Description
Book SynopsisIn today's world, we're often overwhelmed by our digital devices, stacks of paper, and constant interruptions. Get Organized! outlines a complete organizational system for the busy school leader. Providing you with simple tools and techniques to bring order and control to your personal and professional life, this book will increase your productivity and decrease your stress. With Get Organized! you can spend your time on what matters mostyour school and your students.
Special Features:
- Includes easy to implement ideas, at little or no costyou can start right away!
- Each chapter contains practical tips and tools, listing exactly what to do in order to implement the strategy.
- This entirely updated edition provides digital strategies and tips for thriving in the Information Age.
Trade Review"From organizing your tasks to managing your inbox, Get Organized! is filled with practical tips you can implement today. Now that I’ve read the book, I'm more organized, relaxed, and focused because I know how to have everything in place. If you are overwhelmed by all you have to do, this book is for you."
--Barbara R. Blackburn, author of 15 books, including Motivating Struggling Learners: 10 Ways to Build Student Success
"Is it time to get your life back? In the ten minutes it takes to read (and the one hour it takes to implement) even the first chapter of Get Organized!, you’ll gain a sense of ease and control over your workload. As a former high school teacher, I wish I had been given this book the week before I started my teaching career. Read it today, and regain time—and your life— tomorrow."
--Jason W. Womack, Author, Your Best Just Got Better
"This book is like having a private consultation with an amazing organization guru. Anyone can get organized, simply by reading Dr. Buck's book, thanks to the easy concise instructions that will quickly change your life for the better!"
--Pattie Thomas, Principal of Raymond. L. Young Elementary School, AL
"While Get Organized! Time Management for School Leaders is a relatively quick read, it will instantly become your go-to manual as you look to increase your most valuable resource in education: Time."
--Michael Janatovich, Middleweb
"Buck is an enthusiastic, knowledgeable writer, and I hope that Get Organized! soon becomes required reading in education and administrative classes. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to begin a new career or assignment well organized? Time is of the essence."
--Dr. Mary Langer Thompson, Middleweb
Table of ContentsAbout the Author
Dedication
Preface
Chapter 1 Clear Your Desk
Is His Day Like Your Day?
Are You a School Leader?
Time: Friend or Foe?
A Simple Solution
Creating a Tickler File
The Tickler File in Action
Other Examples
Forgetting is a Good Thing
The Paper Workflow
Let’s Tackle the Rest of the Desk
Let’s Tackle the Rest of the Office (or Classroom)
An "L-Shaped" Desk
Prepare Tomorrow Today
My First-Year Secret Weapon
Summary: Your Desk is Clear and So Is Your Thinking
Chapter 2 Your Signature Tool
What is a "Signature Tool"?
Why You Should Use a Digital Tool
An Organized Task List
A Task List That Gets Done
The Calendar
A Very Complete Contacts List
A Wealth of Reference Material
Our Love/Hate Relationship with Email
Summary: You Only Have One Place to Look
Chapter 3 Handling Repeating Tasks
Setting Up a Repeating Task System
Who Can Help? The Art of Delegation
Expanding the Repeating Task List Throughout the Organization
Summary: Do the Thinking One Time and Let the System Handle the Rest
Chapter 4 Managing the Flood of Incoming Information
Documentation
Email
Let’s Begin Getting In to Empty
Voice Input
Summary: Surf the Wave Instead of Drowning in the Flood
Chapter 5 Handling Multiple Projects
Projects are Different
Project Execution: The GPS of Life
Define the Goal
Break the Project into Small Steps
Put the Next Steps and the Related Goal on the Task List
Keep Related Information with the Project
Stick With a Project as Long as You Can
Put a Bookmark in the Project
Organize the Supporting Material
Summary: Build a Reputation for "Staying on Top of Things"
Chapter 6 Where Do I Put It?...It’s Paper
Fingertip Files
Current Projects
Reference Files
Off-Site Storage
File It the Way You Find It
Summary: Paper is Not the Enemy—Lack of a System Is
Chapter 7 Where Do I Put It?...It’s Digital
The Computer Desktop
Documents
Fingertip Files
Current Projects
"Cloud" Storage
Using Multiple Cloud Services
Backing-Up Your Files
Summary: It’s Only of Value if You Can Find It Quickly
Chapter 8 Evernote Made Easy
A Day in the Life of the Evernote User
The Case for Evernote
Getting Started
What Notebooks Do You Need?
Stacks, Notebooks, and Tags
Returning to Linda’s Day: Lesson Plans in Evernote
Designing Your Own System
Digital Documents versus Digital Notes
Summary: Your Notes Just Became More Valuable
Chapter 9 Putting it All Together: Mindy’s Math Dilemma
The Goal and the Next Step
The Initial Meeting
Project Planning
When the Dance is Over
Total Control and Peace of Mind
Chapter 10 Time is My Friend
References
