ADD and work

[Olinick]

I am looking for some suggestions from people about how to handle a work situation. I teach in a small private special education school. This year is turning out to be a very difficult year. I teach multiple subjects (I don't mind that part) at multiple levels in multiple places around the building. So throughout the day I have to teach in three different locations. This means I have to make sure I have all of my materials with me for my next class. This turns out to be very difficult as I send on class on their way and then have to grab all of the materials I need for the next class. Most of my day is spent teaching math to younger students so I need a lot of hands on materials. It never fails that I get to the next classroom and realize I have forgotten something. Two of the rooms I use are also used for other purposes so every time there is a meeting or testing to be done I have to find another location to teach. I have put together a backpack that is filled with pens, pencils, markers, colored pencils, extra paper and scrap paper. I need to add more things to the bag but soon it will be full. Does anyone have any other ideas on how I can make my day go smoother?

[spb1234]

Have you started using a tote in addition to the backpack? That can be helpful. As for forgetting your materials, if you use different materials for each class, make separate bags for those classes with their respective materials and just grab the bag you need for the class.

[Olinick in reply to spb1234]

Actually I had thought of that. The problem is where to store the extra bags. For years I worked as a traveling tutor for this organization so I traveled all over western Massachusetts working with children in different schools. That is how I handled that job. Each child had a different backpack and as soon as I arrived at a school, all I had to do was grab that particular backpack. It made life so easy. So when I found myself in the situation I am in now I thought again of that strategy but when I stood in my main room, I realized I had no place to store the extra bags. I will have to see if I can do more rearranging so I can store the bags because in the end that is the best solution.

[silentsiren]

They have those file sorters that roll on wheels too, that might help.

[Olinick in reply to silentsiren]

We have stairs so I would have to carry it up and down the stairs all the time. Thanks for the idea though.

[Hidden in reply to Olinick]

You can manage them on stairs too, it just takes a little longer and a bit of patience, or with any luck a male member of staff passing to carry it

[Olinick in reply to Hidden]

Actually I have used small backpacks for each class. Each bag is a different color so I just have to grab the right color bag and most of the time I have everything in the bag already. Where I still have a problem is when I have to move out of my usual rooms because of testing or meetings. That is still when I tend to forget something. This is going to be a difficult week. I have to find other arrangements everyday this week. Also at this time (unless I can get it changed) I won't have access to my office for two days. That is going to be hard since all of my materials are there. Hopefully I will be able to get it changed.

[Batgrrly]

Can you get a dolly cart you can keep somewhere? Talk to the school and explain you would like to be more effective for students and maybe have students from your next class meet you and help. This also gets them involved in setting up classroom.

[Hidden]

Yes take the meds I wish I could been waiting 2,5 years and another 2 years to wait to see specialist and I'm hated at work at home and just want to die I would pop them if I could just to feel what it's like to be "normal"

[Hidden]

Have you thought of getting a beauty case on wheels ? It has seperate compartments, which will make organising easier too

[Olinick in reply to Hidden]

Actually I looked at a scrapbooking case which is similar but would have larger compartments. It was still the issue of carrying it up and down stairs all the time. I literally have only a minute or two to get to my next classroom so I can't carry anything heavy or bulking.

[moonprincess7]

Can you get a cart? even like a small one from Michaels or Ikea?

[moonprincess7]

Oh and have a checklist and numbered bins? and put the checklists on the bins (or ziplocks if you're doing individual packs) then the kids will be part of you being organized. That's what I did with my 8th graders pre-covid