Summer Spruce-up: Scour, Scrub, Sift-through and "Sanitize" your Stuff
Summer time is prep time for the upcoming school year.
Wouldn't it be great if you faced the year unafraid?
Well, you might not fear your mess, but, clutter drains your energy.
And, clutter builds stress. Especially when you are looking for something that is very important.
The "TASK CAN" is the Trash Can
The trash can is one of your greatest allies in your campaign to snuff-out clutter.
Actually, you may need large trash bags, or, even the super-sized, puncture-proof Lawn and Leaf bags.
But, why does clutter and mess create stress?
And, doesn't this stress only affect "Neat Freaks?"
Too bad...but, the answer is, "No." Clutter affects everyone, and you work with more energy when your working area is clean.
Do as I say, Not as I do
How many teachers ask students to keep a clean desk, and nurture a trash heap of their own?
If this describes you, it is time to shape up and "fly light."
You need a System
If you are going to move, you throw out lots of stuff, and you hold a garage/ yard sale. There is no sense moving the junk, then throwing it out when you arrive at your new home. (At least in theory we say that we believe this.)
Start early, start now; so you have time to sort.
Here is the strategy that you need...
- Throw out everything, even stuff that you are 80% sure that you might need. Hint: you never will use it, anyway
- Set up a filing/ storage system. You never will have enough room, so throw out some other stuff for good measure
- Spend a little time each day keeping this system going
Ruthless and Systematic "Junk-Toss"
Thinking..."I might need this someday, I better keep it." is self-deception.
The correct question is: "Can I name the specific situation where I will need this?" If not, toss it.
Still holding on to it? Ask: "What is the worst thing that could happen if I didn't have this?" If "worse" isn't so bad, toss it.
Filing/ Storage System Woes
Some studies show that we never look at 80% of the things that we file. For some of us, the number approaches 99.99% if we have such a disorganized system that we can't find what we are looking for.
The corollary to this situation is, trying to sort the same item, repeatedly.
Rule: if you handle the item a second time, and can't figure out where it belongs, toss it.
Spend Time Planning your Storage Strategy
The time that you spend in thinking through your storage strategy will pay off for you throughout the school year. Put some thought into just how and where you will store files, materials and supplies.
Be especially deliberate about what you will take home, and what you will leave at school.
Probably everyone has been guilty of carting home stuff that "we are going to work on," only to cart it back to school the next day, untouched.
OK. Once or twice is forgivable, but every day?
Keeping Track
You need to develop a planning strategy that you can track and follow through with.
Paper-based, computer-based, personal digital assistant-based (even cell phone-based) planners all can work for you, or not, depending on your preference, your up front planning, and your follow through.
For a reference to teacher planning, refer to our eZine.
Classroom Planning and Project Management
The amount of planning that you need to be doing now is..."a lot".
Pretend that you are going to present an all day workshop to your colleagues, or even to the superintendent, about how to plan for the year.
Develop the graphic organizers, mind maps, planning charts, even the PowerPoint(TM) presentations.
Make sure that you cover all the bases. You don't want unplanned for surprises just as you are implementing your strategy.
Your Creative Intelligences
The planning thought process will look, feel or sound differently to each person, depending upon their preferred mode of thinking.
Some people will talk themselves through each section of their plan (Verbal/ Auditory).
Some people will picture each frame of the plan (Visual/ Spatial).
Some people will check off each priority and create checklists of milestones (Logical/ Mathematical).
Some people will step through each step in a "subliminal physical way" (Physical/ Tactile/ Kinesthetic)
Some people will get together with a group and develop joint plans (Interpersonal)
A few people will hum, choreograph, meditate on or commune with nature concerning their plans; but not many teachers rely solely on these approaches because these kinds of plans are difficult to turn in each week.
The Substitute Folder
Put together a substitute folder, even before meeting your students.
And, while you are at it, put together at least one week's worth of "fallback lessons and generic instructional materials for yourself, too.
Business people call a time-oriented set of folders, usually one for each month and one for each day a "Tickler File". I suppose that the items in the file are supposed to tickle your memory (if you remember to refer to them).
Future Resolve
Resolve to prevent clutter from ever reaching this level of height and weight again.
A tiny bit of daily diligence goes a long way in taming your trash.
But, don't get so carried away that you feel guilty every time you pass a trash basket and fail to contribute. There is no red-suited bell ringer standing next to it. Just contribute to the trash can as generously and as often as you can, and you will rest easier at night.
Guaranteed!
