Better time management NQT Day 11/10/11 Andy Fitt – Assistant Principal, Itchen 6 th Form College (with thanks to Liz Petheram for ideas)

When I was young my mother used to say to me, “To pay for your education, your father and I had to make a lot of sacrifices.” And it was true, because they were both druids. Milton Jones

 Face facts – there will ALWAYS be more demands on your time than you can cope with: Lesson preparation Marking and feedback College deadlines College events (parents evenings/open evenings etc) Report writing Changes of syllabus Etc etc etc

Immovable challenges College deadlines Size of sets Nature of subject Demands of syllabus Student commitment Parental expectation Number of sets But – some things you can’t change......

So – let’s look at the areas that we can do something about: Lesson preparation Marking and feedback Planning ahead Managing your time (and stress levels)

Lesson preparation

Rarely is the question asked: “Is our children learning?” George W. Bush

Lesson Preparation - 1  Are you using a clear structure for all your lessons?  Keep to these ideas and you’ll find planning gets quicker

Lesson Preparation - 2  Talk to colleagues – get ideas from them and share resources – don’t reinvent the wheel each lesson! Keep your resources for the future.

Lesson Preparation - 3  Ask for help – from your head of department/staff in your area/other NQTs/support staff/your NQT manager......

Lesson Preparation - 4 Make sure that the basics are working:  Start on time  Include a starter activity to allow latecomers to enter without disruption and also to allow you to do the register without being distracted  Structure your lesson so you leave enough time for a plenary  Finish promptly (so you can start the next lesson on time!)

Marking and feedback

“To those of you who received honours, awards and distinctions, I say, well done. And to the “C” students, I say, you too can be President of the United States” George W. Bush, commencement address to graduates of Yale University, 2001

Marking & Feedback - 1  This is the most important part of your job BUT it doesn’t have to take all night! Ask yourself: What do you need to assess? Why are you assessing? What do you need to feed back? Is your feedback appropriate? What will students act on? Do you have to do the marking? (use peer marking/Moodle etc)

Marking & Feedback - 2 Some strategies:  Assess content or skills  Monitor not mark  Using mini-whiteboards  Timed essays  Essay plans  Shorter pieces of work  Self or peer assessment with mark scheme  Student pre marking prior to submission  Mini tests  Cover sheets for targeted feedback  File checks

“Their homework is so hard these days It’s totally done differently to what I was teached when I was at school.” David Beckham, on why he gave up trying to help his 6 year old son with his maths homework

Planning ahead

College is breaking my spirit. Every single day, they’re telling me things I don’t know. It’s making me feel stupid. Marty, The Gilmore Girls

Planning Ahead - 1 Some strategies: Use a diary – all the time! (Outlook works well!) Put in all the college dates for the year TOMORROW Prioritise all your tasks – decide what HAS to be done by when (tip – prioritise initially by who asks for it – if the Principal asks for it, do it before everything else!) In your diary, backtrack and add an entry showing when you will do important tasks For example

Planning Ahead - 2  Example: 1. Student reviews due on 22 nd Nov 2. My student reviews need to be finished by 20 th Nov th Nov – start my student reviews Put ALL these three dates in your diary!

Planning Ahead - 3 Keep looking at your scheme of work – this will help you plan sequences of lessons Check you know NOW when the exams for your subject will be Find out the dates for whole-college events that might stop you from teaching a class – add this into your planning

Managing your time (and stress levels)

“This boy is every inch a fool but luckily for him he’s not very tall.” School report comment

Managing your time - 1  Keep LISTS of things to do, otherwise you’ll forget. (I keep a folder on my computer marked “To Do” and then add dated lists i.e. “October 2011”)  DON’T check your s every time you sit down at the computer – set yourself a time in the morning and a time in the evening to check these and stick to it  When you’ve got a lot to do focus on one task at a time and get it done. Set yourself a time limit.

Managing your time - 2  Keep prioritising – your key task is to make sure the students can succeed – everything else should take a back seat!  Be logical – don’t spend 2 hours preparing a test that will be done in 10 mins and won’t really help you or the students that much.  And above all

Managing your time - 3  Remember that YOU are your students’ greatest asset - Look after yourself: eat well get enough sleep don’t work all the time spend time with your family It’s a great job – and it does get easier!

Parent – Teacher Night: Let’s Share the Blame Banner hung above the entrance of Springfield Elementary School, The Simpsons