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Time Managment for Teachers
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Mr. Kevin Bibo
Kevin Bibo teaches high school computer multimedia in Southern California. He holds a Master’s of Education degree and is currently a teacher credential program instructor. In addition, Kevin is the author of Cal Teacher Blog.
Most importantly Kevin loves spending time with his wife and five children.
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More articles from this author:
Kevin Bibo
Like most teachers, I’m busy. Between teaching, planning, grading, testing, and advising, I rarely have a free moment during the day or night. This is a good thing. My father was fond of saying that “work expands to the time provided.” So true! Every job I do takes me exactly as much time to complete as I budget to complete it. As teachers, we must manage a huge workload while staying – at minimum – a day ahead of our students. Teachers must be masters of time management if we are to succeed.
This semester I am teaching 6 courses (including 2 preps) without a planning or conference period. I am a glutton for punishment (and maximizing my salary intake). In fact, I’ll be teaching 7 periods next semester while serving as a mentor teacher. This isn’t the first year I’ve taught this type of schedule. I was lucky early in my teaching career to have mentors who helped guide me towards survival within such hectic schedules. Here’s my one-word strategy: LEAVE!
LEAVE the Grading at School
This can be difficult, if not impossible, especially if you’re an English or History teacher. However, it is essential to a teacher’s survival and sanity. To the extent that the teacher is able, he or she must design assignments and grading rubrics that are well structured, clearly communicated, and easily assessed. Using a rubric and sharing that rubric with the students BEFORE the assignment is submitted for grading is imperative. Place the responsibility of the class work firmly in the hands of the students. Holding students accountable when submitting work frees up the teacher to grade without guilt. When should a teacher evaluate completed student work? During class time.
LEAVE Time for Student Work and Peer Assistance During the Class Period
A teacher should never spend an entire class period speaking in front of students. Never! The attention span of a student seems to get shorter and shorter every year. When it comes to direct instruction, I believe that less is more. Build a reasonable amount of time into every class period for students to work independently or in small groups. While students work independently, the teacher works, too. “Heresy! Irresponsible!” I can hear some scream.
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During this time of “independent practice,” teachers can take a moment to clear their thoughts and assess their students’ work. If a teacher cannot complete grading work during a portion (not all) of the class or regular school hours, then the teacher needs to change the way student work is assigned and graded. (This does not apply to higher education due to the structure of courses or the primary grades where students are not yet ready for self-directed work.)
LEAVE the classroom at lunchtime!
It is so tempting to stay in the classroom during lunchtime and either prepare for the next class or grade student work. Sometimes it’s unavoidable. When possible, teachers should leave their classrooms at lunch and get away from it all for a while. It’s nice to have a colleague to chat with, but that’s not a requirement. Go for a walk, go out to lunch, take a fun book to read (not educational) or your iPod and get out! Taking the time to relax and revive during the school day will refresh and replenish you for the afternoon. The best preparation for class is not always found in books and lecture notes. The best preparation is a clear mind and a relaxed soul. Trust me.
LEAVE campus when your instructional and coaching time is complete!
Leaving may be much easier for those who have people at home waiting. I am always flabbergasted at my colleagues who are on campus until eight or nine o’clock every night. What are they doing? I can only guess. Clearly these teachers have given themselves too much time to get their goals accomplished. All teachers need to have a life off campus. We need to convince our students that we don’t actually sleep in our classrooms by not sleeping in our classrooms. The better we manage our time the more effective teachers we will be for our students.
SharonJ
4 months ago
14 comments
I have found it extremely difficult to do any form of work while my sudents are working. I have to keep circulating the class to keep them on task. This is High School. Please outline in details how I can do my essay grading during class time. I really would like to leave campus after instructional time.
cnims
4 months ago
2 comments
I like your time mgmt suggestions very much and have used many of them during my time as a teacher. How do you plan for the year, semester, theme, month, week and day? Do you collaborate? With whom and how often? Any district guidelines provided for you? Basically, I'm interested in how you plan both long and short term. Please include answers to the questions in as much detail as possible. Thank you!
C. Nims/Berkeley, CA
e3_
10 months ago
8 comments
Being a Graduate of this Noble career there are times for each profesion,to take in to be youre Endless love.During the time i got my degree,I've been close to my families financial burden to give better education to our younger sister and brother,so after a year of sharing my talent,i dicide to look for a Greener pasture,in Rome Italy for seven long years,during my stayed my sister as of now was a License Social Worker,handling the most dangerous cases.child abuse,any form of harrassment in my city,She employ now In Lipa City Hall,Batangas,Philippines,a government empoyee so that from her you can ask what kind of person am I.My youngest brother was employed in one company in my state,as Industrial Engineer,of Coca-cola Bottlers in company,althought in Rome ,Italy,a Greener Pasture im looking is in my hand after they got their,degree I go back Home,My sister now is Mrs.Nenita Q,Hernandez,my brother is Reynaldo Quiring you have all the right to check them out,because only my sincerity and honesty is all i can assure you,because this the only time God called me in this kind of serving,being single.is been an advantage for me to make dicision where i want to start my work place of serving at the same time grant the Schoolarship program of your country,Good Morning!.thank you very much for giving me your time and effort,This modern era ,the applicable method of teaching is what we called RBEC this activities more on learner than teachers talk..Same as your method of teaching.
LCDRBaily
10 months ago
2 comments
Hey Kevin, I found this easier to do when teaching middle school science but now that I am teaching ms math it seems like I am giving direct instruction the entire time just to get the point across to them! Any words of advice on this one?
Ladyfair
10 months ago
14 comments
In theory this would work. In the real world it does not.
As an intermediate elementary teacher, I can not leave the grading at school. I would never get caught up with the grading of papers which would put me ever so behind in entering grades for progress reports and report cards.
Independent work does not always allow the teacher to sit and grade papers. There is a constant need to walk around the room to make sure all students are on task and understand the assignment. This is especially true when you have English Language Learners as well as struggling students.