YOU CAN'T FIX EVERYTHING AT ONCE! prioritizing classroom systems

If you've ever sat down at your desk once the kids got on the bus and stared blankly at your computer screen, thinking about all the things that had to be done now, you're not alone.

This student needs a more specific behavior chart. I need to plan lessons for my math groups. I need to collect data for progress reports. My paras need training on prompting.

Somehow you're supposed to prioritize all of it, without dropping anything important.

But here's the truth that teachers need to hear:

You don't need to fix everything at once.

You need to fix the thing that is interrupting your day.

Why "Everything is Important" Keeps You Stuck

When everything feels equally critical, our decision-making shuts down. Teachers end up either putting out fires all day or freezing because they don't know where to start. The problem is that you're trying to solve too many problems at the same time. Sustainable classrooms aren't built by doing more.

Start With This Question

Instead of asking:

What should I be working on?

Ask:

What is pulling me away from instruction the most?

This question changes everything because instruction is the core of your day. Anything that consistently prevents instruction from starting or staying on track is where your energy should go first.

Break Your Day Into Sections (Not Problems)

If prioritizing feels impossible, zoom in. Instead of looking at your classroom as one giant, overwhelming problem, break your day into sections.

• Morning arrival

• Group instruction

• IEP Goals

• Independent Work

• Transitions

• End of Day Routines

For each block, ask yourself:

What slows this part down?

What causes interruptions?

What requires me to step in every single time?

You're looking for the moments where your time and attention are being pulled the hardest. Patterns will show up quickly, and those patterns point directly to your first system to build.

The Survival-To-Systems Checklist

Use the checklist below to identify where instruction is consistently interrupted and where you’re being pulled away the most. This isn’t an evaluation or a judgment; it’s information that makes prioritization possible.

Download the Free Survival-To-Systems Checklist

Once you’ve worked through the checklist, pause for a moment.

Which section had the most checkmarks? Which issues happen daily, not just on hard days? If one area ran more smoothly, would your day feel noticeably calmer?

The goal isn’t to fix everything. The goal is to find one system that, if improved, would give you the biggest return on your time and energy. When I coach special education teachers, the same issues come up again and again:

Groups Never Get Started

• Students don’t know expectations

• Paras aren’t sure who to support

• Materials aren’t ready

• Behaviors escalate before instruction begins

This isn’t a behavior problem. It’s a group-start system problem.

You’re Constantly Interrupted

• Paras ask questions all day

• Behavior support pulls you away

• Students rely on you instead of routines

This is usually a communication or independence system gap.

Assessments and Data Never Happen

• There’s no protected time

• You’re always triaging behaviors

• Everything else feels louder and more urgent

This is often a schedule protection issue.

Choose One Problem to Solve

Start by picking one problem to work on this week. Remember, it doesn't necessarily need to be the most important; it needs to be the most disruptive.

Ask yourself:

If this worked better, would my day feel calmer?

If this were solved, would this free up my time or mental energy?

Would this help my instruction actually happen?

Classroom Systems Create Momentum

You don't need a flawless system, but you do need one that works better than what you have now. Small wins, like fewer interruptions, fewer transitions, and para confidence, matter. Once one part of the day feels steadier, you suddenly have the capacity to address the next issue.

What’s Coming Next

In the next post, we’ll zoom in on one of the biggest bottlenecks teachers face: being the constant point of contact for paras.

We’ll talk about how to build para systems that increase independence, reduce interruptions, and help your classroom run even when you’re not standing right there.

Remember, you don’t need to do everything. You just need to decide what comes first, and that choice alone can make your classroom feel manageable again.