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Important vs Urgent: The Daily Checklist

I wrote earlier about the battle of important versus urgent on your attention. The truly important tasks get brushed aside by the suddenly urgent.

Then, I came across this post on maintaining a daily checklist as a way to make sure to complete important, but easily forgotten tasks. Some examples:

  1. Have an interaction with someone new
  2. Write down three things you’re grateful for
  3. Go on a 20 minute walk

Great reminders for things that are pretty simple to do, and have a significant long-term impact, but just get lost in the chaos of daily life.

A Classroom Daily Checklist

Creating a classroom daily checklist would be an amazing way to establish your class culture for the year. Ask the class: What should we do every day or every week at school? Maybe limit it to three or five, and nothing that takes more than a few moments.

A list might include:

  • say hi to someone new at recess
  • give up a turn for a friend
  • write down a new fact you learned

The list could even extend home, for things students want to do beyond the classroom. Of course, there’s no requirement to always do everything, nor a punishment if you don’t. The list is simply there to remind us of what’s really important.

A List for Teachers

Want to focus on your own important tasks as a teacher? You might have your own daily checklist with items like:

  1. Speak one-on-one with each of my students.
  2. Read a chapter from a teaching book on my shelf.
  3. Take two silent minutes before students enter the room to emotionally prepare.

A simple little checklist can help ensure that those important tasks don’t get overwhelmed by the urgent.

📂 Filed under Don't Burn Out.

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