Danielle: Sweating the Small Stuff

I must confess that I have a touch of compulsive organization in me. I think it comes from my mother, bless her heart, who used to correct me at age 6 when I wrote out shopping lists that weren’t correctly ordered by aisle. I like to think of myself as being detail oriented, although others have called me everything from obsessive compulsive to a pain in the butt. I usually take it as a compliment, although I have gotten better over the years. I’ve learned that if the organization takes more time to do than it saves you later, it might be a step too far! What kinds of organization help you keep everything under control? Do you ever take it too far?

I’ve had to make a lot of decisions like this during this past week. As the file cabinets for my office were delivered, I was warned that there were drawers full of old gifted and talented “junk.” I was told not to worry too much about it, as most of it was years old, and the current student files were in another cabinet. Perplexed, I left the drawers alone for awhile, content with the explanation. Eventually, the compulsive organizer in me couldn’t handle it anymore; it wasn’t that I needed the extra space, or that my boundless curiosity drove me to know what was in the drawers. I just couldn’t leave three drawers of messy things when I knew that everything else in my office was perfect! Others snickered as I began sifting through pages and pages of old binders and memos, books and lesson plans. I grinned at them, content to finally put my unease to rest.

I was astounded at what I found! In addition to several boxes worth of papers to shred, I found a brand new copy of the Iowa Acceleration Manual, which can be used to test whether students are good candidates for full grade acceleration, and would have cost us several hundred dollars to buy! I also found several copies of a tool that can be used to help identify gifted students who speak English as a second language or come from families in poverty! Does anyone else have trouble with the identification process for underrepresented groups?

Our school had been investigating different tools for the past two years, which made the find even more exciting. I was especially grateful to find a copy of a GT teacher’s manual from one of the years before we had changed districts. This manual gave me many ideas as to how I could set up a similar manual for our teachers. Anyone else have other ideas that could help me?

Later this week, tasked with the overwhelming process of creating our new Early Access Program, a program required by Colorado law that allows highly gifted 4- and 5 year-olds to start kindergarten and 1st Grade a year early, I did what any red-blooded American raised in my generation would do; I did a Google search! As I was doing research, I came across one district in particular that had a stellar program with everything laid out in impeccable detail. I pieced together a program from our district Web site, the Colorado Department of Education, this district’s information, and, of course, several brilliant ideas of my own that satisfied all of the unique needs of our school, district, and state. 

Before I started to type up the forms, I called the GT representative at this awesome district whose work I found so useful, to ask permission to use elements of their program and paperwork in ours. The woman thanked me for complimenting her program, and told me that the entire site had taken her two years to build. She said that most people simply copied it without permission, and while there was little she could do about it later, cooperation between those districts often grew icy once she found out… and she always found out. 

On the other hand, taking the time to call earned me permission to use anything published on the Web site, so long as I gave them credit, as well as a whole bunch of additional material that she hadn’t published! She told me to call anytime I needed advice or a helping hand. I feel like I’ve made a great new ally!

It is strange that being willing to reach out isn’t always our first instinct, even in school culture. Yet making a concerted effort to do so has really helped me, even if my friends think I’m a little goofy. I’ve learned that a willingness to be friendly to the janitors will get you first in line when you need something right now, and if you think administrators are the most important people to make happy, you’ve never been on the wrong side of your school’s administrative assistant or the IT department. I’ve made amazing new allies this year just by making a point of saying hi to people who looked like they were having a bad day. One day, this included our amazing volunteer coordinator, who has been instrumental in helping me to start our Odyssey of the Mind program. It also makes the school a friendlier place to be!

I still can’t believe that just three years ago, I was being asked if I knew anything about gifted and talented, and if I might consider being the high school coordinator as a part-time addition to my teaching duties. I remember wondering for days why the random third-year math teacher had asked me. I finally looked at my predecessor as she handed me the official flash drive, and asked, “But… why?” She laughed, and said, “Don’t you remember? Last year, after the GT talk we gave, you asked if I needed any help. You had your plate full enough as it was, so I didn’t ask for any, but I never forgot that you were willing to step up. I knew you were the right person.” One question.  One random offer of assistance changed my life forever and gave me direction, purpose, and meaning.

Occasionally, it’s good to sweat the small stuff.

Comments

[Emma]

For the most part, I don't seem to be super organized. My rooms are always messy and people have complained that they can't find anything. To me, everything is right where it should be. Just ask and I can produce what you are looking for in a matter of seconds. I like to have my days planned out well in advance. I have taken to having many different plans with different lengths of time on them. For example, for a reading program for one of my students, I have it planned out week by week with what the lessons will be focused on. Then I have the month planned out day by day as to a tentative schedule. Then I have each week planned out, I normally do this on friday the week before, day by day of what exactly is going to be happening and where I should be with the student. This helps me stay grounded, but also helps if I ever have to have a sub.

[Alison]

I like to be very organized and plan out my days too. I think being an organized teacher is a very important skill to have and it can help your days go much more smoothly. It is important to also show your students how beneficial it is to be organized and can help them a lot in the long run. I also think it is important to get to know the all the staff in the school because you will always need their help with something. Keep up the good work and enjoy the school year.

[Alley Chai]

I, like Danielle, am a very organized person...sometimes too organized. I like to know where things are so that when I need them they are easy to find. Right now, I am student teaching in an elementary school. I have a wonderful mentor who has taught me so much in the three weeks that I have been with her. She is always willing to sit down and show me resources; however, her room isn't very organized as she has accumulated a lot of tools over 40+ years of teaching. I would love to be able to take some time and go through all that she has. For example, I was beginning to set up my math rotation for next week on Friday and she pulled out these frog manipulatives that were different colors and sizes. I was so excited because this would be perfect for the two students I am working with. She has so many teaching tools and I would love to be able to use them all and add them to my own resource list. Sometimes it is okay to sweat the small stuff and take the time to organize or do an act of kindness. It is amazing how these things can come back to help you later in the future.

