From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis
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As teachers, our to-do lists just grow and grow. Sometimes, I want to be with my colleagues and friends. Some of my dearest friends through the years have been at school. It is not surprising that they just “get” me. We enjoy being together even if we're working in the same room.
Recently, as we were working on accreditation, we decided to get together and work at the behest of my co-worker, Dawne. And wow, we just cranked out the work. It was awesome.
So, when I was editing Desiree Alexander's podcast 11 Simple Hacks for Teachers to Save Time that debuted this week, she said something that piqued my interest. She mentioned that you could get together with your friends at work and all work on tasks at the same time. The light bulb went on as I recalled seeing some apps that have focus time — and they even host zoom meetings – where people have a “sprint” and work on tasks. Everyone is there and just working.
I just love this idea. I've done it before. When I looked at the research behind why the “sprint” works, I was shocked and actually a bit excited. (Could I get excited about grading? I love lesson planning but sometimes grading is a bit much for me.)
Wasn't that what we did that I loved with accreditation? So, here we go, I'm wanting to add work sprints to part of my weekly appointment schedule. As I've reviewed the research, it is quite astounding.
Nuance of using this word: Now, as I wrote this, I came across “a teaching sprint,” where teachers focus on teaching something, and the Teaching Sprints process for learning new software. Both of these are names of a method. In this post, I'm talking about applying the “sprint” method from agile software development to working by having a “sprint” be ONE meeting or ONE session that comes from the “Scrum Sprint” used in software development defined as
“A sprint is a short, time-boxed period when a scrum team works to complete a set amount of work.” Atlassian Software Development
Now, I've always talked about how multitasking is a myth. However, this may be different if you're in the same room with people and are working together, as I am reviewing the information on it. Work Sprints are a productivity method that is already used in education. Still, maybe we need to self-organize it and use it for ourselves more, as Dr. Alexander suggested in this week's podcast.
1. Work With Others (But Stay Focused)
- Studies show that “body doubling” (working alongside others) increases productivity and accountability. I even found that those with neurodevelopmental disorders, anxiety, and perfectionism can be helped by this method as well as those with ADHD.
- This is not a meeting! There is no pressure to chat or talk. You have work to do!
- The specific project, time to do the work and accountability to another helps improve your output (I'm so doing this with grades!)
2. Get More Done, Faster
- Parkinson's Law says “work expands to fill all the time available.” By giving a short sprint, I feel like I'm forcing efficiency.
- Instead of spreading tasks across random pockets, a dedicated sprint can help us power through work in a set time frame. This timeboxing approach helps overcome Parkinson's Law so you won't be grading until midnight at the end of the grading period.
3. Reduce Procrastination and Decision Fatigue
- My problem is when I only have time at the end of the day to grade or plan lessons. I'm just so tired I will just want to head home and then I'm behind the next day and getting up early.
- Having an appointment and a plan – “I will grade every Thursday at 3:45 with my teacher work sprint group”
4. Fewer Interruptions
- This is counter intuitive but when we got together for our accreditation time, I was shocked at how people came by the room, looked in, and left. They didn't want to interrupt us.
- This is great! (As long as we don't interrupt each other!)
5. Built-In Support for Quick Questions
- If we are doing this for lesson planning (isn't this what collaborative planning is about) we can ask quick questions and have ideas.
- I think asking a colleague is far better than Googling, Asking AI, or just flying blind. Use the room's wisdom when you're grappling with an issue. We are truly better together.
6. Less Work Creeping into Personal Time
- If I'm going to get work done, I'd rather do it at work. I want boundaries with my personal time.
- I want to free up more time for weekends and rest.
7. You Finish Tasks Instead of Juggling
- So, if you can have a sprint to stay LOCKED IN ON ONE TASK, so instead of 10 half finished things, I have one big thing done. (Like grading, ok I need to finish this post and go grade. Aruggg. It never ends and that is the point, it never ends, so I'm thinking a standing appointments.)
How to Run a Teacher Work Sprint
🕒 Step 1: Pick a Time Block & Commit
- Decide on a sprint length: 30, 45, or 60 minutes (long enough to be productive but short enough to stay focused).
