If you research ways to save time, you will undoubtedly come across information about batch working. Batch working is essentially completing the same repeated tasks in one session. Think meal prepping. When you meal prep for the week ahead, you get all of the meal prep tasks out of the way on one day. For the rest of the week, you do not have to gather ingredients, measure, or chop again. If you meal prep on Sunday, you get into a rhythm of completing each simple cooking task. For the rest of the week, you can just throw your meals in the oven or microwave, and then you have time to do other things, like maybe relax. This same concept can be applied to lesson planning. To learn how I saved my time and sanity by applying the batch work concept to lesson planning, read on.
My Lesson Planning was Chaotic Before Batch Lesson Planning
To say that batch planning saved my sanity would be a huge understatement. Before, I was all over the place. Teaching multiple courses is challenging, especially when one or more of them are new. After implementing a batch working routine, I knew exactly what I should be doing and when. I had guidance and structure, and I really needed that to get through some hectic years. Even with the difficulties that a year of teaching brings, this routine makes me feel like I have it mostly together.
Benefits of Applying Batch Work to Lesson Planning
Applying a batch work strategy to lesson planning allows me to stay one full week ahead. Having a system in place keeps me on track, and I use flexible deadlines to ensure lesson planning task completion. Additionally, having a set of tasks to complete by day helped me focus during my planning periods. Before batch working I was never able to actually plan during planning periods. By being able to plan during school, I am able to avoid taking work home with me every day. Planning during school meant that I was able to spend time doing things that I wanted to when I left school.
How Batch Lesson Planning Works
Lesson planning is much more complicated than cooking a meal. There are so many facets and things to consider. To start, I thought about all of the tasks that I complete to prepare for a lesson. Consider what needs to be done for each lesson, and the order in which they need to happen. For example, I create my presentation files after I complete answer keys so I can catch any mistakes. Prior to using this strategy, I would find mistakes after creating the files, and then go back and have to edit the presentation file AND the original document. I base my tasks on days of the week. Each day has a specific task that needs to be accomplished for each course I teach. On the day that I prepare my lesson plans template, I prepare a template for all 3, 4, or 5 of my different courses for an entire week.
Once I got comfortable implementing a batch work routine for lesson planning, I became faster at completing the tasks. That is why batching is an effective strategy. By focusing on one specific task, you are not only able to get into a zone, but you stay in that zone all day.
Here is How I Batched My Planning:
Saturday:
Saturday is my main planning day. I start by typing up my weekly plans in a Google Document Template. (If you want a lesson planning template for secondary teachers, you can use the one I created. It’s free!) Once I have my plans fleshed out, I start on creating the materials I need. In Geometry I create interactive notebook pages, and in my other classes I create or find notes sheets, worksheets, activities, etc. I also begin working on homework assignments for Geometry and General Geometry.
Monday:
On Monday, I continue the work from Saturday. Turning the worksheets and homework category into a two-day task is essential for me. These are easily the most time consuming tasks of my planning, and two days are often necessary, especially when I have extra courses and new courses to teach.
Tuesday:
Tuesday is assessment day. I work on quizzes and tests for my classes. I don’t have tests and quizzes in every class every week, but every week there is something. So, Tuesday is my flexible day. I also use Tuesday as a make-up day for the worksheets and homework assignments that are not completed on Monday. Having this built-in flexibility is critical for me in having this routine succeed because no two weeks are ever the same.
Wednesday:
Unless I have an especially hectic week, all of my materials are created by Wednesday. So Wednesday is my answer key day. I print everything out that I prepare from Sunday through Tuesday, and then complete every note handout, worksheet, activity, homework, quiz, and test. I then correct any problems that I find. Wednesday is almost like a “relax” day for me. In some weird way, I find making answer keys soothing. At this time, I also add my interactive notebook pages for the next week. Once I complete my Wednesday tasks, my plans are solid, aside from the last minute changes we have all become accustomed to as teachers
Thursday:
On Thursdays, I make my copies and begin working on Smart Notebook files for the next week. One thing I learned from Angela Watson’s Truth for Teachers podcasts is to be satisfied with the “Minimum Viable Product”. This is where I exercise that concept. I’m not making over-the-top Smart Notebook files unless I have extra time. I am largely using the “Smart Notebook Document Writer” feature under printers and using screenshots of the worksheets that students are being provided. This saves so much time, and I think it’s often easier for students to follow a model that looks just like what they have in front of them.
Friday:
Fridays are typically busy on their own as we wrap up the week. Friday is the day that I update grades for all of my classes in SchoolTool. Friday’s planning task is finishing up the Smart Notebook files that weren’t finished on Thursday. As a bonus, toward the second half of the year, I am able to actually start planning for next week on Fridays, and have less to work on over the weekend.
Want to know more? Check out the video below.
Do you want to start batching your lesson plans? I have a workshop that will get you started right away. Check out the Batch Lesson Planning Workshop today!
