Have a goal to clean your inbox daily and do something with EVERY message:

• • Archive or Delete messages ruthlessly (and unsubscribe from mailing lists that just take up space).

  • Use Folders / Tags for messages you can't delete or that need specific follow up. Tags make messages easily searchable later.

  • Setup Policies / Rules to have your email system automatically categorize and sweep your inbox for you, archiving or deleting messages you don't need to read as they come in. That's one less thing for you to worry about.

  • Snooze messages that don't require action today so they reappear in your inbox at a predetermined time in the future when you need them.

Drill down your inbox regularly, keeping a goal in mind of DEVELOPING AN EMAIL ROUTINE!

• • This could include pushing toward INBOX ZERO (video tutorials about this are listed below).

    • • Getting to zero messages in the inbox won't be easy or happen overnight, especially if you are like me ... with hundreds (or thousands) or unread messages dating back years, most of which were from mailing lists or sales bulletins.

      • If you give it time, and work at filing, archiving, or deleting messages every day, you will get there.

  • Set up specific times of day to spend time in your inbox, turning off notifications outside of that time.

  • Create a FOLDER system that works for you. Have a limited number of folders separated by ACTIONS.

  • Avoid reading emails multiple times! If the email can be acted on immediately, do it now! Otherwise, act on in now by sorting it into a folder, delegating it to someone else, or archiving / deleting it.

Consider learning and using keyboard shortcuts to improve your workflow and productivity.

This is the public face of your program! Make making a website a priority!

• • Google Sites is by far one of the easiest to learn and use. It also has the advantage of not being blocked by most district firewalls.

    • • I have tried making websites with Blogger, Blogspot, and Wordpress, and all were initially blocked by our district firewall. Use something you know your students can access on the district wifi.

Your website can easily become THE COMMUNICATION HUB for your program.

• • Include your calendar of events. I created a Google Calendar for our SVMS Band that parents can subscribe to, and this calendar can be easily brought into the website where anyone can see it.

  • Train your parents and community to go to your website anytime they have a question about your program. 

  • If you include a blog-type page where you post all mass-emails, this can provide an easy-to-share link you can send through Remind or any similar service.

It also works as a RESOURCE HUB

• • Include links to websites and resources you use as part of your teaching. It makes it easy for students who are trying to learn from home to find necessary lessons or if you take the whole class to the computer lab for online testing of note-names with www.musictheory.net. Just make an easy to find button on the website you can link to specific assignments.

Improve Recruitment

• • The first thing a parent is going to do when thinking about joining band is Googling your program. Help them discover what YOUR band program is all about!

Don't forget about the value of Branding.

• • Use consistent color-coordination throughout your website, with unified logos and images to improve the readability and professionalism of your site.

  • www.Canva.com is great for creating custom logos, icons, buttons, and more!