A whopping 86% of teachers say they ‘always’ or ‘frequently’ feel they lack enough time for high-quality lesson planning. If you’re reading this, chances are you’re nodding in agreement. We’ve all been there, scrambling to throw together a lesson plan at the eleventh hour. The struggle is real, and it can be downright panic-inducing. But fear not! With a few clever strategies, you can turn that panic into productive planning.
Having a toolkit of last-minute lesson planning hacks can be a lifesaver. These strategies can help save time and maintain the quality of your teaching, even when you’re in a jam.
Enter MarkSmart, your new best friend in the classroom. MarkSmart is revolutionising the way teachers manage their time by slashing marking time by up to 40%. Just imagine what you could do with all that extra time. No more frantic lesson planning, just smooth, well-prepared teaching!
6 Last Minute Lesson Planning Hacks
Below, we explore some hacks that will make last-minute lesson planning a breeze.
1. Use Ready Made Resources
When time is of the essence, educational apps and websites can be lifesavers. There are several useful ones that can help you create quick lesson plans and provide interactive activities.
Tes offers a wide range of resources, including lesson plans, worksheets, and activities created by teachers for teachers. Scootle provides access to a vast repository of digital resources aligned with the Australian curriculum, making it easier to find relevant content quickly. Teach This offers pre-made lesson plans, activities, and teaching resources designed to save you time and effort. These resources streamline the planning process, allowing you to focus more on teaching and less on preparation.
2. Encourage Silent Reading
Silent reading isn’t just for English class. It can be a powerful tool across all subjects and a handy addition to your lesson planning toolkit. Research shows that schools implementing a school-wide reading program, like Queenwood Girls’ School in Mosman, see improved literacy results. Their ‘Just Read’ program revealed significant benefits, demonstrating that regular silent reading boosts comprehension, focus, and overall academic performance.
Incorporating silent reading into your lesson plans can be a lifesaver when you’re short on prep time. Even in subjects like maths, students can read maths-related articles, stories, or problem-solving strategies. This gives you some breathing room to prepare for the next part of the lesson, while simultaneously enhancing their literacy.
3. Student-Centred Activities
Incorporating student-led discussions and projects into your lessons can significantly reduce your planning time while enhancing student engagement. Allow students to take the lead in discussions, fostering critical thinking and encouraging them to take ownership of their learning. Implement peer teaching sessions where students teach each other, reinforcing their understanding and building confidence.
Encourage group projects and collaborative learning activities, which reduce the amount of direct instruction needed and promote teamwork and communication skills. These student-centred activities shift some of the responsibility from the teacher to the students, making learning more interactive and self-directed.
4. Team Up with Colleagues
Collaboration’s key when it comes to managing last-minute lesson planning. Sharing planning responsibilities with your fellow teachers can lighten the load. Use tools like Google Docs to create and share lesson plans with your colleagues, allowing for real-time collaboration and easy updates.
Dedicate a portion of your staff meetings to discuss and share lesson plans, which not only saves time but also brings in diverse teaching strategies and ideas. By working together, you can pool resources and creativity, ensuring that everyone benefits from the collective expertise.
5. Have Emergency Lesson Plans Ready
One of the best ways to avoid the stress of last-minute lesson planning is to have a few emergency lesson plans ready to go. Think of them as your teaching first-aid kit. Create generic lesson plans that can be easily adapted to different subjects and grade levels. Focus on fundamental skills and concepts that are universally applicable.
For example, you could design a lesson centred around critical thinking exercises, reading comprehension, or basic maths problems. Make sure these plans include clear instructions, engaging activities, and any necessary materials, so you can quickly implement them without extensive preparation. Having these emergency plans on hand ensures that you’re always prepared, even when things get a little chaotic.
6. Flexible Lesson Structures
Flexibility is key when it comes to effective lesson planning, especially when you’re short on time. Think of your lessons like a rubber band—they should be stretchy and adaptable. Design lessons that can be easily adjusted depending on the available time and resources. Create lesson frameworks that can be expanded or contracted based on the classroom situation. For example, have a core activity that addresses the main objective of the lesson, and additional activities that can be included if time allows. This way, if you find yourself with extra time or need to shorten the lesson, you can easily adapt without compromising the quality of your teaching.
Having adaptable lesson structures makes planning easier and also ensures that your lessons remain effective and engaging, no matter the circumstances.
Free Up Your Time for Better Lesson Planning
Imagine slashing your marking time by up to 40%. Sounds like a dream, right? With MarkSmart, this dream becomes a reality. By cutting down on the hours spent marking, MarkSmart frees up your valuable time, allowing you to focus on what really matters, like planning engaging lessons and teaching your students.
More time for lesson planning means you can say goodbye to those last-minute scrambles. So, instead of frantically piecing together a lesson the night before, you can relax, knowing you’ve got it all sorted.
So why not give it a go? We invite schools to try MarkSmart for FREE for three months with an obligation-free trial. Book a call today and discover how much easier life can be with a little help from MarkSmart. Because let’s face it, you deserve to spend more time inspiring your students and less time drowning in paperwork. Go on, treat yourself!