Some New Year's Resolutions for Teachers

As a teacher, you need your own time and space - Time for when you haven't planned anything during the day and to find out 'where you are' and space for your own papers, books and materials the way you want to.

I have found that it is useful to have a planner. I have been using a Barnes and Nobles Teacher Planner. I note things down, I take it with me every day to school and consult it frequently. I have trained myself to get into the habit of making lists, which go into the planner.

I cross them off as I get to them. This is a great ego booster especially to those teachers out there with small kids like me! Also consider user friendly programs such as Excel that are great for calculating grades and percentages.

Materials organization - some useful hints

*Space: Have your own space with your own supplies either at home or work (perferably including table, chair, drawers and shelves) that is not shared with anyone else - to keep your papers, materials the way you want to, and to work on your own. This is a necessity, not a luxury!.
*Stock up on markers or chalk
*A filing system is very useful
*Use a card box. Fill in a card every time every time you use or hear about a good activity or technique.
*Keep an online or offline file and file as you go. If you come across things that you don't know what to do with but don't want to trash, put them in the 'all sorts' file, sort them at the end of term or year.
*Don't keep more than one or two master copies of photocopiable material - it will pile up!
*Recycle paper that you don't need.
*If you don't already know how to touch-type in English: teach yourself! It's worth it!
*Don't drumple paper when you trash it, that takes up enormous space. Have a small (page-size) carton handy, thrown in papers, notes, envelopes etc. Throw out the whole box when it is full.
*Buy 4 box files. One for magazine pictures, one for tests and worksheets, one for work-cards and one for 'all sorts'. (You may need more later)

Show this list to an experienced teacher at school. Ask them if they can add anything. Note it down and share with members of your staff.

So what are your New Year's Resolutions?
1. What will you buy or prepare within the next week or two?
2. What will you regularly do?
3. What will you NOT do?