do cute pretty well and if we let them do it, we'll have more time for real teaching. :)
Delete