- Who says you can't have a quick email triage for 15 minutes? This is your group and your time! Tackle your issues.
- Block it on your calendar—treat it like an appointment! (Even better set a standing appointment once a week — don't overuse this.)
- Name your time (see above.)
👥 Step 2: Gather a Group (Or Fly Solo!)
- Invite colleagues to join in person or via Zoom—working in the same space makes it feel more structured.
- If solo, use a productivity app like Flow or Focus@Will for accountability.
- Encourage each person to bring their favorite drink or snack for this – sometimes the pick me up helps you focus and gives you a treat to look forward to. (And it doesn't need to have calories – I do love my Limoncello LaCroix drinks!)
- Sometimes you may want to have different people “host” the “event” – we need to get in each other's rooms sometimes.
- Don't turn it into a chat or gripe session. People will stop coming and it will defeat the purpose! If someone wants to do that, encourage them to step into the hall or go to the teacher's lounge or set rules for it.
🎯 Step 3: Set a Goal Before Starting
- “By the end of this sprint, I will… [grade 10 papers, answer 20 emails, create next week's lesson plans, etc.].”
- Give fun names to your gathering if you don't like Teacher Work Sprint:
- Grading (Grade & Gather, Focus & Finish, Grade Grind, Mark & Mingle, Paperwork party, Coffee & Corrections, Grading Gauntlet)
- Getting ahead for next week (Fast Track Friday or Focus Friday)
- Lesson planning (Teach & Tackle, Plan & Prep Power Hour, Map & Master, Prep-a-thon, Plan-a-Palooza, Coffee & Curriculum)
- Meeting with your teaching team (Grade-Level Grind, Mastermind Monday, Teacher Think Tank
- Email (inbox power hour, inbox intervention, Email Escape room, Coffe and Clicks, Email & Espresso, Inbox Club, Send & Sip, Digital Detox, Digital Declutter Crew)
- Ok besides the coffee theme (I know many of us love our coffee), think of a fun way to get together.
- Avoid vague goals like “get some work done”—specific targets = more success.
- Use a tech tip. Open with a quick tip like teaching how to use Sweep for Outlook or Mailstrom or another tool for Gmail to give people tools to do their task better and save time.
⏳ Step 4: Start the Sprint—No Distractions!
- Set a timer and begin working—this is deep focus time (no multitasking, no checking your phone!).
- Use noise-canceling headphones or background music if needed.
- Set some guidelines for the group. They can make a list of questions to ask or you can decide what things are working talking to the group about.
🔄 Step 5: Take a Quick Break, Then Repeat
- After the sprint, take a 5-10 minute break—grab coffee, stretch, or chat.
- Decide if you want to do another sprint (or celebrate what you’ve accomplished!).
- Decide not to even do another sprint. That way people don't feel guilty and know they have done it!
Warning: Prevent Sprint Fatigue
Sprint is not a new thing and as I read up on what it is and how it works, sometimes software groups using this method report they can have “spring fatigue.” So, I'm wondering if maybe a week off every so often, or sometimes just having a party or something fun (maybe even an outing) so when we get together we aren't ALWAYS working. This blog post had some good ideas.
This is really a self-organizing team, so you can work like you want to just remembering that your goal is to work at work and be home when you are at home.
Ideas for What to Do in a Teacher Work Sprint
Here are some ideas I had for teacher work sprints.
🔲 Grade a set number of assignments
📧 Inbox clean-up (learn to use tools to clean up email)
📖 Lesson planning for next week
🎙️ Prep for upcoming lectures or recordings
✍ Write recommendation letters
📑 Organize digital files or clean up your Google Drive
📝 Draft rubrics or create assignments
Learn More in This Week's Podcast
Thanks Dr. Desiree Alexander for these awesome ideas!
The post 7 Reasons to Host a Teacher Work Sprint (And How to Do It) appeared first on Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis @coolcatteacher helping educators be excellent every day. Meow!
from Cool Cat Teacher Blog
https://www.coolcatteacher.com/teacher-work-sprint/
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