Teaching requires excellent time management skills. Teachers must balance the long-term educational goals of the classroom with the immediate needs of students. They also have to manage the huge amount of paperwork that comes along with each assignment. Teachers often feel overwhelmed by the task of writing lesson plans, grading exams, and teaching.
Although it seems like the career path has too many hours, it is possible manage the situation and make extra time outside of class. Teachers can improve their productivity and offer a better education to their students by learning effective time management skills.
These are five time management tips that teachers can use every single day.
1. Priorities organize your day
Time management for teachers must begin with setting priorities and organizing their day around the most critical tasks. Teachers can keep their time organized and on track, even when there is unexpected or overwhelming workload.
Prioritizing effectively is about prioritizing workload based on the importance of each task and the impact of completed tasks. Teachers should be able assess whether certain projects are worth putting on hold, if they have less impact than others.
Priorities aren’t always as simple as “putting math, English and getting to art projects if you have the time”; this kind of thinking can cause burnout for both students and teachers. In certain situations, an outdoor or impactful activity can be as stimulating as academic lesson plan.
2. Plan strategically for homework assignments
Students and teachers may find that repetitive practice makes assignments more suitable for home. While in-class practice is helpful for structuring and framing problems, it may not be the most efficient use of your time. Assignments asking students to solve a certain number of problems in practice can waste valuable class time.
3. Avoid procrastination that is “loaded”.
Pinell says that teachers find it easier to divide grading materials into smaller groups that can be graded each day, rather than trying to grade the whole class at once. Do not pile on grading assignments. Instead, focus on completing batches of work at a time. It is easier to manage a small number of assignments each day. This allows teachers to evaluate the assignment thoroughly and give feedback to students. Each batch can give teachers a sense accomplishment.
4. Prepare for possible crises
It’s better to prepare for possible problems before they arise in the classroom. Urgent crises can distract teachers and make it difficult to focus on the goals of the classroom. Teachers can adapt to students’ needs, even though some problems are not easily solved, such as natural catastrophes. It is better to prevent or manage a crisis that involves student behavior before it escalates to the point of causing disruptions to class time. Teachers can learn about students and create a plan to prevent triggers and distract from distractions by learning before they arrive in the classroom.
5. Set aside personal time
Teachers have many tasks to attend to and must also be attentive to the needs of their students and parents. It is tempting to spend more time on grading, giving feedback, and managing student needs. However, it is important to remember to take time for yourself to maintain a clear perspective of the priorities.
To effectively implement and execute plans to educate students, it is important to prioritize personal care. Teachers who are tired or lack of time and personal care can make the classroom less efficient and effective. Time-saving strategies can only be implemented if teachers are energetic, healthy, and refreshed.
Effective classroom management requires teachers to be able to manage their time effectively. It is possible to meet the educational needs of all students by using teacher time management strategies. You can also manage urgent situations quickly and not fall behind in dealing with unexpected events. Time management is essential for providing quality education and meeting every student’s needs. You can find our top time management software for teachers suggestions.