For the newly qualified teacher, teaching your first lessons can be daunting. While to many, teaching looks like an easy job, it most certainly isn’t. There are many things that the average teacher has to think about and do, over the course of one school day. Lesson planning, to start with, can be an extremely tiring process, especially when it comes to finding exactly the right material for your class. Looking after your students and making sure that their behaviour is under control can also be very tiring.
And that’s not to mention monitoring the students’ progress and levels throughout the course of the year. In order to fit all of these key factors into your schedule, it is important to be good at saving time. Being a good time-saver will not only allow your students to learn more, but it should also make your teaching schedule a little less jam-packed and stressful. Here are some of the top ways you can save time as a teacher:
- Use technology
Instead of wasting time, money, effort and stress on paper for each individual student, try to use the technology that is at your disposal (and their disposal). For example, instead of giving a sheet of paper to each individual student that explains what the homework is, send it to them by email. This may sound quite basic, but you wouldn’t believe the amount of time it will save you. On top of that, students won’t be able to use the excuse they lost their paper, as they will have it digitally.
- Classroom organization
Certain classroom set-ups may be more suited to your teaching style than others. It is a known fact that certain classroom layouts can help reduce disruptive behaviour among students. And we all know that disruptive behaviour can be a major factor in wasting time. Search Google for “classroom organisation” if you are struggling to get some inspirational ideas.
- Organise your desk and your computer
Having an unorganised desk can not only make it more difficult and time-consuming to find things that you need, but it can also affect your mind. An organised desk is likely going to subconsciously affect your mind, making your mindset more clear and organised.
- Monitor your students
Make sure you are aware of your students’ levels and progress, and periodically give them examinations in order to make sure of your judgements. This is important, because if you are teaching something that your students do not understand, then you are wasting your time doing so. Be sure to check out a complete school pupil tracker as a method of doing so.
- Delegate
Delegating some of your organisation tasks to your students can actually be of great help to a teacher, and it can speed up the time it takes to do many things. Often, younger children actually enjoy helping a teacher in organisational work, and they will take any chance they can get for a trip outside the classroom (for example, picking up sheets of paper from the printer).