You will be surprised how much you can accomplish by using a timer. There’s a secret to using a timer 
effectively. It’s not to track how much time you spend on a task, but rather to guide you in not spending all
your time on one thing. The timer will help you stay focused on your to do list, moving from one thing to the next, and getting it all done with a peaceful, relaxed attitude.
Set the timer for each task. Break down your to do list and never set your timer for more than 15 minutes.
When the timer goes off, stop. Even if you aren’t completely done, stop. That’s the secret of using the timer effectively. You can always finish the job at a later time.
Reset your timer and move on to the next task. Tackle the next thing on your to do list, with a 5, 10, or 15 minute interval.
We all know that in today’s world, it’s hard to stay focused for more than 15 minutes at a time. This timer system takes advantage of that by keeping you moving and working, and not allowing you to get bogged down in one thing. Marla Cilley, the organizing guru at the Fly Lady site says, “You can do anything for 15 minutes.” She’s right. By breaking things down into small 15 minute increments, you can everything done and have time left over. She even has a teacher journal on her website to help you get organized.
Here’s a sample afternoon in my room. As soon as the students are out the door, I set my timer.
5 minutes: Straighten up the classroom, pick up stray pencils and papers.
5 minutes: Put tomorrow’s bellwork on the board, change the calendar/schedule.
5 minutes: Get all of tomorrow’s supplies/papers ready. (I keep these in a folder, labeled by day, at my desk, so this is a quick task.)
15 minutes: Start grading papers. (More about managing your grading in a future blog.)
Now I check to see if I have a meeting to attend. If not, I take a break and visit colleagues. I allow 20 to 30 minutes for this. Then it’s back to work.
10 minutes: Call a parent.
15 minutes: Grade more papers.
15 minutes: Any other task that needs to be done.
5 minutes: Pack up and go home!
Even when I have meetings, which is almost every day, by using my timer effectively, I can be out of the classroom by 5 p.m. The goal with this system is to go home with no student work in your bag. That way you can spend your evenings with your family and have time for writing.
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Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin is the type of book that makes you appreciate how much of a difference one person can make in the world. While this book is nonfiction, it is a gripping account that is hard to put down.
