Summary

An essential guide for over-scheduled teachers Maia Heyck-Merlin helps teachers build the habits, customize the tools, and create space to become a Together Teacher. This practical resource shows teachers how to be effective and have a life! Author and educator Maia Heyck-Merlin explores the key habits of Together Teachers-how they plan ahead, organize work and their classrooms, and how they spend their limited free time. The end goal is always strong outcomes for their students. So what does Together, or Together Enough, look like? To some teachers it might mean neat filing systems. To others it might mean using time efficiently to get more done in fewer minutes. Regardless, Together Teachers all rely on the same skills. In six parts, the book clearly lays out these essential skills. Heyck-Merlin walks the reader through how to establish simple yet successful organizational systems. There are concrete steps that every teacher can implement to achieve greater stability and success in their classrooms and in their lives. Contains templates and tutorials to create and customize a personal organizational system and includes a companion website: www.thetogetherteacher.com Recommends various electronic or online tools to make a teachers school day (and life!) more efficient and productive Includes a Readers Guide, a great professional development resource; teachers will answer reflection questions, make notes about habits, and select tools that best match individual needs and preferences

Author Biography

Maia Heyck-Merlin is chief talent officer for Achievement First, a high-performing charter school management organization. She spends the majority of her free time designing and delivering organization training for busy teachers and school leaders. Formerly Maia was a fourth- and fifth-grade teacher and she spent five years on the staff of Teach For America in a number of leadership roles. Please join Maia and the growing Together Teacher community at www.thetogetherteacher.com.

Contents of the CD	p. ix
Foreword	p. xiii
Get Clear on What Matters	p. 1
Introduction	p. 3
Planning, Organization, and Efficiency Matter Even More for Teachers
What Do I Mean by Together'?
Why This Matters to Me
How the Book Is Arranged
How to Use This Book
Rules Over Tools: Create Your Ideal Week	p. 13
It Can Get Easier-A Step-by-Step Approach
I'm Not a Dictator, but There Are Some Rules
The Tools
Components of a Great Organization System
Let's Get Started
Take the Long View	p. 29
No More Missed Deadlines: Make a Comprehensive Calendar	p. 31
The Multiple-Calendar Dilemma
The Comprehensive Calendar: What Is It?
Together Teachers' Comprehensive Calendars
Pick Your Tool: Where Will You Keep Your Comprehensive Calendar?
The Up-Front Investment: Create Your Comprehensive Calendar
Keep Your Comprehensive Calendar Alive
Why Is This Important, Again?
Get Started: Next Steps
Nilda: A Day in the Life	p. 57
Corral the To-Dos: Create an Upcoming To-Do List	p. 59
Upcoming To-Do List: What Is It?
Using Your Upcoming To-Do List
Together Teachers Upcoming To-Do Lists
Pick Your Tool: Where Will You Keep Your Upcoming To-Do List?
Get Started Slogging Through the Post-its
Keep It Alive: Enter It Immediately!
Why Is This Important, Again?
Get Started: Next Steps
Never Forget! Capture Your Thoughts	p. 79
Setting the Scene
A Closer Look at Thought Catchers
Together Teachers' Thought Catchers
Pick Your Tool: Where Will You Keep Your Thought Catchers?
The Initial Investment: Setting Up Your Thought Catchers
Making Your Thought Catchers Work for You
Why Do We Need Thought Catchers Again?
Get Started: Next Steps
Gilbert: A Day in the Life	p. 98
Beware the Notebook Vortex: Take Great Notes at Meetings and Professional Development	p. 101
Setting the Scene
Beware, the Notebook Vortex
The Explanation: What Are Meeting/PD Notes?
Back from the Dead: Doing Something with Our PD Notes
Pick Your Tool: Where Will You Keep Your Notes?
Making the Most of Small-Group Meetings
Get Started: Next Steps
Narrow Your View
A Week's Worth of Readiness: How to Look Ahead	p. 119
The Tote Bag Calls to You from the Corner of the Room
A Closer Look: What Is a Weekly or Daily Worksheet?
Together TeachersÆ Weekly Worksheets
Together Teachers' Daily Worksheets: A Different Option
Choose a Product That Works for You
Get Started Customizing: Narrow Your View
Why Do I Need to Narrow My View?
Get Started: Next Steps
Jeff: A Day in the Life	p. 140
Automate: Create Routines for Planning	p. 143
The Power Workout: The Weekly Round-Up
Daily Routines: Making the Most of Openings and Closings
Use Those Preps to Their Fullest
Creating Routines: Why Does This Matter, Again?
Get Started: Next Steps
Ward Off the Demons: Keep Those Organizational Muscles Strong	p. 165
Keeping Those Organizational Muscles Working: Your Daily Exercise
I'm Routined, I'm Planned, but the Work Still Isn't Getting Done
Five Demons That Haunt Us: Some Common Human Behaviors
Anna: A Day in the Life	p. 173
All That: Other Stuff!	p. 175
Tame the E-Mail Beast: How to Manage Your In-Box	p. 177
Setting the Scene
E-Mail Is Not the Enemy, but…
Set Up Your In-Box for Success
Admit You Are Part of the Problem: Create Better E-Mail Habits
Clarity Is King
E-Mail: Use It, Don't Abuse It!
Get Started: Next Steps
Create Stations: Arrange Your Classroom to Run Like Clockwork	p. 201
Setting the Scene
An Overview of the Stations
Enter and Exit Carefully: Create Your Classroom Foyer
Stocking Up the Kitchen: Keeping Necessary Ingredients on Hand
Battle of the Books: Classroom Libraries and Textbooks
Tame the Technology: Get Those Cords Under Control
Spic-and-Span Classroom
Why Does This Matter, Again?
Dan: A Day in the Life	p. 234
Subdue the Backpack Explosion: Set Expectations for Student Stuff	p. 237
Setting the Scene
Contain Student Papers
Past and Present Student Work
Pencils and That Other "Stuff"
Why Does This Matter, Again?
Deal with Your Paper and Stuff: How to Find What You Need in Under Ten Seconds	p. 251
Setting the Scene
What to Carry When You Are on the Move: Your Together Teacher System and a Teacher Clipboard
Use Your Desk for Something Other Than Storage
Create a Suitcase: Transporting Work Between School and Home
Your Teaching Materials
Finding What You Need When You Need It: Reference Information and File Cabinets
Why Does This Matter, Again?
Become a Together Teacher	p. 273
Conclusion: Become a Together Teacher	p. 275
Dealing with Deluge: Can Your System Survive Under the Pressure?
Get Started: A Month-by-Month Implementation Plan o Why the World Needs Together Teachers
Sue: A Day in the Life	p. 281
Recommended Resources for the Together Classroom	p. 283
Resources: Books, Blogs, Applications, and More!	p. 287
Meet the Together Teachers	p. 289
Join Us Online
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

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