The School Bell — First Lesson in Time Management
You will definitely hear the school bell ring in your head, whenever you lend your ear to it. Our first lessons in time management are perhaps rendered to us by this innocuous bell.
You will definitely hear the school bell ring in your head, whenever you lend your ear to it! The sound of the school bell has a certain amount of energy that makes the adrenaline flow and we look forward to the next hour.
The first bell of the day brings in great energy, as enthusiastic young and fresh minds come racing in to the school gates. The day will see the entry and exit of fun and joy in the class, till the last bell that leaves the campus devoid of all energy and seems like the sunset hour in midday.
Our first lessons in time management perhaps are rendered to us by this innocuous bell, that may sound jarring at first but becomes part of our growing years. A school period is a block of time allocated for lessons, classes or other activities in schools. They typically last between 40 and 60 minutes, with around 3–8 periods per school day. Educators determine the number and length of these periods, and may even regulate how each period will be used.
Managing time is really the first challenge for all of us at school, using the 40 odd minutes to ensure learning and capture the imagination is always the biggest challenge for teachers and students alike.
Our first lessons in time management perhaps are rendered to us by this innocuous bell.
The race against time, the need to complete the lesson plan, ensure good understanding and give the students the real joy of learning between two bells is not an easy task for even the best of teachers. How best you use your limited time determines your effectiveness as a teacher or a mentor for a group of learners. There are thus crucial questions to be answered keeping in mind that the next bell will ring soon — What do I do? When do I do it? How well do I do it?
Isn't time management an issue for your students? Do their busy schedules and social lives prevent them from completing homework assignments? Managing time is the most important element as this is the basic premise of our putting in place a timetable; the bells for the hour are the key to effective delivery. The timetable adds up to the calendar and this makes the academic year for our curriculum delivery.
It is often said that students who have studied in residential schools are more independent and parents may have an opinion that they have greater confidence. This is merely because the school works hard to make best use of the full 24 hours they have at hand. From the 'wake up' bell to the 'lights out' bell, all members of the school community really work to synchronise the life of a child at the school.
A bell is a signal in a school that tells the students when it is time to go to class in the morning and when it is time to change classes during the day. Typically the first bell tells the students that it is time to report to class and the bell that occurs shortly after that means that the students are late.
The signal for us to get active is really the school bell. The ringing sound may excite us or push us — it definitely is the call of the hour and wants us to know that precious time is ticking. Successful people know how to manage their time better, and leadership in my opinion is really best expressed through time management. If you learn how to use your time most judiciously you will succeed.
Hear the bell, find the energy, think for yourself and make a conscious decision about how best you will use your time. Remember the school bell and hear it ring always — let it not make life uncomfortable but instead help you enjoy every moment and be the master of your time. Time management alone will help you find yourself and live a joyous life.
Sandeep Dutt is a School Improvement Coach with over 40 years of experience transforming schools across India and Singapore. He is the author of My Good School: Where Passion Meets Education and founder of the Good Schools Alliance. He runs the Good Schools Masterclass for school leaders, principals, and educators.