Mastering Prioritization with the Eisenhower Matrix

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"Welcome to the Teaching with Valor Podcast, where we explore the strategies and insights every educator needs to thrive in the classroom and beyond. I’m your host, Don J. Fessenden, a lifelong educator and proud veteran. Today, we’re diving into a powerful framework that can change how you approach your ever-growing to-do list. It’s called the Eisenhower Matrix, and by the end of this episode, you’ll know exactly how to use it to prioritize your tasks, reduce stress, and reclaim your time."

"So here’s my challenge to you: Spend the next week using the Eisenhower Matrix. Start every morning by reviewing your tasks and categorizing them into the four quadrants. At the end of the week, reflect on how this approach impacted your productivity and stress levels.
And I’d love to hear about your experience. Drop me a message or tag Teaching with Valor on social media to share how the Eisenhower Matrix is working for you. Together, let’s make teaching a little more manageable and a lot more meaningful."

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 (00:09):
"Welcome to the Teaching with Valor Podcast, where we
explore the strategies andinsights every educator needs to
thrive in the classroom andbeyond.
I’m your host, Don Fessenden, alifelong educator and proud
veteran.
Today, we’re diving into apowerful framework that can
change how you approach yourever-growing to-do list.

(00:31):
It’s called the EisenhowerMatrix, and by the end of this
episode, you’ll know exactly howto use it to prioritize your
tasks, reduce stress, andreclaim your time." The Daily
Struggle of Prioritizing:"Everyteacher knows what it’s like to
face a mountain of tasks.
Planning lessons, gradingpapers, answering emails,

(00:52):
attending meetings—the listnever ends.
Some days, it feels likeeverything is urgent, and there
just aren’t enough hours to getit all done.

But here’s the secret (01:02):
Not everything on your list deserves
the same level of attention.
Enter the Eisenhower Matrix, adecision-making tool inspired by
former President Dwight D.
Eisenhower.
Known for his exceptionalability to prioritize during his
time as a five-star general andlater as president, Eisenhower

(01:23):
developed a system to determinewhat truly mattered.

His philosophy was simple (01:27):
What is urgent is seldom important,
and what is important is seldomurgent." What is the Eisenhower
Matrix?
"Picture a square divided intofour equal sections, forming a
grid.
Across the top, you have twocategories: Urgent and Not
Urgent.

(01:47):
Down the side, you have twomore: Important and Not
Important.
These create four quadrantswhere every task you face can be
placed.
The first quadrant is for tasksthat are both urgent and
important—things that need to bedone immediately, like prepping
for a class observation tomorrowor responding to a student
crisis.

(02:08):
The second quadrant is forimportant but not urgent tasks,
like planning next month’s unitor attending professional
development.
These are the tasks that oftenget pushed aside but have
long-term value.
The third quadrant is for urgentbut not important tasks—like
answering that email about theschool bake sale or rushing to

(02:30):
make copies for a meetingsomeone else could lead.
And finally, the fourth quadrantis for tasks that are neither
urgent nor important, likescrolling through social media
during your planning period orspending too much time choosing
a font for your slides.
By categorizing tasks into thesefour quadrants, you gain clarity

(02:50):
on where to focus your energyand where to cut back." The
Power of Quadrant Two:"Now,let’s talk about where the magic

happens (02:59):
Quadrant Two.
These are the important but noturgent tasks, the ones that
often fall through the cracksbecause there’s no immediate
deadline.
But this quadrant is where yourgrowth as a teacher—and as a

person (03:12):
truly happens.
Think about activities likecreating engaging,
student-centered lessons,collaborating with colleagues to
improve instruction, or eveninvesting in your own
professional development.
These are the tasks that movethe needle in the long run, yet
they’re so easily sacrificed forthe fires we’re always putting

(03:34):
out.
By prioritizing Quadrant Two,you’re not just reacting to
what’s in front of you—you’reproactively building a better
future for yourself and yourstudents.
It’s like planting seeds for agarden.
You may not see the resultsright away, but the effort pays
off over time." How to Use theMatrix in Your Day-to-Day Life:

(03:56):
"Let’s put this into practice.
Start by taking a few minutes tobrain-dump everything you need
to do.

Get it all out (04:03):
big tasks, small ones, personal errands, school
deadlines.
Once you have your list, assigneach item to one of the four
quadrants.
Be honest with yourself aboutwhat truly matters.
When you’ve categorized yourtasks, it’s time to act.

For Quadrant One tasks (04:21):
urgent and important
immediately.
These are your top priorities.
For Quadrant Two tasks, scheduletime on your calendar to focus
on them.
Treat this time as sacred; don’tlet less important tasks steal
it.
For Quadrant Three tasks,delegate them if possible.

(04:43):
Can a student helper or acolleague take this off your
plate?
And for Quadrant Four, eliminatethem.
If it’s not serving you or yourstudents, let it go." A
Classroom Example:"Let’s imagineyou’re a high school English
teacher preparing for a busyweek.
You’ve just received an emailthat the principal wants lesson

(05:05):
plans for the next two weeks bytomorrow: definitely a Quadrant
One task.
You also know that your studentsare struggling with a writing
skill, and you’ve been meaningto design a targeted mini-lesson
to address it.
That’s a Quadrant Two task,important but not urgent.
Meanwhile, your department chairis asking for volunteers to help

(05:26):
plan an upcoming assembly.
That’s likely a Quadrant Threetask: it’s urgent, but it’s not
directly tied to your teachinggoals.
Finally, you find yourselftempted to spend half an hour
scrolling Pinterest forclassroom decor ideas: classic
Quadrant Four." The Impact onYour Teaching and Life:"Using

(05:48):
the Eisenhower Matrix doesn’tjust help you manage your time;
it helps you manage your energy.
It shifts your mindset from‘Howcan I get everything done?’ to
‘What truly needs my attention?’This clarity reduces stress,
boosts productivity, andultimately makes you a more
effective teacher.
And the benefits extend beyondthe classroom.

(06:10):
By focusing on what mattersmost, you create space for
personal growth, relationships,and self-care.
You’re not just surviving theschool year: you’re thriving."
Final Challenge and Call toAction:"So here’s my challenge

to you (06:26):
Spend the next week using the Eisenhower Matrix.
Start every morning by reviewingyour tasks and categorizing them
into the four quadrants.
At the end of the week, reflecton how this approach impacted
your productivity and stresslevels.
And I’d love to hear about yourexperience.

(06:46):
Drop me a message or tagTeaching with Valor on social
media to share how theEisenhower Matrix is working for
you.
Together, let’s make teaching alittle more manageable and a lot
more meaningful.""Thanks forjoining me today on the Teaching
with Valor Podcast.
If you found this episodehelpful, don’t forget to share

(07:07):
it with a fellow educator andleave us a review.
Remember, great teaching startswith great planning—and great
planning starts withprioritization.
Until next time, keep teachingwith valor."