I know. You read this title thinking, “yeah right I do a million and one things a day, what are you going to say thats worth my time?” My goal with this post is to give you at least one tidbit that you can take to your class that will give you even 20 minutes back into your week. Here are ways to make the most of your planning time.
Tip #1: Use Small Pockets of time
A few minutes to spare while your kids are working? Start tidying up so you’re not having to clean up during your conference time. Solicit a student to help clean up!
With extra time, I also try to knock out some emails so I can get right to planning during my conference.
A few minutes in the morning? As much as you DON’T want to do it, keep a stack of papers to grade on a clipboard. Place a post-it-note of the answers. Grade when you have a few extra minutes so you can get down to the actual planning during conference.
Tip #2: Break your To-Do’s into small chunks
You cannot do everything in one day. If you try to, even if you’re feeling energized–you’ll end up staying until 6pm.
Write down a few tasks that you wish to accomplish to get ready for next week. Make it a goal to get those tasks done either before, during, conference time, or after school.By breaking up the tasks into bite-size chunks, you’ll feel accomplished but not drained.
Tip #3: Close the door and turn off the light
Tip #4: Create a ‘to copy’ bucket
I was in the habit of being so excited when I planned one subject, that as soon as I had my papers ready, I wasted time during conference time going to the copy machine.
Tip #6: Create an agenda with standards
Now it’s time to actually meet with your team. Make it intentional. It is required that our team leader for each grade level e-mail the other teachers the TEKS (standards) of the subjects that we will be teaching the following week. In addition to that e-mail we receive this:
Want the agenda template?
I have had so many requests for this agenda template, so I created printable editable agenda slide templates – download them here!
Tip #7: Do the logistics last
Do the hard stuff first.
During the beginning of the year, we would plan and talk about upcoming dates and logistics first. It’s so easy to go off on a tangent with those types of topics. Devote the last 10 minutes of you planning period to discussing these things. You’d be surprised how much you’ll get done by shifting this task to the end.
WHEW! That’s it friends! I hope you were able to talk away even one thing from this post! How do you make the most of your planning period? I would love to hear more time-saving tricks!
Theresa
March 8, 2016 at 12:50 amLove this post! Thank you for all the wonderful tips. Would you be willing to share your team agenda? My team could benefit greatly from it. Thank you!
Trjones24@gmail.com
Carleen Cook
March 11, 2016 at 2:18 amLoved your team agenda. Would really appreciate if you could share it.
Susy
March 12, 2016 at 2:43 pmI second that! Please share. It looks like a great way to keep meetings organized.
Daisy June
March 17, 2016 at 9:55 pmI love the planning agenda! Could you share that with me? Thank you!
Anonymous
March 22, 2016 at 7:10 pmGreat an ideas.Thanks Mrs.Rios from Lares Puerto Rico
Mary Anne Meyerhoeffer
March 25, 2016 at 10:48 pmExcellent ideas…Would you be willing to share your agenda or can it be purchased?
Thanks, Mary Anne
Kelsey Hayes
March 26, 2016 at 3:27 pmLove your planning agenda!
Martin Warneke
March 27, 2016 at 11:14 amGreat ideas, Amber! Thanks for sharing them with others!
Liza Brown
March 28, 2016 at 3:18 amI LOVE your team meeting planning agenda! Any chance you would be willing to share it? My email is lizabrown76@gmail.com. I have really enjoyed checking out your blog and your time saving ideas.
Laura
June 23, 2016 at 2:49 amI saw several people asking for the agenda but didn’t see you reply so I’m asking too. I’d love a copy! laura.bean10@gmail.com
Kathy
July 16, 2016 at 12:20 pmThank you for all the tips! I plan on implementing them in my classroom ????
T. C.
July 22, 2016 at 8:46 pmHi there Thanks so much for the great tips! I would also love a copy of your team agenda. Thank you in advance! tcampeau@oglethorpe.k12.ga.us.
Lynn
August 1, 2016 at 7:05 pmI love your planning agenda, too! If you’re willing to share will you please email me a copy – mrscobb2@gmail.com
Thank you!
Rita
August 20, 2016 at 2:57 pmWould love to have a copy of your agenda. Rita11553@gmail.com thank you so much 🙂
Michelle Richmond
September 27, 2016 at 6:55 pmCan I also have a copy of your agenda? It’s great! Thanks
richmonm@highlands.k12.fl.us
Kayshala
November 10, 2016 at 2:28 pmMy email is kayshala13@yahoo.com. I am not a teacher yet, but I am in my Junior year of college and I am looking forward to being in a classroom. This post has gave me great insight at what it takes to be an everyday teacher!! I would love any extra ideas that anyone has and would be willing to share with me via email. Thanks so much in advance(:
Tamera Jones
November 13, 2016 at 3:55 pmLove the meeting agenda!! Do you mind sharing it with me as well?
Lauren hurrle
January 25, 2017 at 12:37 pmI would love it if you could share. Lamunson@ccisd.net
Halo
February 4, 2017 at 1:37 pmHello! I love your agenda template. Could you please email me a copy of it? I have recently taken over as team lead and this would be an amazing resource. Thank you! Halo0505@gmail.com
Cait
February 16, 2017 at 1:24 amI love the idea of just doing a little tidying up and also having a separate clipboard of papers ready to grade while students are working. I’m a first year 8th grade teacher with an intensive math double block class. And I started in the middle of the year! It has been chaotic to say the least and I loved those comments to help me try to get a little organized so that I can use my planning time for actually planning. 🙂