To wonder if any teachers can help me …

[Peekaboolight]

How do you get stuff done?

I’ve been trying all weekend, unsuccessfully, to get my planning and marking sorted (I have a toddler) admittedly we are going through a VERY challenging stage with sleep so not going to bed early.

But I’m struggling so much, just bogged down with work

Can DH do the morning drop so you can go earlier?

Or the afternoon pick up so you can stay a bit longer?

Most couples one parent does either end of the day, it's not fair expecting one to squeeze a full days work into the shortened day you get doing both pick ups and drop offs.

I haven't read the full thread but I have read all your replies.

I think I do about an hour more per day than you. Either before or after school. I know you need to pick up your child so maybe you need to do more in the evening? I timetable when I will mark books, generally for after assessments. Also I use stamps as a short cut. Get a few made on ebay. 'Ms X says great writing!', 'Fantastic spag' etc. I also have a 'homework complete' stamp and I use this to check homework is done in the lesson and then tell them that I'll be reading it properly next time I take in the books.

Oh and ask the kids to hand in their books open on the bit of work you're marking. Then you save time!

Does every student absolutely need to produce some written work in every lesson? Could some lessons be primarily discussion, or writing / editing on individual whiteboards, or group work that produces one joint effort, or involve drama / video / interviews?

I also agree with doing some live marking in the lesson - either mark as 'feedback given orally in lesson' or mark briefly as you circulate. Or ask the students to self reflect and 'mark their own' occasionally.

I think the idea of marking 5-10 books per class in depth each day is a good one. You merely 'flick and tick' the other 25 books, mark 5 in-depth, and make sure it's a different 5 next time! So everyone gets in depth marking at least once a week, but only a brief comment (if any) on the other days.

In my experience in several different schools the things that make a difference are:

1. Teaching multiple classes in the same year group. Being timetabled for 6 different year groups each week is tough. It is much easier if you only have, say, 4 and teach the same lesson again and again. This is a timetabling issue that others need to be on board with.


2. I have built up a bank of lesson plans and resources I can use again and again. This takes time, but some schools have really good departmental resources. If yours doesn't that will massively increase your workload.


3. Do more peer marking / attempts at self-marking and work that is easier to mark such as online quizzes that mark themselves. Also do mini projects that extend over more than one homework, so their first homework is research and note taking. You just glance at the notes to check they have done it, but can only give an effort grade. Then you mark the final product.

We have a no marking policy. We use questioning to check understanding and select randomly for children to read their work with peer input for improvement. It’s meaningful and has instant impact.
We all sat down and debated who the marking was for and what impact it was having on teaching and learning before we went down this route.

Truthfully teaching just isn't a job you can do 7 till just before 4, that just isn't enough time. I miss lunch and mark the lesson I've just had at lunchtime, if I'm really quick I can mark 2 lessons at lunchtime. After school I mark the afternoon sessions, I don't leave until all marking from that day is done. If it's not it comes home and I complete that night, doesn't matter if the only chance I get to do that is midnight, had to be done otherwise it'll just snowball. Realistically you need till 5pm everyday at least. Planning and schemes I do at the end of term holidays, reports I do in half term. You really have 2 options, leave your child in care longer or take the books home and do it when he sleeps. It's rubbish but that's what it is.

Can you get into the habit of waking up earlier. I’ve marked 4am-6am most of my career

The only way I’ve got any balance is to work 4 days, but this is a £8,000 pa sacrifice 😕