Finding Time to Write by Georgia Parker

Finding time to write is a big obstacle for many teachers. Most of us are not just teachers but wear many hats and there is always something that must be done. Grading papers, planning lessons, and working with our team of teachers are all part of the daily routine- not to mention what's going on at home - so carving out time to write is a challenge. Here are some strategies to help put pen to paper or fingers on the keyboard:

Put writing on your To Do List and make it a priority - just like exercise. Get up 30 minutes early or stay after school for an hour. You would be surprised how many words you can get under your belt.

Change your mindset. Guilt often plagues us when we make time to write because we feel like it’s pulling us away from other responsibilities, but in the long run, writing helps us be a better teacher, parents, colleagues, and friends.

Find a writing partner that you can write with even if you don’t share what you are writing. Having a writing partner to meet at a designated time each week helps make writing time official.

Before you give your students a prompt, try it yourself. Share it with your students. It is good practice for you and shows that you aren’t asking them to do anything you aren’t willing to do yourself.

Remember that if you are writing, you are a writer. Just because you aren’t published doesn’t mean it’s not real. Write for the joy of piecing the words together and making them dance on the page.

Georgia Parker has taught English in grades 6-9 at various times in her career. She has spent the last 23 years teaching English at Trinity Preparatory School in Winter Park, FL. For the last 20 years she has taught English 8, and in the last six years has added YA Lit. Parker is a member of NCTE and ALAN, serves as a state representative for ALAN, and has presented at numerous conferences. She is also the Co-Director of the Trinity Prep Author Fest and is the current Diane & Michael Mayer Endowed Chair of English at Trinity Preparatory School. Find her on Twitter at @gksparker.