Sharing Good Practice
10 Habits of the organised
teacher
By Rahima Jabeen
of hand and referring back becomes
a daunting task. Make folders, sub
folders and sub ‘sub’ folders to
manage all your soft copies in an
organised way.
7. Written approval
Make sure that you get it down ‘in
writing’ whenever and wherever it
matters. Documented proof for either
giving or taking instructions is a big
part of staying organized. It also helps
in confirmations in case of any issues
that may arise in the future.
8. Effective delegation
W
hen I first started teaching, I
was overwhelmed with how
one task seemed to keep
climbing on top of another
until it all became an out of control
mess. I’d find myself just barely making
deadlines and often not being able
to find relevant documents when they
were needed. It dawned on me that
continuing in this way would only cause
more stress, a lack of professionalism
and ultimately would also affect how
my colleagues perceived me.
I analyzed how I could bring more order
to the chaos and consequently attain a
more satisfying teaching experience.
Here are a few pointers that turned my
life around.
1. Teacher Binder/Folder
Have your lesson plans, calendar, to
do lists, student information forms
and any other relevant documents
handy in your binder. Have a portion
to immediately put in random papers
as they keep coming. For those brave
teachers who dare to go paper free
there is a great app that serves as an
online binder - chalk.com.
2. Prioritizing
Now that all the papers are in your
binder, during your next break, put
them in order and prioritize your tasks.
This saves a lot of time and brings
If you lead a team of teachers, then
bringing out their very best work is
your responsibility. The same applies
to leading your students. Delegating
responsibility accordingly not only
gives excellent learning opportunities
to those you lead, but cuts your work
down as well.
efficiency into your routine.
3. Backup Plan
The best of lesson plans can fall apart
due to any number of reasons. In
order to keep things on track, a wellorganized teacher will pull out her plan
B to salvage the situation. Actually,
have a plan C and even D if it helps to
keep you and your students on track.
4. Classroom organisation
Have a dedicated ‘nook and cranny’
for all the classroom stuff with labels.
Acquaint the children early on with
these places and task them with
keeping things in an orderly manner.
Pin up work for absent children in plain
sight. A neat and organized classroom
has a calming effect on both the
teacher and students.
5. Post-its
Use these magical chits for reminders,
to print out little rubrics, motivational
notes, as teaching aids and to pass
messages to fellow teachers (Siri
can lend a hand too). These should
become your best friends
6. Keep files organized on the
computer
As you make worksheets, reports and
assessments, etc., things may get out
9. Updating your portfolio
Sometimes years can go by before
we need to change our place of
employment. Keep updating your
portfolio regularly with any milestones
and achievements that you accomplish
before it becomes too complicated
later on.
10. Collaboration
Look for seasoned teachers who have
mastered the art of organization. Read
blogs, sign up on educational forums,
follow Twitter accounts and Pinterest
boards for motivation, inspiration and
tips.
When it comes to improving any
skill set, there is always room for
improvement. There is no doubt
that an organised teacher is a more
effective teacher.
Rahima is a passionate teacher who hopes
to make a difference. She conducts teacher
training and uses her blog, Young Islamic
Minds, to assist parents with their children’s
education. Her Facebook page, Unleashing
The Teacher Within, is aimed at motivating
educators. Rahima also has a makeup
review blog, Yet More Makeup.
Class Time
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Sep - Oct 2016
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