In a previous post, I share quick tips for preventing teacher burnout. These tips are some of the ways I was able to survive teacher burnout and keep it from returning. But, what didn’t make it into that post was how batch lesson planning played an important role.
Teacher burnout is never caused by just one thing, and it’s always different from teacher to teacher. There are always several contributing factors. At the top of my list was feeling that I was always working and never getting ahead. It was the fear that I would never be able to have a family of my own while being a teacher.
Batch lesson planning was the game-changer that allowed me to stop working at the end of the day, and to actually get ahead. A full week ahead that is. And, with batch lesson planning,I am able to stay a full week ahead consistently.
What is Batch Lesson Planning?
Batch lesson planning is your ticket out of the day-by-day planning trap. Batching is the ultimate work smarter, not harder technique. When we batch, we break a task down into its steps. Then, instead of completing one step at a time for just one project, we complete that one step for multiple projects.
In the case of batch lesson planning, each lesson plan is our project. So instead of completing the notes for just one class, I complete the notes for all of my classes.
Batching is Better for Your Brain
Batching increases your focus and efficiency. We’re used to multitasking as a way to increase our efficiency. But the truth is that it does just the opposite.
When we multitask, we focus on one task briefly before switching to another task. When we try to return to our first task, we have already lost focus. In fact, your brain needs time to catch up. On average, it takes your brain 23 minutes to focus on a task, and every time you switch tasks, you reset the clock.
Batching, however, forces you to focus on one task for a longer period of time. Even if you are preparing worksheets for multiple lessons, you are focused on only one task: preparing worksheets.
This focus allows us to work more efficiently, get into a zone where we generate better ideas, and lowers the chances of making mistakes.
Why Batch Lesson Planning?
Lesson planning is one of those teacher tasks that is a constant. We are always doing it, and it doesn’t end until school does. This means that it is very easy for lesson planning to consume us. (At least it did for me.)
It doesn’t have to be that way. Batching your lesson planning forces you to create a system around lesson planning. And, systems are the ultimate productivity hack.
Once you have a system around lesson planning, you know exactly where to begin and where to stop. You also know exactly what needs to be done next, and don’t have to waste time trying to decide what to do.
Plan for Multiple Days
How many days do you want to be ahead? When planning day-to-day, I was never ahead by more than one day.
When I started batching, I was able to stay one full week ahead. Some teachers like to batch by unit, and others by month. The possibilities are endless.
When you’re able to plan for more than one day, you can actually get ahead.
The caveat here is that you will have to deal with changes to your plan. Some people get stuck on this idea, so hear me out.
When you have a plan that is a few days out, it is inevitable that you will have to make changes. The surprises teachers face are endless, and sometimes one lesson takes longer than expected. But, it is much easier (and faster) to make changes to an existing plan than to create a plan from scratch.
Game-Changer for Multiple Preps
Some secondary teachers are lucky, and get to teach one prep (or course) 5 times a day. I can only imagine what that’s like. The rest of us secondary teachers get to experience the thrill of planning for and teaching multiple preps.
The most preps I ever had as a teacher was 5. (Of course, that was also the year right after my first child was born.) And yet, I was still able to stay one full week ahead in my planning with all 5 preps.
Focusing on just one task at a time is a total game-changer. Earlier in the post I shared that I don’t just complete the notes for one lesson, I complete them for the whole week. I complete the notes for the whole week for all of my preps.
Keep in mind, that focus means that I work faster, make fewer mistakes, and can actually come up with better plans. I don’t know how I could possibly keep up with planning and teaching 5 different courses without batch lesson planning.
How to batch lesson plan?
If you’re ready to create your own batching process for lesson planning, I’m your girl! While I can (and do) share what my batch lesson planning system is and how it works, it won’t apply to everyone. Since all teachers have unique circumstances, different school environments, and different students, I created a framework for batch lesson planning that works for everyone.
In the Batch Lesson Planning Workshop, you will learn:
- more about why batch lesson planning is so effective,
- how to set up your batch lesson planning system,
- and the tips I’ve learned through trial and error.
Ultimately, this workshop was created to save you time. To be your guide to batching lesson planning so you can experience swift success.
Streamline your lesson planning process so you can reclaim your nights and weekends. Join the Batch Lesson Planning Workshop today!
