The Together Teacher

Maia Heyck-Merlin spends the majority of her time designing and delivering training for busy teachers and school leaders around the country. Prior to this she was chief talent officer for Achievement First, a high-performing charter school management organization. Maia was a fourth- and fifth-grade teacher and she spent five years on the staff of Teach For America in a number of leadership roles. Please join Maia and the growing Together Teacher community at www.thetogetherteacher.com.

Foreword: Norman Atkins Part One: Get Clear on What Matters Introduction Planning, Organization, and Efficiency Matter Even More for Teachers What Do You Mean by Together? Why This Matters to Me How the Book Is Arranged How to Use This Book Chapter 1: Rules Over Tools: Create Your Ideal Week It Can Get Easier A Step-by-Step Approach I'm Not a Dictator, but There Are Some Rules The Tools Components of a Great Organization System Let's Get Started Part Two: Take the Long View Chapter 2: No More Missed Deadlines: Make a Comprehensive Calendar The Multiple-Calendar Dilemma The Comprehensive Calendar: What Is It? Together Teachers' Comprehensive Calendars Pick Your Tool: Where Will You Keep Your Comprehensive Calendar? The Up-Front Investment: Create Your Comprehensive Calendar Keep Your Comprehensive Calendar Alive Why Is This Important, Again? Get Started: Next Steps Nilda: A Day in the Life Chapter 3: Corral the To-Dos: Create an Upcoming To-Do List Upcoming To-Do List: What Is It? Using Your Upcoming To-Do List Together Teachers' Upcoming To-Do Lists Pick Your Tool: Where Will You Keep Your Upcoming To-Do List? Get Started Slogging Through the Post-its Keep It Alive: Enter It Immediately! Why Is This Important, Again? Get Started: Next Steps Chapter 4: Never Forget! Capture Your Thoughts Setting the Scene A Closer Look at Thought Catchers Together Teachers' Thought Catchers Pick Your Tool: Where Will You Keep Your Thought Catchers? The Initial Investment: Setting Up Your Thought Catchers Making Your Thought Catchers Work for You Why Do We Need Thought Catchers Again? Get Started: Next Steps Gilbert: A Day in the Life Chapter 5: Beware the Notebook Vortex: Take Great Notes at Meetings and Professional Development Setting the Scene Beware the Notebook Vortex The Explanation: What Are Meeting/PD Notes? Back from the Dead: Doing Something with Our PD Notes Pick Your Tool: Where Will You Keep Your Notes? Making the Most of Small-Group Meetings Get Started: Next Steps Part Three: Narrow Your View Chapter 6: A Week's Worth of Readiness: How to Look Ahead The Tote Bag Calls to You from the Corner of the Room A Closer Look: What Is a Weekly or Daily Worksheet? Together Teachers' Weekly Worksheets Together Teachers' Daily Worksheets: A Different Option Choose a Product That Works for You Get Started Customizing: Narrow Your View Why Do I Need to Narrow My View? Get Started: Next Steps Jeff: A Day in the Life Chapter 7: Automate: Create Routines for Planning The Power Workout: The Weekly Round-Up Daily Routines: Making the Most of Openings and Closings Use Those Preps to Their Fullest Creating Routines: Why Does This Matter, Again? Get Started: Next Steps Chapter 8: Ward off the Demons: Keep Those Organizational Muscles Strong Keeping Those Organizational Muscles Working: Your Daily Exercise I'm Routined, I m Planned, but the Work Still Isn't Getting Done Five Demons That Haunt Us: Some Common Human Behaviors Anna: A Day in the Life Part Four: All That Other Stuff! Chapter 9: Tame the E-Mail Beast: How to Manage Your In-Box Setting the Scene E-Mail Is Not the Enemy, but... Set Up Your In-Box for Success Admit You Are Part of the Problem: Create Better E-Mail Habits Clarity Is King E-Mail: Use It, Don't Abuse It! Get Started: Next Steps Chapter 10: Create Stations: Arrange Your Classroom to Run Like Clockwork Setting the Scene An Overview of the Stations Enter and Exit Carefully: Create Your Classroom Foyer Stocking Up the Kitchen: Keeping Necessary Ingredients on Hand Battle of the Books: Classroom Libraries and Textbooks Tame the Technology: Get Those Cords Under Control Spic-and-Span Classroom Why Does This Matter, Again? Dan: A Day in the Life Chapter 11: Subdue the Backpack Explosion: Set Expectations for Student Stuff Setting the Scene Contain Student Papers Past and Present Student Work Pencils and That Other Stuff Why Does This Matter, Again? Chapter 12: Deal with Your Paper and Stuff: How to Find What You Need in Under Ten Seconds Setting the Scene What to Carry When You Are on the Move: Your Together Teacher System and a Teacher Clipboard Use Your Desk for Something Other Than Storage Create a Suitcase: Transporting Work Between School and Home Your Teaching Materials Finding What You Need When You Need It: Reference Information and File Cabinets Why Does This Matter, Again? Part Five: Become a Together Teacher Conclusion: Becoming a Together Teacher Dealing with Deluge: Can Your System Survive Under the Pressure? Get Started: An Month-by-Month Implementation Plan Why the World Needs Together Teachers Sue: A Day in the Life Recommended Resources for the Together Classroom Books, Blogs, Applications, and More! Meet the Together Teachers Appendixes Appendix 1: Glossary of Terms Appendix 2: The Weekly Round-Up: Your Agenda Appendix 3: Project Plans for Teachers Appendix 4: Sample School Communication Agreement Appendix 5: Classroom Efficiency: Quick and Dirty Tips Acknowledgments About the Author Index