Question:I keep running out of time to finish my lessons each day. This means that the next day I have to finish up what was left over and then try to finish the day’s lessons. I am getting more and more behind and I am feeling very overwhelmed. Help!
Answer: Oh gosh…I totally relate to what you are saying. This is a really common issue – and it’s solvable!
Here are several things that have worked for me and many other teachers. They are super simple, but if you do them religiously everyday, you’ll see the long-term effect! Here you go:
Step 1: During lesson planning, note how long you want each component of your lesson to take.
For example,
- Introduction to new science concept – 3 minutes
- Watch youtube video of process – 2 minutes
- Read Chapter 7 with students in partner + take notes – 25 minutes
I find that I tend to overtalk during lessons (shocker!) and this keeps me focused on how long I want each section of the lesson to take. I find that the lesson gets out of whack time-wise in the smallest moments…and those moments add up!
Step 2: Keep a timer while you teach.
I find that I lose myself in the lesson. That’s a great thing, but can also be a time killer and time waster! So, I keep a timer and set it for each portion of the lesson. This keeps me from thinking that I have a ton more time than I actually have! If the timer buzzes and I am still teaching, I will rely on the next step…
Step 3: Note for each portion of your lesson what you absolutely HAVE to teach and what would BE NICE.
During my lesson planning I determine what I absolutely HAVE to teach (what is required for the most important skills to be mastered) and what can be dumped if I am running short of time. I don’t make a habit of it, but I give myself a little ‘out’ when I need it. The real deal is that not every moment of the lesson is the most crucial and by determining what the fluff is from the most important skill work, I can prioritize as I need to.
You’ll see that a lot of what I do to manage my time takes place in lesson planning. I find that the more detailed I am in my planning, the better pacing I have during the lesson and less content that I fold over into the next day.
If you liked this post, then you’d probably really like this book I’ve written on the same topic, too!