If you’re like most teachers, the last day of class brings with it a feeling of accomplishment and liberation. In an attempt to shake off the school year, you find yourself enthusiastically packing up your stuff, tossing your papers and throwing all your handouts into the trash in order to clean up and close for the year.
Plus, this is what administration is asking you to do every year. We all have mandatory check out procedures.
BUT…
There might be a better way for organizing classroom paperwork at the end of the year.
Everything you are tossing away is material that has worked throughout the entire school year!
Instead of giving it the old heave-ho, you simply need to organize the handouts and activities worked for you in order to set yourself up for an easier time next year.
You may feel like the LAST thing you want to do before summer begins is worry about preparing for the fall. I’m sure it may make more sense to forget about the next school year and focus on the time off after all your hard work. However, this the best time to get things ready and avoid the extra work you’ll face at the end of the summer and the beginning of the school year. Being proactive will definitely save you the grief, and hindsight face-palm, of having to dedicate precious hours to teaching preparation.
Gathering paperwork at the end of the school year can save you HOURS of work when prepping for the new school year but it will do you no good if you don’t organize your efforts. Check out my article, “The ONE Binder that Saves Me Hours of Work” to see how I keep my handouts and other paperwork perfectly organized throughout the school year and ready to go come fall. “How I Spent Zero Hours on Back to School Prep” gives further details as to how I start my year fresh and worry-free.
My Story:
When I started teaching, I found myself bombarded with paperwork and prep. The stress was unbelievable and I found myself anxious about the fall and workload that was ahead of me. When I started implementing the strategies I outline in the above articles, each year progressively got easier and easier. I now find myself not only enjoying my well-deserved time off in the summertime but also looking forward to the start of a new school year.
Why?
Because when I enter my classroom in August I have all my materials and copies of handouts ready for me!
In fact, I have been offered an attractive new position this year but I am reluctant to take it since things feel so easy for me with the way I have been organizing my classroom paperwork these past few years. There is a security that comes with developing materials and organizing them in a way that they are accessible for you. Especially when you feel overwhelmed by teaching!
And the entire point of this blog and especially our stress free teacher section is help you do the same!
Don’t Get Burned Out By Teaching! See These Teacher Tips To Help You:
How 20 Minutes During The Summer Saves Me Hours During the School Year
The One Powerful Tip That Will Change Your Teaching
What To DO When You Are MOST STRESSED
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Articles from Around the Web About Organizing Classroom Paperwork:
Time Savers for Teachers
10 Sensational Tips for Managing Your Time as a Teacher
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