Teaching to the TOP

008. Get More Done Using ONE Simple Trick

Batching is our JAM! When you understand the power of batching and utilize it to help you gain back your time and feel less stressed, you will never want to go back to your normal to-do list again!
In our episode How to Lesson Plan Like a PRO, we talked about the power of project planning and in there we gave you a teaser that this week was all about batching. For all those out there that are already batching their work, they will tell you how it has helped them to become more efficient. It’s true. 
When you bake cookies, you don’t bake one cookie at a time. NO! You batch them. This is how you need to view your productivity. When you batch your work your productivity increases and that leads to less stress and a happier YOU. 
[1:37] But first! We want to hear your Time Sucking Hurdles! Be sure to click here to share your Time Sucking Hurdle with us and you can be featured in our next episode. 
[4:00] In our last episode we talked a little about multitasking versus task-switching, and before we move on to the steps to get you started with batching, we want to revisit what this means. For those of you out there thinking that you are fantastic multitaskers and you don’t need batching, what if we told you that you are not truly multitasking? In fact, what if we told you that you are actually task-switching?
Multitasking is the act of completing two tasks at once. For instance walking and chewing gum. Sweeping and talking on the phone. Those are examples of multitasking.
Task-switching is the act of moving back and forth from one task to the next. Your brain never really gets to focus on one thing because it doesn’t have enough time to process what it is doing. 
Batching helps to prevent task-switching and gets your brain laser-focused on one “like” task. So let’s stop task-switching! #LetsStopTaskSwitching
Now you’re probably wondering what you can actually do for batching. Well, we’ve got you covered because there are so many areas that you can batch in your life! Answering emails, grading, lesson planning, copies, and laminating are only a few ideas that will get you started. You can also head over to the home page and signup for our 7 Ways to Jumpstart Your Teacher Productivity freebie and get so many more ideas!
Now let’s jump into these steps. 
5 Steps to Getting More Done
[8:15] Step #1: Plan Ahead
[10:26] Step #2: Decide How Long it Should Take
[12:45] Step #3: Choose a Time to Batch
[16:14] Step #4: Gather All of Your Materials
[18:00] Step #5: Get it Done
[21:22] Review the Steps
CONCLUSION
Remember that batching works best for projects that can be broken down to those like tasks. The hardest part is planning. Taking the time to plan each of these steps will ensure that you are successful, but we are confident that if you do follow these steps you will see the reward greater than you can imagine. 
Click HERE to download the FREE Batching Organizer!
Let us know what batching has done for you! Be sure to leave a comment here or over on iTunes!
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007. Lesson Planning Like a PRO

This is a topic that we think you all are going to absolutely LOVE! Today, we are talking about lesson planning. Yup. We said it. Lesson Planning. We want to dive deep into getting your lesson plans done so that you can leave on Friday feeling ready for the next week. 
But here is the thing, lesson planning is NOT a to-do. It’s not something you write to write down on your checklist because lesson planning is a project. In this case, it is a recurring project. When we understand that lesson planning is a project then we are more capable of tackling it with a separate process. A process that is unique to project planning. 
Now, if you are already asking the question, “Am I able to apply this to any project?” Absolutely! You can! We are using lesson planning as an example for this episode because it is a project that EVERY teacher has on their plate, but you can use these steps for any project no matter if it is a one-time project or recurring project. 
7 Steps to Lesson Planning Like a PRO!
[6:50] Step #1: Define your End
[8:37] Step #2: Set Your Deadline
[10:13] Step #3: Brain Dump
[14:03] Step #4: Create a List of Materials
[15:28] Step #5: Group Related Tasks Together
[19:10] Step #6: Find the Time to Batch
[20:20] Step #7: Monitor Your Progress
[20:58] Review of the Steps
CONCLUSION
Leaving school at the end of the week knowing that your plans are ready all the way down to the copies is truly life-changing, but it’s not rocket science. In fact, it’s quite simple when you break things down into actionable steps that allow you to see the whole process. Give this a try and be sure to share how it has worked for you!
Click HERE to download the FREE Project Planning Organizer!
SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW
Are you subscribed to our podcast? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don’t want you to miss an episode. Click here to subscribe to iTunes!
Now if you’re feeling extra loving, We would be really grateful if you left us a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other people find our podcast and they’re also fun for us to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!

