Work Smarter, Not Harder #4

Hello everyone.  I realize it is Thursday morning and I am a day late on my installment for my series, “Work Smarter, Not Harder!”  I do apologize.  You see, I am on vacation, and I kind of lost track of the days…hehehe…Don’t you just LOVE summertime???

My tip for today is to utilize 3-ring binders.  If you’re like me, you always have a few extra of those lying around.  In our school district we have 4 qtrs.  Therefore, I have four binders labeled Q1, Q2, Q3, & Q4.  Inside each of those notebooks, I have the months.  When I print a worksheets, lesson plan, activity, etc.  I save the original.  (Be sure you use a YELLOW highlighter and write ORIGINAL across it.  When copying, you cannot see the yellow.)  Place it in your notebook.  Sometimes, I even use a pencil and write quick notes on the back to myself such as:  GREAT! Need more time, too easy, etc.  The next school year as I’m making my lessons, the current notebook is on my desk.  Rather than having to print AGAIN (and use more of that valuable ink), I just take out of the binder, place in my “to copy” folder a week in advance, and I’m ready to go.

 Thanks for all the comments you have been leaving.  I’m glad these tips and this series is helping some of you out there.  Feel free to blog about it, share with your co-workers, or pin.  I’m just trying to make things a little easier for everyone!

Back to the subject of vacation, for some reason the Internet here does not allow for downloads (took me an hour yesterday for a very small file) or uploads to my stores.  However, I’m using the time to make lots of new items for when I get home next week.  Here is a sneak preview of my latest:

We are doing “Once Upon a Time” for the entire 2^nd grade with each teacher having a different story.  I made this one to use in my room.  If there’s anyone else out there using this theme for back to school, I would LOVE to hear from you what you need.  I’ve got lots more goodies I’m going to be making also.

Well, I’m back to vacationing and losing track of the days.  But I PROMISE, I’ll be back Sunday with Post #5- Using a Shared Folder.  See you then!  J

Cynthia