How do I manage my time

I've had lot's of questions over the time, by teachers around the globe.
"How do you...?" questions!

Mom's of my students tell me I am Doraemon, or I am having 3 bodies.

Well, no!  And I don't even feel half as busy as you would describe.  I also don't think there is much thinking about "time management"~at least I have never read a book about it or studied about time management.

No philosophy of getting up early or working at night or what so ever.
No!
So, this is all what it's not!

Maybe it is all natural;  I really can't tell you the magic.  But I can tell you practically what and how I do certain things.

And I've decided to put up a series of different topics, that I think  are important if you have your own English school.

So, today, let me start with a very very basic, often asked question:

Q:  How much time do you spend on preparing you lessons? Time for printing and making materials!

​A:  This and a computer with the GE software is basically all I need:

Of course making all these cards I spent a bit of time, but nothing beyond possible.


If you can make some time in a row where you don't have any lessons, get enough ink (especially yellow!!! The GE English cards cry for yellow, and you'll keep running out of it!!!), paper and laminate film and a cutter if possible.

Start with the first topic and just go through the whole curriculum printing all of the mini cards.  Depending on class size, I'd even print double sets~ and for several I even printed 4 sets, as you can play interesting games.
Do NOT think! which topic to print or wether you will use it or not.  Just print them ALL!

You can do the printing while cleaning or working on your lesson plans or what so ever.  ( I know people say double tasking isn't good, but in my experience it depends and sometimes it is very helpful to be able to do several things at once!)

Then do the cutting, then the laminating and again the cutting.

Get pouches (those you can see through! as otherwise you will not find what you just want during your classes)
put each topic into a pouch and write the topic on it.

For later (this is no hurry!) you might copy other material for the same topic.  Then you can just add those into the pouches.  For example Domino cards or Uno cards, etc.

Now~ I can hear some saying "but there are so many topics and so much to print"
I did the ones on the photos about 3, 4 years ago, when my own 3 kids were still much smaller and needed me. Also then,  I had a 11 hour job at public school in the mornings and my own school at home in the afternoon.  But it was possible, and no stress at all.  The stress is THINKING ABOUT IT!  
If you just do it, it is no problem at all.


If you still have trouble starting, you can even get someone to help you.
Students:  Kids love doing things like this, and kids love helping out, especially if they see the things used afterwards.
Moms:  Moms are usually also happy if they can help!
Or some Highschool kids from around;  pay them a fair amount~ the time it saves you will pay you back double of what it cost you!


P.S
In the first years using Ge I made little by little, but I ended up not knowing which topics I had, double made some or didn't have those I just needed.  Get things done at once, and there won't be anything to worry about anymore.


OK, topic will be continued!
If you have questions in between, please do ask!
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