006. How to ACTUALLY Finish Your To-Do List

We’ve all experienced the Neverending To-Do List. The list that makes you feel as though you can’t breathe and your heart is falling to the pit of your stomach. We have also experienced the satisfaction of marking items off of our to-do list and feeling the accomplishment that follows. 
A To-Do list is an incredibly useful tool. It helps to keep our focus, provides us with things to accomplish when our brains are not functioning properly. A good to-do list also frees up space within your brain. Our brains, the majority of the time, cannot remember every to-do that you have thought of within any specific time frame. This is what causes the dreaded feeling of what was I getting?  at the grocery store. 
When we take the time to really think about all the tasks that we need to accomplish and we write them down, you also become more present at the moment and dare I say, sleep better. 
So we know that a good to-do list is valuable. We know that we can feel less stressed when we have one, but how do you ACTUALLY get those items checked off? 
[3:50] Steps to ACTUALLY finishing your To-Do list
[4:05] Step #1: Get it Down
In this step, the focus is on how to get your to-do’s down. Writing them on random pieces of sticky notes and leaving them around the classroom, may not be as productive as you’d think. 
[13:20] Step #2: Sort It
Once you have your to-dos created and in one location, it is time to sort your lists. This step will help you to get rid of distraction and focus on accomplishing the to-dos that need your attention the most. 
[13:55] The method that we use and that we find to be quite useful is The Eisenhower Method for Taking Action. 
[16:05] If that method seems to overwhelm you a bit, start smaller by creating three categories: needs to be done today, needs to be done this week, and needs to be done this month. 
[20:05] Step #3: Schedule It
When are you going to do it? Yes, you have your list and you have them sorted into the most important tasks, you still need to determine when you are going to do it. 
[22:35] Step #4: Get It Done
Now, it’s the hardest part! Getting the list done. You have the tools, you know the strategies, but now it’s up to you to get it all done! Again, be like Nike and just do it!
Keep in mind that with these to-do’s you do not want to have tasks that are recurring. These to-dos should be built into your schedule already. These are tasks that come up time and time again and not only do they have a place in your schedule but they also have their own checklist. Adding every time that you can think of will only overwhelm you. 
We will be sharing more about the projects or recurring to-dos later on in another episode! We hope that you feel inspired and equipped to tackle your to-do’s and take control of your time! 
Click HERE to download your FREE Finishing Your To-Do List Cheat Sheet!
SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW
Are you subscribed to our podcast? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don’t want you to miss an episode. Click here to subscribe to iTunes!
Now if you’re feeling extra loving, We would be really grateful if you left us a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other people find our podcast and they’re also fun for us to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!

005. How to Put Yourself First WITHOUT Feeling Guilty

We all know that the line of work that we are involved in *teaching* can be incredibly exhausting. We give so much of ourselves through our time, energy, understanding, heart, and we bare the burden of so many. 
Therefore, it’s of no surprise that we take the time to remind ourselves of the importance of taking time for YOU. The more you give, the more time you need to recoup and regain your strength in order to continue giving day in and day out. 
So, let’s chat about not only the why  of putting yourself first, but also the how to put yourself first. These may be things that you know or have heard before but we all need reminders to ensure that we are following through. 
[2:32] THE WHY
Listen and learn about the key reasons on why it is critical that you are giving back to yourself. These will be reminders but they just might be the reminders that you need. 
[5:00] THE HOW-TO
Learn how we give back to ourselves! We share some of our favorite ways to make sure that we are thinking about us. 
Click HERE to download the FREE Self-Care Calendar!
[11:40] GETTING IT ALL DONE
But what about getting it all done? Well, that is going to require some responsibility and commitment on your part. We share a few tips to help get you started!
CONCLUSION
Remember that in order for us to take time for ourselves, we also have to hold ourselves accountable in other ways, but if you feel like you are drowning,  stop, breathe, and think about you. Refill that cup in order to pull yourself up on that raft at the end of the day. 
SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW
Are you subscribed to our podcast? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don’t want you to miss an episode. Click here to subscribe in iTunes!
Now if you’re feeling extra loving, We would be really grateful if you left us a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other people find our podcast and they’re also fun for us to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!

004. How to Have the Best Week of Teaching EVER

In today’s episode, we are going to tackle the key ingredients in order for you to have the absolute best week ever! 
We all strive to have a great week. The kind of week where everything just seems to work in your favor and goes incredibly smoothly. From the copies, behaviors and mindset, everything seems to be perfect, but the reality is that life is very much like a drive through town. Some days can feel as though you are hitting every red  light on the street and others can feel like you are zooming to your destination. 
[3:37] BE PREPARED
[7:37] BLOCK YOUR DAY FOR YOU TIME
[11:07] SPEND TIME CONNECTING WITH STUDENTS
[14:32] FEEL POSITIVE AND MOTIVATED
[18:32] FEEL PRODUCTIVE
Be proactive to minimize the impact of stress. Every choice you make directly impacts the week that you will have. So no more putting things off! Get focused, stay positive and be the TOP teacher that you want to be. 
SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW
Are you subscribed to our podcast? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don’t want you to miss an episode. Click here to subscribe in iTunes!
Now if you’re feeling extra loving, We would be really grateful if you left us a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other people find our podcast and they’re also fun for us to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!

