Up: Career

Back again with another UP post.

As I've shared before, up is my word for 2016. I chose up for the simple reason that I want to improve from last year, work on my mindset, and make positive gains in my life. In the original post, I listed several areas to focus on, and what my goal was in that area. I added the promise that I would write more detailed posts on each area with some more specific goals.

Today I am sharing where I want to go with my career!

In my original post, I shared that my goal in this area was to

• UP timeliness, decrease stress!

I love my job; but it is stressful! A major culprit of that stress is paperwork and timelines! Timelines that are hard to stick to, even with the best laid plans. There is no teacher that has an easy job, but a special education teacher has it rough! Not only do we have to prep and plan for classes, grade papers, etc., like our general education counterparts, we have to complete due process paperwork, do testing and observations on our preps, schedule and run meetings. It is really two full time jobs!

Still, it's one I wouldn't trade. I really do love what I do, and I can only get better and more efficient.

Right now, I feel like the best thing I can do to get better at my job is to be more timely. If I take care of the tedious tasks more purposefully, I know I will ultimately feel less stressed and be more present for my students throughout the day.

I could list a handful or two of things I want to do better or differently; but I am going to focus on just two things for now:

• enter grades no less than weekly to avoid build up at the end of the quarter.
• put in the time to get caught up, and leave for spring break with nothing but current tasks hanging over my head. That is roughly six weeks from now, and would feel great.

I will reevaluate right after spring break, and set new goals for the end of the year; then set some more goals to start next school year. This area is a little unique from the others since half way through the calendar year I get a change to start new.

Compilation of UP posts:
Up: Body
2016: UP