Typical Teacher To Do list (with added comments for emphasis).

1. Plan lessons and prepare classroom and materials. (Non-stop.)
2. Individualize/personalize instruction. (Good Luck!)
3. Design and deliver appropriate assessments. (Have we agreed yet on what is appropriate?)
4. Maintain records on attendance, assessments, and grades. (The fun part.)
5. Supplement textbooks with appropriate additional materials. (Keep looking.)
6. Utilize a classroom management strategy that works. (Keep looking.)
7. Keep records and identify students with special needs, health related, behavioral, etc. (Keep these kids in mind when doing # 2 and # 3.)
8. Contact and work with parents/caregivers/counselors etc. via email, phone, and conferences. (Are there regular business hours for this?)
9. Collect money for various activities; meals, field trips, fund raisers, etc. (Don’t leave the $$$ in your desk.)
10. Plan and prepare field trips including student health related needs. (This is not a waste of time.)
11. Attend school and district meetings. (In moderation of course.)
12. Collaborate with colleagues. (Often and always.)
13. Complete paper work and expectations for regular teacher evaluation. (Hoop jumping.)
14. Spend personal money to enhance classroom. (Think of it as a contribution to a good cause.)
15. Take additional classes for profession growth and development.  (In order to earn more money…so you can enhance your classroom.)
16. Maintain a positive attitude. (Keep trying.)
17. Add ten more that I’ve missed and repeat every school year.

I’d like to list two others.

• Make learning meaningful, authentic and fun.
• Keep the child as the focus.

These two are so important and sometimes lost in the myriad of mandated items that school teachers must do.  For those who think out of the conventional school box, these two might be the only ones on your list. Just imagine!

Whether public, private, charter, homeschooling or unschooling, a caring and kind adult makes all the difference in the life of a child. Thank you to all who accept this responsibility.