Checklists and more checklists! – Tips for Teachers

I (Rhonda) love checklists.  I use them in all areas of my life.  As teachers, we use them to keep our students organized so it only makes sense to use them to keep ourselves organized.

96% of people say their lives are better with to do lists.  89% say they enjoy making lists. 28% identify themselves as obsessive listmakers (which I admit, might be me!)

If you have a great September set-up routine, take the time to make a document that includes all the details.  This task will require extra time now but in the years to come, it will make you more efficient and you will save time.


* Graphic above courtesy of Proud to be Primary – Check them out

If you have certain stores that carry the specific supplies you like, make a checklist of those supplies under each store name.  If you have certain websites that you like to order from, make a document of your favourite websites. We call this “working smarter, not harder”.  

Imagine how relaxed you would feel in the summer knowing that you have several documents saved and ready each year in September. These checklists can include possible activities for the first week of school.  You could have a checklist of supplies that you need for each student and a checklist for the supplies that you need to order at the end of the previous year so that everything is ready to go for September. Ask your colleagues if they have any checklists.  Ask them if they could share their lists on google drive so that you can copy and customize them for your own classroom.

If you have a great classroom set-up at the beginning of the year, take a picture and add that to your document.  

Take pictures of desk configurations that you may use again or that worked well.

Take pictures of some seasonal decorating displays that turned out great so that you don’t need to remember it from year to year.  

Take pictures of student exemplars so that you don’t need to keep the physical copies of all these items.

Each year when you use your new checklists, add more detail and perfect it until your processes of September start up, seasonal changes, report card time and end of the year, are completely documented.

Another personality quirk that I will admit is that I like to print out my lists so that I can check off each item as I complete it.  One questionnaire that we came across said that 66% of people cross of tasks, 21% check off tasks, 4% write an “x” and 5% do nothing! Which one are you?

I encourage you to make these checklists now and every September you will be “working smarter not harder!”

Need some extra help to brainstorm ideas and make this school year your very best ever?  Checkout our website for more about how we work with teachers

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top