0:01
Everyone has a system for keeping track of their work.
Now, you may have an incomplete system.
Or you may have a system you only use sometimes.
Or you may have too many systems.
But when your principal comes into your classroom and tells you that you need to
test your students' reading levels, you already do something with that task.
You may write it on a sticky.
You might email it to yourself.
Or maybe you just hope you'll remember.
The point is you have some kind of reaction, and
that reaction is part of your system.
Now let me take a second to address what I see as a common misperception.
Let's not think that organization and togetherness are synonyms.
I actually don't love the term organize.
Now I know I used it in the title of this course, but
now that you're enrolled, I can tell you the truth.
I prefer togetherness.
It encapsulates everything.
Prioritizing, planning, efficiency, follow through and more.
Most of us are naturally better at certain aspects of togetherness, and
we need more support in other areas.
Me too.
When I was a full time teacher, I would have strongly agreed with
this statement about my colleagues considering me responsive.
1:24
So let's talk about where you're at, and
what your next best step should actually be.
To help, I've created four different togetherness levels.
As I describe each, really think about why you're taking this course, and
then select the one that best describes you.
The four categories are.
[MUSIC]
The seeker.
I have so much going on, I don't even know where all my to-dos are.
1:55
The consolidator.
I've got a list for groceries and a list for deadlines and a list for all my lists.
I've got to get everything in one place.
The planner.
Today's list is great, but tomorrow's isn't done.
And who knows what's lurking beyond the corner.
I've got to get ahead.
[MUSIC]
The prioritizer.
When I have thirty extra minutes, I choose the easy stuff.
2:27
I want to do a better job handling the most important work.
[MUSIC]
There's zero judgement surrounding which label you choose.
But I do want you to pick now.
And then we'll come back to this at the end of the course.
2:50
When I wrote The Together Teacher,
I profiled a number of educators about their quest for togetherness.
Each person was really striving to improve in a specific category.
Check out the profiles in the next activity.
Use them as an inspiration as you think about your goals for this course.
Maia Heyck-MerlinAdjunct Professor
