Although this is only my second year teaching, I was extremely overwhelmed first semester. This semester, I started a weekly schedule that has spread the workload out. Monday- grade papers Tuesday- planning Wednesday- organization/paperwork Thursday- create anchor charts/complete additional paperwork Friday- GO HOME WITHOUT ANY WORK!!!

As a teacher of 6 years, it does get easier. I promise you that. My first couple years, I stayed at school from 7 am to 7 pm almost every day and went in on the weekends. My family life suffered as did my mental status. You have to find time for you. Find out your own schedule and your own timeline of doing things. Grade papers electronically through CPS or iPad or scantron. It is a huge time saver. Make lesson plans that can be used over and over again that you only have to change minor things as you adapt lessons each year. Collaborate with colleagues to help share the workload. Email parents or use apps like remind.com to get parent communication done. Then just call the ones that are major necessities. These are all huge time savers for me. I hope this helps. Remember find time for you and your family. DO NOT SACRIFICE YOU!!! You will be no good to all of your kids at school if you do not take care of yourself. So be selfish and take the me time.

Lists, lists, lists! They are never ending. Make a "glass ball" list and a "rubber ball" list. Keep them separate. Rubber balls bounce. If you drop one, it's not a major deal. Glass balls break. If you drop one, you are neglecting a deadline, duty, etc. Make a goal to accomplish your "glass ball" list everyday. If time permits, work on a couple of "rubber ball" to dos. Remember, no teacher has ever said, "I'm all caught up! I have nothing to do!" Burn bright, but don't burn out. You are not the most effective when you are exhausted.

I was the same way 5 years ago. I realized that if I continued the way I was, I would burn out well before my 30 years were up. I have since created a system that helps me to keep up. I have assigned particular days for myself to complete particular tasks. I have particular days that I collect and use data, do lesson plans, grade papers and assessments, and so on. Also creating more simple grading systems would help. Try find a way to simplify the way you grade papers without sacrificing rigor in your lessons.

Making a to do list has always been helpful for me. Also marking everything down on a calendar also helps to see/ meet deadlines. I would also suggest finishing one thing/project at a time before starting another will help you to move through your to do list. Take everything a day at a time and know that you can not do everything. Do what you can and leave with your sanity!

Sometimes by just knowing when to stop, will help you feel less overwhelmed

After a couple years you will get your own routine set! Keep pushing!

During my internships I saw teachers working during lunch (while they ate) and also came in early to get things finished. Try to make a schedule that suits your time and needs and try to stick to it.