‘I never teach my pupils; I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn.’
–Albert Einstein
As teachers, we sometimes tend to forget that apart from academic teaching and curriculum completion, we are also responsible for inculcating life skills such as self-discipline and organizational skills among our students. Our students are not empty opaque pots that need to be filled with immeasurable information that would eventually lead to over-burdening and leaking of important knowledge. Rather they are like sponges, who will constantly absorb the right and wrong ideas around them, and as teachers, we can assist them to squeeze out the unnecessary matter and soak in the essential and key elements that would equip them to do the same for the future generations.
One of the most critical skills for the 21st-century world that is bombarded with endless information and immeasurable ideas, available to us at the click of a button, is the ability to be organized. As teachers who are the flag bearers of knowledge and culture, it can be quite overwhelming to constantly balance multiple responsibilities. Therefore, it becomes important to be organized with our daily tasks. Not only does this prevent chaos and confusion in our teaching process, but it also allows us to set a great example for our students. After all, the most remarkable teachers are those who “practice what they preach”. Here we will look at 5 ways to organize everyday tasks for teachers.
Time Management and Scheduling
Yes, the overuse of this word can sometimes be unnerving. However, managing your time effectively can be the basic solution to a lot of the problems you face as part of an ever-demanding profession. We know that Time Management requires us to allocate time to all our responsibilities in a balanced manner. Despite reminding ourselves of the importance of this skill, sometimes we fail to put into action the words in our head. One way of tackling this is to pen down your ideas on a daily basis. Every night before going to bed, write down the priorities for the next day. Make a routine and create incentives to ensure that you stick to the word you have given to yourself. Allocate your time effectively to each task, and keep a margin of an extra half an hour that may need to be spent additionally on every task. This ensures that any unpredictable circumstances do not lead to panic. Another benefit of keeping a margin is that if you do complete your duties within the allocated time, you will have substantial extra time to devote to leisure activities.
Create your ‘Order of Preference’ list and go backward
Make a list of the activities for the day in the order that you prefer i.e. from your most preferred task for the day to the least preferred task for the day. Now, start working on this list backward. What this means is, begin working on the task that is most difficult or least preferred by you, and slowly moves towards the task that is of maximal interest to you. There are two reasons why this strategy is very effective. Firstly, as you begin to complete the tasks which were relatively tougher, you feel a sense of accomplishment and your mind automatically releases the happy hormones required for you to go through the rest of the day. Secondly, as you begin to lose energy through the day, it is easier to productively participate in tasks that you enjoy more towards the end of the day, even with limited energy. This ensures that irrespective of the number of duties you have in a day, your quality of work remains high.
Collaborate and Communicate
One of the best things about being part of the human race is that we are social intellectual beings, who have grown to live in harmony with each other. It is essential to understand that there is nothing belittling in asking for help. As core members of the education system, it is an unwritten rule that we must collaborate and grow together for the betterment of the larger system. By delegating and distributing work equally among our colleagues, we not only reduce the burden of excess work on ourselves but also benefit students whose learning becomes holistic if teachers plan and coordinate curriculum, projects and teaching strategies together. For instance, teachers can collaborate to include interdisciplinary project learning as a core part of the curriculum. This allows students to engage with concepts for a longer duration improving their understanding level and gives them an opportunity to enhance skills like critical thinking, creativity, and group learning. Most importantly, it helps students understand the real-life applicability of ideas that are being taught to them, apart from theoretical learning. Moreover, division of labour, with diverse inputs is a sustainable solution to producing excellent output.
Use new tools and technologies
Innovation and invention of new tools and technologies are giving rise to ever-evolving teaching strategies and pedagogic techniques. Sometimes we tend to get too used to our conventional ways. However, as the education system has repeatedly taught us, unlearning is as essential to progress as learning new ideas. One has to adapt and change along with the times, without losing sight of our goals. Ultimately, as a teacher, our aim is to create responsible and self-reliant individuals, who will grasp from their roots while creating new pathways to their future routes. For this, we need to continuously experiment with different techniques and systems, and through trial and error, enhance our own strengths and minimize our weaknesses. There are multiple novel ways of teaching and learning that can assist teachers to organize their curriculum structure and academic activities in an efficient and effective manner.
Take a Break
Having a routine and structure is of immense help on a day to day basis. However, despite all our passion for our work, and desire to contribute to society, everybody needs a break. Teaching is one of the most rewarding professions in the world. Yet, it can be very straining - physically, mentally as well as emotionally. Remember, to take a break once in a while. Giving rest to our mind, body, and soul is essential to restart work with a rejuvenated spirit and renewed enthusiasm. Having positive energy around students is as important as having knowledge and wisdom. Don’t hesitate to take some time off and spend quality time with yourself. The more you understand yourself as a person, the better you will understand the kind of habits you can develop and the kind of strategies you can utilize to better your organizational skills as a teacher.
Remember, you are a teacher by profession, but a guide, a mentor, and a creator by the demands of the world. Your deeds have a domino effect that reaches every corner of the planet. You have the power to create the environment in which you want future generations to flourish. Organizing your thoughts, ideas, strategies, and conduct will encourage your students to create a world that is less chaotic and more harmonious.
