Maximizing Your Instructional Time
November's BTNT Focus
Step 1: How Are You Planning for Your Lessons?
Planning for instruction is the most important aspect to becoming a successful teacher. Good teachers spend time honing their craft by learning their curriculums, and creating lessons that are engaging and leveled to the students in their class. Well-planned teachers always have enough to do and can fall back to Plan B easily.
Above all, a well-planned teacher is ORGANIZED, sets CLEAR expectations for their students, creates routines and structure within the classroom, and manages their time well.
Below is a simple yet fantastic resource for helping you learn to plan more efficiently in your classroom.
Step 2: Are You Keeping a Record of Your Lesson Plans?
Just because we are in a digital age, doesn't mean the idea of a Teacher's Lesson Plan book should go to the wayside. Keeping a lesson plan book is an integral part of staying organized as a teacher. If you are a more comfortable with "paper and pencil", then consider keeping a hard copy agenda. For those of you who prefer digital, consider keeping a Google Doc template with your daily plans. Having a recored of your thoughts of the day will assist you in your future planning. See below for some examples of Lesson Plan Books and Templates.
Step 3: Are You Reflecting on Your Teaching Each Day?
We know it's hard to find time to go to the bathroom some days. However, REFLECTION is imperative daily as a teacher. We are not saying you have to keep a journal on your desk, but simply jotting a few notes down about how your lessons worked--what went well or what didn't go well will make you a much more informed teacher. Check out these "thought starters" to assist you in your reflection practice.
Step 4: How Are Your Managing Transition Time in Your Classroom?
90 minutes can seem like an eternity some days. How are you managing your time? Do you struggle with running stations because it's hard to keep kids on pace? Do you dread having to move kids around in the classroom because it will take them forever to settle down? Every teacher has struggled with the most effective ways to transition from one activity to the next with the least amount of disruption to instructional time. The following strategies are just a few ways to help you manage transitions better.
Step 5: Are Your Lessons Engaging?
"Anyone, anyone" teacher from Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Levels of Engagement
It's What's Best for Kids!
An Engaged Classroom
Please contact April, Tracey, or Damien if you would like help implementing any of the strategies from this month's lesson. Keep up the great work!