003. Teacher Evening Routines to Destress

If you’ve listened to episode #002 then you’ve learned our 5 ways to help build an effective morning routine, and while having a morning routine is critical to jumpstart your day on the ‘right foot’, having an evening routine to decompress from the day’s activities and all around *craziness* can be, arguably, more important.  
In today’s episode, we are sharing our evening routines and the differences and commonalities between them both. 
Now here is our disclaimer, THIS WILL LOOK DIFFERENT FOR EVERYONE. 
We are not all built the same way, have the same needs, lifestyles, habits or family and we need to be mindful of this. We also need to STOP guilting teachers for how they are choosing to spend their evenings. We can’t tell you how many times we’ve been shamed for not spending enough time with our husbands or kids. That is not okay. 
What’s important is how we reflect and consider all the factors happening around us in order to ensure that we are taking time for ourselves, however that may look. So while we give you an idea of what our evenings look like from the time our students leave us to the point we are in bed, remember to consider your lifestyle and what YOU need. 
[4:19] BRIDGET’S EVENING ROUTINE
[14:22] MICHELLE’S EVENING ROUTINE
[22:38] After we shared our very different evening routines, we found some strong commonalities; so let’s take some time to discuss those commonalities and see if you have those built into your own evening routine. If you don’t, you may want to consider how to incorporate them in the future. 
[23:22] First, we noticed that neither of us take anything home.
[23:44] Second, we clear our tables for the next day.
[24:30] Do something for YOU!
CONCLUSION
The most important thing to remember when you are leaving for the day and trying to destress is that you have to be focused and present during the day in order to make this work. This means staying away from the teacher’s lounge or office. Decreasing the hallway chats or the periodic scrolls through instagram. 
You have to get focused and be intentional with your day so that you have the opportunity to truly destress and focus more on you at the end of the day. 
SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW
Are you subscribed to our podcast? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don’t want you to miss an episode. Click here to subscribe in iTunes!
Now if you’re feeling extra loving, We would be really grateful if you left us a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other people find our podcast and they’re also fun for us to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!

002. 5 Things That Should Be a Part of EVERY Teacher's Morning Routine

We are huge fans of watching videos on morning routines for all types of individuals from all different fields. There is something about getting to peek into their lives and seeing how they do it. You might call it creepy or even a little more stalkerish, but we call it research for building the ideal morning experience and ensuring that you start the day with a positive mindset. 
We went through countless videos of morning routines and even analyzed our own routines and we were able to identify five major components to ensure that you start your day off right. We are going to chat through each component and give some examples. 
As always, remember, you need to do what works for you, but if we are standing in front of you saying that this works find a way to fit in and give it a shot (a good shot, not a half one) to making it work. 
Let’s dive in! OH! Keep in mind that these may not necessarily go in the exact order as well. 
[ 4:50] #1: Time to get grounded
[ 10:10] #2. Time to review your schedule
[ 13:27] #3. Time to Review Your Power List
[ 19:33] #4. Time to Review Your Materials
[ 27:07] #5. Time to Get Motivated
Routines are important, they hold us together doing the craziest of times and they ensure that we are always performing our best work, but keep in mind that it is called a routine because we do this on a regular basis. Only then can we expect the routine to work for our lifestyle. 
Click HERE to download the FREE Steps for Creating a Successful Morning Routine!
SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW
Are you subscribed to our podcast? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don’t want you to miss an episode. Click here to subscribe in iTunes!
Now if you’re feeling extra loving, We would be really grateful if you left us a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other people find our podcast and they’re also fun for us to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!

001. How to Create New Habits for a Successful School Year

A new year makes so many of us reflect back on the year that we are leaving behind  and think about what could be different in the new year. It's a time for new opportunities, new experiences and resolutions that make us happier and more successful as individuals and in our professions.
However, reality comes flooding back quickly and what we dreamed of doing to make the year better is left as a burden of “more things” that need to get done. 
That is why we need to rethink New Year’s Resolutions and instead view our lives as small goals and habits. 
WHAT IS A GOAL AND HABIT?
[2.47] A goal in its simplest form is simply a result of some ambition that we had at some point in our lives. Graduating top of my class was a goal and I achieved it, but once it is achieved then we move onto something else to continuously become more successful. 
[3.30] A habit on the other hand starts as a choice and becomes an unconscious decision; meaning, it becomes a part of your daily routine that you no longer have to make an effort to complete that task. 
In so many cases, you have to create new habits in order to reach goals, which is why they go hand in hand. 
STEPS TO BUILDING HABITS
Click HERE to download your FREE Habit Tracker!
[5.20] Step 1: Set a goal and break it down
[9.18] Step 2: Create a System
[11.28] Step 3: Track your progress
[15.30] Step 4: Evaluate your progress 
SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW
Are you subscribed to our podcast? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don’t want you to miss an episode. Click here to subscribe in iTunes!
Now if you’re feeling extra loving, We would be really grateful if you left us a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other people find our podcast and they’re also fun for us to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!