"Fail to Plan...Plan to Fail"

Greetings! I hope you all are having a good semester thus far.  This week I add myself to the stressful group of students that tend to fall into the "unorganized" hole.  I like to say that I am very organized and stay on top all my "to do" lists but this week I slacked off.  I guess the constant struggle between preparing for a big murder trial at work, negotiating with vendors and caterers for my daughter's Quinceanera (Sweet 15), caring for a 4-month old with a bad cold, staying on top of my assignments, and caring for 4 other children was too much to deal with.  I failed to organize and prioritize the various roles in my life and as a result I ended up stressed and worse than when I started.

I am usually very organized and never procrastinate, but I guess everything hit me at the same time and I gave up.  Therefore, I have chosen to write about the importance of organizational skills and planning.  These skills aid in the ability to stay on task, manage tasks and events more easily, and be more productive.  Good organizational skills are needed to plan your day and prioritize projects.  Being effective and successful is a must in the education field.  As educators, we cannot and should not procrastinate or be unorganized.  Being an effective educator is a result of how well we prioritize and organize our lives.  Not only should we be able to organize but we should be able to manage our time.  Time management helps in managing our personal and professional lives.  I was sidetracked with all that I had to do so I became overwhelmed, stressed, and unorganized.  I did not manage my time by utilizing my calendar and planner the way I normally do and as a result, I missed some important tasks and became very stressed.  

It is very important to stay balanced and organized in everything you do.  Lack of organization leads to procrastination, stress, and even depression.  It is very easy to become stressed and overwhelmed when you are not achieving the results that you want so you then can become depressed and inefficient in life.  What are some things that you do to stay on task and organized? Is there a balance between work, rest, and play? Below are some tips to better manage your time and stay organized: 

• Plan each day.
• Prioritize your tasks
• Say no to non-essential tasks
• Delegate
• Take the time you need to perform a quality job
• Break large, time consuming tasks into smaller ones
• Practice the 10 minute rule which simply means you work on a dreaded task for 10 minutes each day until done
• Evaluate your time
• Limit distractions
• Get plenty of sleep
• NEVER forget to take a break

I know I will try to do these things and hope to become a better, more productive educator, mother, employee, and student.  I hope we all take the time we need to be better individuals and master the tasks that are set out for each of us.  Remember, "If you fail to plan then you plan to fail!"

Goals and Aspirations

I am sure that we all have our stories of hardships that we had to go through to get where we are now.  I basically aspire to become a successful, effective teacher of elementary children.  I look forward to teaching little ones for at least 2 years before moving on to an administrative position dealing with education.  A master's degree is a must and I hope to begin working on it soon after my bachelor's degree.  

I know that things will not be easy for I am a mother to 5 children, currently hold a full time job, and am the oldest of 5 siblings that are always in need of some kind of help from their only older sister.  It is hard to focus and stay on track, but my desire is so great that I am able to organize and prioritize effectively.  

For me, teaching is a CALLING not just a career, so if any of you think that you can go through this career and succeed without a 100% desire to be successful than be thinking about another one.  I have been in the public school system for years and have practically seen it all.  Be mindful of the never-ending work, late night grading, long weeks, and even extended school years.  I hope I can be a successful educator.  

Until next time...

Cynthia

Success at Prairie View A&M University

Prairie View A&M University has prepared its teacher candidates for teaching efficiently!

The professors have instilled in these young educators the desire to excel in their teaching career. They not only teach what these students need to learn but create various classroom activities and projects so that students have a more creative and hands-on experience.

Below are some examples of how Prairie View A&M has aided in the progression of my knowledge and the refinement of my thoughts and actions.  I do hope you enjoy!

This was a a mini-classroom that was created to better understand how a classroom is to be set and what it should include.

This bulletin board was created by me to help instruct and understand the basic components of creating a bulletin board.  

Prairie View A&M University gives everyone an opportunity to succeed.  I personally can say that it has allowed me to achieve my personal goals and aspirations.  Everything is there for you to succeed, all you have to do is want it! 

See you soon,

Cynthia