Tag: productivity tips for teachers

Stressed by planning? Write it all down to free your brain…

~ Storykate ~ Leave a comment

If you’re an educator balancing program planning, observations, emails to families, urgent PDs, documentation (oh, the documentation), and the occasional behaviour curveball, you’re not alone. That scattered, scrambled feeling or burden of stress – I know it too well. As a person with attention issues and a highly demanding study/ family life/workload, I had to learn to do ONE thing that helped me massively throughout my working life. It still helps me along with daily walks.

I call it BRAIN DUMP. THIS IS WHEN I TAKE A PEN AND MY DIARY AND START WRITING EVERY SINGLE THING THAT I HAVE TO DO. WITHOUT EXCEPTIONS. WITHOUT TOO MUCH THINKING.

More than a random scribble or to-do list, brain dumping is an evidence-informed, educator-friendly strategy that helps you think more clearly, focus more deeply, and feel more grounded in your day.

I have my writing tools available for any sorts of brain dumping!

🧠 So, what is a brain dump?

It’s simple: I write down everything swirling in my head—tasks, worries, questions, reminders, creative ideas, without trying to organise or solve them. It’s like clearing my mental inbox. I focus on just getting it all out so you can breathe a little easier.

Learn more about the Getting Things Done approach here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ls52RtK_0jo

✅ Why does it work? According to science?

1. It reduces cognitive overload. Cognitive Load Theory (Sweller, 1988) tells us that our working memory has limits. And when it hits capacity, clarity disappears. Writing things down helps to clear that mental clutter, freeing up space for focus, reflection, and better decisions (Chandler & Sweller, 1991).

2. It improves focus and productivity. Ever felt clearer just by naming your to-dos? Research on externalisation (Scaife & Rogers, 1996) backs that up. In one study, participants who wrote down unfinished tasks performed better on unrelated tasks afterwards (Masicampo & Baumeister, 2011). The brain likes to know you’ve acknowledged what’s there; it can let go more easily. To capture looming tasks, I often use “tasks” app on my phone on the go.

3. It lowers anxiety and overwhelm. There’s powerful research behind expressive writing and wellbeing. Pennebaker & Beall (1986) found that writing about your thoughts can significantly reduce stress. Wow! I am on board with my reflective journal to fight the stress. A 2018 study (Schroder et al.) even showed that writing before a task reduced physical signs of stress and improved performance. Pretty relevant when you’re navigating emotional labour and curriculum deadlines.

4. It supports metacognition. Brain dumping isn’t just about getting things out. In my experience, it is about reflecting on what is happening. Metacognition (thinking about your thinking) is linked to better judgment and more intentional decision-making (Zimmerman, 2002). In the early childhood profession, this means sharper critical reflection and more thoughtful pedagogy.

💡 So… How educators can use it

  • Start-of-day reset: Clear your head before the children arrive. Grad the one-pager and write it all down.
  • Before planning/documentation: Start with five minutes of free-writing to help you focus.
  • After tricky moments: Use it as a reflective tool to unpack what happened.
  • Before bed: Offload your thoughts so you’re not mentally writing learning stories at 2 am. It helps me to also be grateful for the best moments of the day
  • Team meetings: Try a collective brain dump to surface tensions, issues or insights.

📝 A brain dump isn’t about being more productive for productivity’s sake. I always feel better and more focused after that. I feel just a tad more under control.

What about you? Have you tried this technique?

Storykate 🪇

Boosting Productivity: 10 Game-Changing Strategies for Early Childhood Teachers and Educators

~ Storykate ~ Leave a comment

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!