Kickstarting Success with a Prioritized To-Do List

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"Welcome to the Teaching with Valor Podcast, where we focus on strategies that empower educators, inspire parents, and create impactful classrooms. I’m your host, Don J. Fessenden, and today we’re going to explore one of the simplest yet most powerful habits you can develop to transform your teaching day: starting each morning with a prioritized to-do list.

This isn’t just about jotting down a list of things to do. It’s about creating clarity, setting the right focus, and approaching your day with intention. By the end of this episode, you’ll understand how a well-prioritized to-do list can be your secret weapon for staying organized, reducing stress, and maximizing productivity."

TeachingwithValor.com

DJFessenden.com

Stay tuned for more episodes, and remember, every student is unique, and every classroom can be a place where all students succeed. Keep teaching with valor!

Episode Transcript

Don (00:08):
"Welcome to the Teaching with Valor Podcast, where we
focus on strategies that empowereducators, inspire parents, and
create impactful classrooms.
I’m your host, Don Fessenden,and today we’re going to explore
one of the simplest yet mostpowerful habits you can develop

to transform your teaching day: starting each morning with a (00:26):
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prioritized to-do list.
This isn’t just about jottingdown a list of things to do.
It’s about creating clarity,setting the right focus, and
approaching your day withintention.
By the end of this episode,you’ll understand how a
well-prioritized to-do list canbe your secret weapon for

(00:49):
staying organized, reducingstress, and maximizing
productivity." The Morning Chaosof a Teacher’s Life:"Let’s begin
with a snapshot of a typicalmorning for many teachers.
You walk into your classroom,juggling a cup of coffee, your
bag, and maybe a stack ofungraded papers.
Students are arriving, emailsare pinging on your phone, and a

(01:12):
colleague pops in to ask about alast-minute meeting.
Before you even sit down, yourbrain is in overdrive trying to
figure out what to tackle first.
Does this sound familiar?
That sense of being pulled inevery direction is exhausting,
and it often sets the tone forthe rest of your day.
But what if, instead of reactingto whatever lands in your lap,

(01:35):
you already had a clear plan ofaction?
That’s where the prioritizedto-do list comes in.
It shifts you from reactive modeto proactive mode, giving you a
roadmap for the day ahead." TheScience of Focus:"There’s a
reason the to-do list has stoodthe test of time.
Research shows that writing downtasks helps free up mental

(01:57):
space, allowing you to focusbetter.
But not all lists are createdequal.
A long, disorganized list canactually increase your stress
because it reminds you of allthe things you haven’t done.
That’s why prioritization iskey.
When you rank your tasks byimportance, you give yourself
permission to focus on whattruly matters.

(02:20):
You also reduce decisionfatigue, which is that mental
exhaustion you feel when you’reconstantly trying to decide what
to do next.
A prioritized to-do listsimplifies your choices and
helps you start your day withconfidence." How to Create a
Prioritized To-Do List:"Here’show it works.
Before you leave school at theend of the day—or before you go

(02:43):
to bed if that’s yourpreference—take five minutes to
review your tasks for the nextday.
Write them down in order ofimportance.
Start with the tasks that areboth urgent and important, like
finalizing a lesson plan fortomorrow or preparing materials
for a meeting.
These are your top prioritiesand should be tackled first

(03:04):
thing in the morning when yourenergy is highest.
Next, add in important but noturgent tasks, such as grading
papers that aren’t due for a fewdays or planning next week’s
unit.
These are the tasks that canwait a little but still deserve
attention.
Finally, include low-priorityitems—things you’d like to get

(03:25):
done if time allows, likeorganizing your desk or
brainstorming ideas for a futureproject.
And don’t forget to cross offcompleted tasks as you go.
There’s something incrediblysatisfying about seeing a
tangible record of yourprogress." Why Morning
Prioritization Works:"Morning isa special time.

(03:46):
Your mind is fresh, your energyis higher, and you’re not yet
bogged down by the demands ofthe day.
Starting with a prioritized listallows you to harness that
clarity and focus it on thetasks that matter most.
It also creates momentum.
When you begin your day with aclear win—whether it’s
completing a lesson prep,responding to a critical email,

(04:09):
or setting up your classroom forthe day—it gives you a sense of
accomplishment that carries overinto the next task.
This momentum is powerful, andit helps you build a productive
rhythm for the rest of the day."A Real-Life Example:"Let’s
imagine you’re a middle schoolmath teacher.
It’s Monday morning, and yourto-do list looks something like

this (04:31):
Finalize the slides for your first-period geometry
lesson.
Respond to an email from aparent about their child’s
progress.
Grade last week’s quizzes.
Organize the manipulatives fortomorrow’s hands-on activity.
Now, without a prioritized list,you might get sidetracked by
answering the parent email firstbecause it’s easy and quick,

(04:55):
only to realize later that youran out of time to prepare for
your first period.
But with a prioritized list, youstart with the geometry slides
because they’re both urgent andimportant.
You move on to the parent emailnext because it’s important but
less urgent.
Grading and organizing themanipulatives can wait until you
have a longer, uninterruptedblock of time later in the day.

(05:19):
By approaching your tasks inthis order, you’ve not only
reduced stress but also ensuredthat you’re ready to deliver
your best in the classroom."Overcoming Common Obstacles:
"Now, you might be thinking,‘This sounds great in theory,
but my day is full ofinterruptions.
How can I stick to a to-do listwhen things are constantly

(05:40):
changing?’ The answer lies inflexibility.
A prioritized list isn’t a rigidschedule; it’s a guide.

If something urgent comes up: like a call from the front (05:49):
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office or a student needingimmediate help: you can adjust.
The key is to return to yourlist as soon as possible and
pick up where you left off.
Think of it as your anchor in asea of unpredictability." The
Emotional Benefits of a To-DoList:"Beyond the practical

(06:11):
advantages, starting your daywith a prioritized to-do list
can have a profound impact onyour emotional well-being.
It reduces that feeling of beingoverwhelmed because you’re no
longer trying to hold everythingin your head.
It gives you a sense of control,even on the busiest days.
And let’s not underestimate thepower of crossing things off the

(06:33):
list.
That simple act releasesdopamine, the feel-good chemical
in your brain.
It’s a small but meaningfulreward that keeps you motivated
to tackle the next task." AChallenge to Try This Week:"As
we wrap up, I want to challengeyou to try this for one week.
Each evening, spend five minutescreating a prioritized to-do

(06:56):
list for the next day.
Be specific, be realistic, anddon’t overload yourself.
Then, each morning, start withyour most important task.
At the end of the week, reflecton how this habit impacted your
productivity, your stresslevels, and even your teaching.
Did you feel more in control?

(07:17):
Were you able to focus better?
I’d love to hear about yourexperience.
Drop me a message or tagTeaching with Valor on social
media to share your insights."Takeaways:"Teaching is one of
the most demanding professionsout there, but with the right
tools and habits, it can also beone of the most rewarding.

(07:37):
Starting each day with aprioritized to-do list is a
small change that can lead tobig results.
It’s about taking control ofyour time so you can focus on

what matters most (07:47):
to your students, to your colleagues,
and to yourself.
Thank you for tuning in to thisepisode of the Teaching with
Valor Podcast.
If you found today’s discussionhelpful, share it with a fellow
educator and leave us a review.
And remember, every great daystarts with great planning.

(08:08):
Until next time, keep teachingwith valor."