1. the essentials of time There’s more to life than simply increasing its speed. ~ Mahatma Ghandhi

2. ask a teacher what they need… they will tell you more time

3. why? Teachers believe that demands on their time have been increasing over the past half-dozen years largely because of the need to: • implement new curricula • learn and use new technology • cope with increases in student discipline • take on greater numbers of administrative tasks • include more special needs students in regular classes From a report: Teacher Working Conditions that Matter: Evidence for Change By: Kenneth Leithwood, Professor, OISE, prepared for E.T.F.O. 2006

4. Men travel faster now, but I do not know if they go to better things. ~ novelist, Willa Cather

5. so let’s slow down meet Carl Honoré, the author of the international bestseller In Praise of Slow

6. how do I go slow? pick one thing, and do it well- multitasking is rarely effective go for a walk with a teacher friend at recess when you don’t have duties make your work space enjoyable: a plant on your desk, a favourite mug and teas from home, some relaxing music check email only at a time when you know you can respond plan ahead so you don’t feel like you’re scrambling take your students for a walk- plan field trips outside read for pleasure with your students; not everything has to yield data use breathing to calm and soothe yourself throughout the day

7. how do I go slow? invest in organization : less clutter = peace of mind take one thing at a time – prioritize your responsibilities give more wait time to students when you ask a question – you’ll be surprised busy work for kids often means make work for you – give tasks that are lasting and meaningful take some things off your ‘to do list’ – be pragmatic assess more in the moment- take away less “marking” do exercise with your students focus on what you are doing in the present

8. what is your inner turtle telling you? take some time to think about this and discuss with someone near you