A day in the Wattle Room is never the same—today was no exception.
With 10 babies under 2 years old, the room was full of movement, sounds, and little moments of connection. I started my shift at 9:30 and spent the entire day there, witnessing everything from a new child’s orientation to a surprise lockdown drill.
I watched as a new baby settled into the space while her parents chatted with Emma, the room leader. Throughout the day, I checked the nappy list, changed nappies, and comforted unsettled babies. I helped three children settle for sleep and later guided them from rest time to afternoon play and tea.
At some point, the day took an unexpected turn with a lockdown drill. Four educators—Sophie, Mia, Daniel, and Oliver’s mum—worked together to respond quickly. We took the rolls, grabbed the evacuation bag with medications, and placed all the awake babies into the emergency cot. While sleeping babies are usually moved as well, this time, they remained in their cots. We rolled the cot into the Green Room, where the toddlers sat quietly on the mat, supported by their educators. Once the drill ended, we returned, completed a headcount, and resumed our day.
Amidst it all, I spent a lot of time engaging with the children—singing songs, playing finger games, and modeling language. It was a day filled with learning, routines, and unexpected moments that reminded me just how dynamic and rewarding this work can be.
Do you like working with babies?
What are some challenges in creating an engaging curriculum for them?
Hey there, fellow early childhood educators! Let’s face it: at times, our job feels like juggling or walking on the rope. It is difficult and requires a lot of decision-making. Are you ready to level up your productivity game and create more meaningful learning moments for children with less effort? I’ve got some tried-and-tested strategies up my sleeve that will have you feeling like a productivity powerhouse in no time. Let’s dive in!
1. Conquer Your Day with “Eat That Frog!” Picture this: You walk into your classroom, coffee (or tea) in hand, and tackle your most daunting task head-on. That’s the “frog” – the big, hairy task that’s been looming over you. By conquering it first thing in the morning, you set the tone for a day filled with productivity wins. I typically write my “frogs” in my diary, using the method “brain dump”, which means you are listing all the tasks for the day/ week/month to clear your head. Then you find the “frog”, pick up a phone and tackle it.
2. Break It Down with Chunking Ever feel overwhelmed by a massive planning task? Break it down into bite-sized chunks! Chunking is your secret weapon for making complex tasks feel more manageable. Think of it as serving up small, digestible pieces, which is easier to tackle. If your task is to complete a professional registration project, chunking will include setting up the series of tasks, e.g. finding the mentor; choosing the inquiry topic, printing the AITSL document; watch helpful videos on moving to the full registration.
3. Embrace the Two-Minute Rule Got a task that’ll take you less than two minutes? Don’t put it off – smash it out right away! Whether it’s responding to emails from parents or tidying up the craft corner, tackling these quick wins keeps your momentum going strong. I made a video on the – minute rule – check it out here
4. Pomodoro Technique: Work Smart, Rest Smart Time to unleash the power of the Pomodoro Technique! Set your timer for 25 minutes of focused work, followed by a well-deserved 5-minute break. It’s like interval training for your productivity muscles – work hard, rest well, repeat. As a university teacher, I use a Pomodoro digital timer to complete marking, which is a daunting task. You can tackle with Pomodoro technique transition report writing, planning or any tasks that require concentration and focus.
5. Master Your Schedule with Time Blocking Say goodbye to chaotic schedules and hello to the zen-like organisation. Time blocking is your ticket to a well-balanced day. Reserve chunks of time for lesson planning, play-based learning, and collaboration with your fellow educators.
6. Get Creative with Mind Mapping Let your creativity run wild with mind mapping! Visualise your learning plans, curriculum ideas, or even your dream classroom layout. It’s like creating a treasure map to guide you on your educational adventures.
7. Prioritise Like a Pro with ABCs When it comes to tasks, not all frogs are created equal. Prioritise like a pro with the ABCs – tackle the urgent and important tasks first (that’s your A list), then move on to the rest. It’s all about setting yourself up for success, one letter at a time.
8. Supercharge Your Efficiency with Batch Processing Ready to turbocharge your productivity? Say hello to batch processing! Group similar tasks together – whether it’s preparing materials or assessing children’s progress – and knock ’em out in one fell swoop. Efficiency, activated!
9. Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: Delegate and Collaborate You’re not in this alone, educator! Delegate tasks where you can and collaborate with your fellow educators, parents, and volunteers. Together, you’ll create an educational dream team that’s unstoppable. For instance, when I had a supporting educator, I would ask her to prepare materials for the afternoon or make resources for the inquiry project.
10. Reflect and Grow with Reflective Practice Last but not least, take time to reflect on your teaching journey. What’s working well? What could use a little extra attention? By embracing reflective practice, you’ll continue to grow and evolve as an early childhood educator. As you know, Storykate uses a reflective diary for that.
What are your favourite productivity tricks? Let’s discuss and share in our community!