[Alley Chai]

I, like Danielle, am a very organized person...sometimes too organized as people often tell me. Right now, I am student teaching in an elementary classroom. I have a great mentor, who has helped me so much already and we are just starting week four of the school year. However, her room is not as organized, which is just fine, but I would love to go through things because she has so many great resources! For example, last Friday, we were preparing for our math groups on Friday and she dug through a cabinet to find these frog manipulatives that were different sizes and colors along with the program that went with it. I was so excited to see these as it would be a great hands-on tool for one of my students in particular. It is times like these that I just wish I could go through her room and see what other wonderful teaching tools she has!

I also agree with Danielle on being kind to others. I have been so amazed at how kind all of the teachers are at this elementary school. Since I am in special education, I don't often get to interact with the general education teachers, but, whenever I pass one of them in the hall, they always stop to see how I am liking it so far and to ask if they can help at all. It is amazing what a positive working environment can do for both the teachers and students. I will always remember these act of kindness and strive to do the same.

[Laura]

I can completely relate to your blog. I am a planner, an organizer, and a compulsive over-worker. Every year that passes, I am learning how to tone back on these attributes. I am finally starting to see that over planning sometimes gets a person nowhere. I have been known to plan a whole unit that later needs to be changed after day one. I have realized that I spend hours on something that is not completely necessary. I have heard from first year teachers that stay at school until 8pm every single night. My question is.. how are you not 100% burnt out? I would be! It sounds like you are so very passionate about your job and it makes me happy to read your blogs and feel your love for what you do shining through. I definitely think it is okay to sweat the small stuff some days and over some things. However, it simply is not possible to sweat the small stuff all of the time. If this were the case, you may lose your sanity. I make lists compulsively. Then when I complete a list item, I sometimes make new lists; it becomes obsessive. However, I think it is important to keep lists that allow you to see everything that needs to be done, what should be done sometime in the near future, and what maybe doesn’t need to be done at all. When thoughts are organized, it is much easier to sort out the most important things from the not so important things! It sounds like you are doing a fabulous job!

[Danielle]

List makers of the world unite!! Thanks for all of your great words of encouragement, and for not thinking I'm crazy!

Modeling organization to students is definitely important. Sadly, it is just as important with my scatterbrained gifted students as it is with special education ones. We often think of GT kids as being perfect, but extreme disorganization occurs as often as hyper-organization.

And I can definitely relate to having someone pee on your floor. Three years ago the drug dog came into our room and after smelling my service dog's bed, though that he needed to claim the room for his own. He peed all over the room, and my students and I had to find another place to have class while it was being cleaned. My poor service dog spent the rest of the year suspiciously sniffing the room and whining loudly.

[Brenna]

Wow! It's amazing what can come from such a "small" thing. It sounds like you have your hands full, but that you are keeping on track of everything and obviously very organized about all of your work. Your comment about making nice with the right people really hit home for me. It is so vitally important that you build relationships not only with general ed teachers and administrators, but also the lunch ladies, janitors, and librarians. In fact, these are the people that I find myself talking to more than the teachers. My students are the kind of people likely to forget to bring lunch money or return a book to the library. By building a rapport with these people in the school I am able to sort out situations like this more easily. I am also certain that one of these days one of my students will have an "accident" on the floor of my room (which is carpet) so in situations like this, it is super important that I'm on good terms with the janitorial staff!! Your comment about how sweating the small stuff sometimes works in your own favor is definitely true.

[Stephanie C]

I too am very organized. I am a person who is organized to the point where my closets, drawers, and planner are all color coordinated.

I am currently a student teacher in a high school special education room. A few of my students recently commented on the extent of my organization with my planner. I have a different color for separate categories (examples: bills are written in black, homework in blue, etc.) I also cross things out as I finish them and rank them in priority. Ironically, my students who pointed out my organizational skills have a history of forgetting assignments, meetings, etc. so I took this opportunity to discuss with them the importance of having a planner and staying organized.

With my students I implemented an assignment notebook and I keep track on whether or not they fill it out. If they fill it out for every subject each week they receive silent reading time or the opportunity to go to lunch two minutes early. Since I have encouraged them to use an assignment notebook, neither of them have forgotten an assignment yet!

Organization is really important to teach to students and demonstrating organization will encourage and show students the importance of it .

[Nicole]

I too am also very organized, so I know how you feel. I feel like I need to be organized though I'm not that extreme. I usually like to do lists. Each week I make a new one with enough room to add things as they go. I also keep my calendar with me to school and home to keep my day plans organized. I agree that you can go to far sometimes but nothings wrong with being organized! I also agree with you about being nice with everyone in your staffing community. Though I'm just a student teach I have gotten to know each staff member of the school I'm at. It's not only helpful for that but it made for a lot easier transition into this new school where I knew nobody. Keep up the good work but make sure to take time for yourself! I look forward to read more of your entries!

[Kari]

I am a very organized person as well, I would plan out our family vacations day by day and including time when I was younger. I know what it feels like to be very organized. I am not yet a teacher but will be student teaching beginning December. I would recommend creating a list of things that need to be done and then completing them in the order of highest priority. Once those things are completed, then begin a list of things that may have been bothering you but don't necessarily NEED to be done. Also, be sure to decide on a time to leave school for the day so you are not overworking yourself and working on things that don't need to be finished that day. I found it great that you have reached out to different people because it shows that great opportunities/rewards can come of them. Thanks for sharing, it's always nice to hear from working teachers because I can learn from it myself!