Get out of Post-it Purgatory

June 2, 2016 by feelgoodteaching Filed Under: Uncategorized

Are you a TpT seller or just someone with a LOT on your to-do list?

I know I’m not alone. Thousands, if not millions, share my post-it-note-stacks-of-notebooks-hastily-scratched-paper-scrap-notes-to-self chaos. There’s a lot going on, and there are constant lists, ideas, and inspiration striking at all times of the day.

Do you ever get that déjà vu sensation when you’re planning a lesson that you’ve done this before? Or worse, that haunting feeling that you had a brilliant idea, you wrote it down (didn’t you?), but it’s nowhere to be found? Or, perhaps even more annoying, you complete planning a project, and directly afterward find the set of notes from the first time you planned the project – months ago – in a “safe” spot: the purple notebook at the bottom of the notebook tower on your desk?

Look familiar? Just a small sample of my collection!

Notebooks run out of space and post-it notes lose their stick — if you move them as much as I do, anyway. Frankly, I just couldn’t keep my ideas and task organized effectively until last year, when I found a life-saver of an organizational tool. It’s FREE!!! It’s helped me so much, and no, I am not being compensated in any way to write this blog. They have no clue who I am, but I am indebted to Trello, and I wanted to share the love.

Trello is an online project management tool (it’s also available as a mobile app). You can use it alone, or you can share task boards with a team. See the screenshot below for some of my favorite features:

I created an introductory video (~13 min.) embedded below to show you how to get started:

Note: I posted this video on my new YouTube channel, which was one of my Trello task cards, now completed! More videos will be coming weekly, starting June 16 – mostly focusing on STEM Challenges. Be sure to check it out/subscribe! 🙂

Since using Trello a year ago, I created more than half the products in my store — I started my store in 2012, so that’s saying something! I’m using my time more efficiently, and I’m able to jot notes quickly at any time on my phone or laptop! The best thing is, I’m no longer losing track of my ideas. Thank you, thank you, thank you Trello!

And, no, I was not sponsored or asked to write this blog; I think Trello is just that awesome and thought you might agree!

Check out these other great ideas from some of my favorite bloggers!

An InLinkz Link-up

Credits:
Screenshot fonts: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Fonts-Fonts-Fonts-170-Personal-and-Commercial-Use-Fonts-ALL-KB-Fonts-by-Khrys-505757

photo credit:
02.07.2014 via photopin (license)

Comments

Deann Marin says

June 3, 2016 at 5:41 pm

Thanks so much for sharing these great tools. Love the title, and so very true.
- feelgoodteaching says
  
  June 3, 2016 at 10:35 pm
  
  Thanks, Deann. It was a game-changer for me. 🙂
Kathie @Tried and True Teaching Tools says

June 5, 2016 at 9:54 pm

Yay!! I'm so happy you wrote this post, Kerry! I've been dabbling with Trello since you showed me but still had so many questions. This video is perfect; just what I needed! I'm sending to my new teaching partner, too, so we can both use. Thank you!
- feelgoodteaching says
  
  June 5, 2016 at 10:12 pm
  
  No problem, Kathie! Our conversation was what led to me writing this post. I hope you & your teaching partner find Trello as fabulous as I do!
Wild Child says

June 6, 2016 at 3:30 am

Kerry,
I am a post-it fanatic. Some teachers sniff crayons every fall, but I fondle post-its. LOL. Seriously though, I'm excited to try out Trello. It could be really liberating for me in my home. My classroom…I'm not sure I can step away from the post-its completely. Thanks for sharing!
- feelgoodteaching says
  
  June 9, 2016 at 4:28 am
  
  Haha! It's ok, I still love post-its too, just not for the more important stuff! 🙂
Victoria Leon says

June 6, 2016 at 5:30 am

My "to do" list keeps getting longer and longer…Thanks for telling me about Trello…
-Vicky
- feelgoodteaching says
  
  June 9, 2016 at 4:29 am
  
  I have the same problem. There is something very freeing about knowing you've captured everything and can rearrange the lists so easily!
Retta says

June 6, 2016 at 9:38 pm

Aaah! The tech geek inside me is jumping up and down! Can not wait to try Trello! Thank you so much for a great description of how it works!
- feelgoodteaching says
  
  June 9, 2016 at 4:29 am
  
  Seriously, life-changing! Hope you find the same is true for you!
Lisa Robles says

June 9, 2016 at 1:11 am

Thanks! Can't wait to try it!
Tamaralynn @tarheelstateteacher says

June 11, 2016 at 2:56 pm

Oh, for the love of the first page in a fresh notebook! I have started so many as well. I bought an awesome new planner at Target yesterday though that is one page for each day. In one space, I can list my to-do's and on the other half of the page, it allows you to write out your daily schedule. Perfect for brainstorming what I want to accomplish and then time blocking it out. For blogging ideas, I'm using a google spreadsheet and it seems to be working! Your new blog design looks amazing btw! Love it!

Tammy
- feelgoodteaching says
  
  June 11, 2016 at 4:59 pm
  
  Tammy – your first line made me smile. And thanks so much for commenting the new blog design! It was one of the things on my Trello goals list to complete before 2016 TpT conference — just made it! Blog Queens did a great job. I'm so happy with it!