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Yes, it’s that time again- the time to make resolutions. Usually I make resolutions that involve outcomes that I can measure. I resolve to save more money, to lose some weight or to exercise more. However, this year I have decided to do something different. This year I resolve to change the way I look at difficult, prickly people.You know the ones  I mean. The ones that just make your life sooooo difficult.  I’m going to seem them

as a fellow wayfarer, struggling with …(their) burdens, wanting happiness and dignity. Beneath the fears and needs, the aggression and pain, whoever we encounter is a being who, like …(me) who has tremendous potential for understanding and compassion, whose goodness is there to be touched (Kornfield, 2008. p14)

Reference

The Wise Heart by Jack Kornfield – Hardcover – Random House

It’s September again and the beginning of the new school year.   I think of each September as the beginning of a new adventure or a new journey.  Just like any journey, there’s always so much to see and do.   I know my journey as a classroom teacher will provide me with many expected and unexpected opportunities to explore, experience and  contribute  to the landscape of school.   I also know that in order to enjoy the journey, I can’t over extend myself.  I need to limit what I do even though I might want to do it all. So while I’m thinking of what I need to do at the beginning of the school year and how I want to contribute to school life, I also need to think about how to limit what I will do and how I will do that. I have decided to say yes more slowly and even to say no sometimes.

Thanks to Brenda, I have some strategies. When someone asks me to do something, I can ask

May I ask why you’re asking me?

Have you asked anyone else?

Have you considered asking X? She’s got some experience with this.

When you say “urgent,” what does that mean? What’s the latest it can be done by?

How much time will this take?

If I could do only part of this, what part would you like me to do?

What does “finished” look like for this?

What should I not do so I can do this?

(Excerpt from Do More Great Work, p. 90-91)

Depending on the answers I get, I  can decide what new tasks to take on.  Like so many other busy people, I’m often asked to do more and more. Usually, I don’t mind, but sometimes it gets to be too much. Then life isn’t fun any more. I guess people subscribe to the old adage if you want something done give it to a busy person. If I get too busy though, I’m not effective- so what’s the point.

How do you prevent yourself from getting too busy? What strategies do you use to help limit yourself so that you can be the most effective.

There are any number of reasons why students don’t get their homework done. Some students have part time jobs after school or have to take care of siblings. Others play sports, take music lessons, just hang with friends or spend time online doing whatever. There’s lots to distract kids from doing homework, especially some of the more reluctant or struggling students I support who welcome the distractions that take them away from doing homework. I’ve found that telling these students that doing homework should come first before anything else is really counterproductive. So I don’t. I surprise them my telling them I can help them work homework into their schedule so that they can do the other things they want to do as well as homework the need to do to be more successful in school.

I start by giving them a chart that lists the days of the week and the different times of the day and then ask them to record all their activities and the times they would do them. I just have them do it for one week. Then I help them schedule their homework into the open time slots. Amazingly, this works. I help them “see” the available time slots. Sometimes this involves a bit of rearranging of activities on the part of the student, but usually by the time we’re finished the student is satisfied with the homework schedule. They think it reasonable, and that’s half the battle. They don’t feel homework interferes with their life or that life interferes with their homework.

I suggest that the students tell their friends that they’re busy during the time allotted to do homework so they won’t be disturbed at that time. That shouldn’t be a big deal because they already have scheduled time to talk to friends anyway. I also suggest they don’t do any homework after 10 pm.

Some students schedule homework the same day everyday. Others schedule homework a different time every day. I leave it up to them. It has to be their plan for it to work. Of course we revisit the schedule after the first few weeks and rejig it where necessary.

The point I am trying to make here for my students is that homework can be worked into their lives. Homework doesn’t mean they have to give up the things they like or have to do. I talk about doing things in moderation- homework included. I tell them I try to achieve a balance in my life, and I think they should strive to do the same. Being a student is only part of their lives. Being a teacher is only part of mine. I think we understand one another.

When I talk to my students about goals,  many of them tell me that they don’t have any goals.  I tell them they actually do,  but they don’t realize  it.  They call their goals  plans.  The  plans that they make for later in the day ,  later in week or later in the year are really goals.   Then we discuss the characteristics of good goals.  I try to lead the discussion so that we conclude that good goals are  SMART goals and  show  the slide show below to illustrate the idea of SMART goals.   If you’d like a copy,  I’d be delighted to send you one.  Just leave a request in the comment box.

After we watch the slide show,  I have my students set their own short term, medium term and long term goals using the graphic organizer below.

Smart Goal Setting Organizer

If you’d like this as well,  just ask and I’ll send it to you as an attachment.

I’ve always had good results with this activity.  We will revisit their goals during the semester to see how things are going and to set more goals.

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  These are my personal views and not those of my employer.