The last time that Crystal blogged about always having a lot to do after school, she asked if anyone every left at contract time. Well, Amanda Hallman from Elementary Teacher Files http://elementaryteacherfiles.blogspot.com/ replied that she actually sets the timer for 30 minutes after contract time and leaves when the timer goes off.
Crystal told me that I should try it (of course she volunteered me to do it to see how well it would work for me......she used the excuse that she had to wait on her husband until 5 LOL! so she couldn't do it). I had been trying hard to be able to leave on Fridays by at least 5:00. So, awhile back I made a checklist of everything I needed to have done on Friday before I could leave. I was making a copy of it every week, until Crystal gave me the great idea to just put it in a page protector sheet and just use an expo marker and mark it off as I go (I never think of those kind of things). It saved me time because I no longer need to copy it every week.
Well, I decided that I should probably do a checklist of things to do daily instead of just on Friday. You see, I am one that will just sit there thinking of all the things I need to do and I think so long that I waste time and don't get as much accomplished, so with my checklist, I won't need to waste as much time thinking about everything that needs to be done :-).
On normal days, I usually don't leave school until around 5:30-6:00, then I have a 20 min. drive home, which puts me home somewhere between 5:50-6:20. Then you know once you get home you have to make supper etc. Anyways, my nights seem very quick. Therefore, when I heard about the timer, I thought OK I'll try it.....and with my checklists maybe I can do it.
My first day was on Wednesday. I was very nervous the first day so decided I would gradually start it. So, I started with 60 minutes instead of 30. I was very excited because I completed my checklist and was able to leave school by 4:55 (our contract time is 3:45, so I was a little more than 60 min.-so didn't leave right when the timer went off, but it was still early for me) YAY!! On Thursday, I decreased the time and actually left at 4:15-WOW! Then on Friday-I left at 4:20!! I believe that this system will be nice to use. I'm sure that there will be days that I won't feel like I can leave when the timer goes off and I will stay longer. But, I can see how the checklist and timer is definitely going to help me out. Not only does the checklist keep me organized, but I think the timer keeps me on task and makes me move a little faster LOL!
(I should probably do something similar at home with cleaning etc. :-))
So, thanks Amanda for the idea and thanks Crystal for making me be the guinea pig and try it because it helped me leave a little earlier this week and gave me more time to spend at home with family. :-)
Hope you have a great weekend! Kristi
I'm glad you're finding a way to get home sooner. (I get to school way early and take work home, but I'm single so that's easier to pull of then someone who has a family.)
ReplyDelete❀ Tammy
Forever in First
It is a never ending job......not one you just clock in and clock out of because there is always something that could be done. :-)
ReplyDeleteGood for you! Boundaries are hard.
ReplyDelete~April Walker
The Idea Backpack
Balancing the Backpack
Yay for you Kristi! I'm so glad the timer is working! I learned after my first year the teaching job is never finished. Once I became a mom I knew something had to give. The timer also works well to help you balance school work at home. I have a timer on my phone set for 2 hours. I will only work 2 hours at home a week. When I start working, the timer starts. When I'm finished working the timer is paused until the next time I sit down to work. Obviously there are times that I need to work a little longer at home (report cards and progress reports). Once I've spent 2 hours of work at home I'm finished working at home for the week. Thanks again for the shout out and I'm glad things are going well for you. Keep in touch! :))
ReplyDelete~Amanda
Elementary Teacher Files