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Do you struggle with leaving school on Friday at a decent time? It can be hard to walk away if things feel unfinished. But it’s important to remember that when it comes to your upcoming lessons, you don’t need every tiny thing planned and prepped for the whole week. (Stick with me here! Don’t stop reading if that stresses you out.) Read on for some tips for leaving school on Friday (on time and feeling ready!).
*For even more teacher tips and how to create a playful learning environment in your classroom, be sure to join us in P.L.A.Y. (Playful Learning All Year)!
Picture it – it’s the weekend and you could be relaxing. But you are stressed because your ENTIRE upcoming week isn’t planned and prepped. Instead of wishing that you had stayed later on Friday and done more, try this tip and beat the Sunday Night Blues. Here’s how!
As the week winds down, I like to use a little trick I call “Confident for Monday”. When Friday afternoon comes, yes, it’s good to have general plans for the following week and know what’s coming up. However, I promise you that every copy doesn’t need to be made or every crayon laid out in a row. It can wait!
When you stay on Friday until you have EVERYTHING ready and perfect, it’s hard to leave on time and turn off your teacher brain. But, I realized I could leave on Friday with a general plan made for the coming week and enjoy my weekend by simply being “ready for Monday.”
Every copy for the week doesn’t have to be made on Friday. Every read-aloud does not have to be in place and every center does not have to be organized. I want you to think about MONDAY. Because as early childhood teachers, we know that we can plan the perfect week… and things may not go perfectly. A kid could throw up on our carpet and our literacy plans go out the window. Or a fire drill could be planned right in the middle of Circle Time and our read-aloud is ruined.
In order to not get frustrated, plan generally for the week. Focus on being “Confident for Monday.” On Monday, you can fine-tune the rest based on what is needed.
Enjoy your weekend and leave the Sunday Night Blues behind!
(even if you “aren’t allowed to play”)
If you’re wanting to incorporate playful learning, free-flowing centers, effective routines, and more in your Pre-K or Kindergarten classroom, then you’ll definitely want to join us in P.L.A.Y. (Playful Learning All Year)!
This course is a deep dive into practical ways that you can create a playful learning environment in your classroom. Be sure to request an invitation so you’re the first to hear when the virtual doors open!
