Lesson Planning/Schemes of Work, it gets easier, right?!

[Lizzylou]

I am training in Secondary History, absolutely loving it so far but oh my good GOD the time it is taking me to plan even one lesson!

Please tell me that it won't always be like this?!

from what I remember it gets lots better.
Once you have a sow and plans you use the same next year, until they change the curriculum

Phew!
I have whittled down one lesson plan and resources taking me a whole weekend to half a day, but still!!! The SOW's were relatively OK, one is part of an assignment though so am very (overly and uncharacteristically) precious about it all.
Doesn't help that I am a bit of a luddite technology wise!

Tes forum is ace for resources. :)

It absolutely does. Been teaching getting on for 20 years and most of my planning is just one word 'alfred' or whatever and printing off / sorting out previously made or found resources. We also work very collaboratively as a dept which helps hugely. Where are you? Happy to share ideas. PM me if you like, and good luck

Ha-I would say it takes me far far longer to plan a lesson now than it did 15 years ago! That's because the planning we need to submit is ridiculously long!

Maybe it's different in primary though... :(

Primary is worse!
I am a supply teacher, and do primary and secondary, all subjects, and so pick up other people's planning rather than doing it myself.
Primary planning is fab for me as is so detailed, differentiated etc - but must be a total nightmare for the planner.
If I were religious [tflgrin] I would say there is special carpet place in Heaven for primary teachers - how they stay sane I have no idea [tflsad]

Well I think I am all done, Fairy you may regret the offer! I am NW.
RE, Primary, from my placement I have total respect for those working in primaries, full on and non stop
I know it will get easier, just get frustrated at myself. I emailed plans and resources to my mentor/head of department and she was happy with them. I am very lucky that she is extremely supportive. I may have underestimated quite how tough this would be!

LizzyLou - well done!
Everyone underestimates how hard it will be, but stick with it. The hardest time is just before Xmas, when everyone is tired, some people are ill, the assignments are due...
But it really is easier after Xmas, starts to feel like a downward slope, days start to get longer...
Sounds like you have a good and supportive dept - just keep the faith, and try to stay healthy - you can sleep for a week at Xmas!

Absolutely it gets easier. I find the best thing is to jot down a few ideas as soon as possible after each lesson as to where to go next with that class. If you haven't got time to plan the next lesson straight away at least you then have a few pointers.
In Outlook Calendar, I set reminders all the time as to what homework I've set so on the 'due day' I get a little ping to remind me to check it with that class.

It gets easier every term- unquestionably. Do use resources from elsewhere- no need to reinvent the wheel was the catchphrase of my pgce tutor! Use TES, Teachit etc. Keep all good resources electronically and filed accurately for ease of finding. Good luck.

Hello! I'm a history HOD (am Knitknack on TES) and am also on the best resource (imo!) the history teacher's discussion forum, am 'stephanie' there).

I did my PGCE 4 years ago and we'll remember how tough it was! Do you have children yourself? I felt continually guilty about my own children!

Teachit history is absolutely brilliant (mentioned above). I paid for a subscription this year and have been incorporating some of their activities into my own lessons.

How long are the lessons at your placement school? My advice is to stick to a good 'formula' for your ppts at first - interesting 'hook' as they enter, discussion or paired starter, with a timer, active work with cards etc and then timed writing activity (again with a ppt timer).... Stick to this for a while and then you can get creative!

Are your sow enquiry based?

Timers are the solution for all life's ills, in my opinion! Haha maybe an exaggeration but they keep up pace, cut down chatter and allow you far greater control over the timings of the lesson. I can send you some?

Pm me if you'd like to be in email contact and I can send you resources etc. do you use Dropbox?

I would love to see your timers! Would it be at all possible for you to pm them to me, please?!

Another Head of History here. I echo everyone else. It gets so much better. Teaching 15 years and planning is much quicker now as I mainly use resources and lessons previously created. Second (or is it third) schoolhistory, teachithistory and tes. No point in reinventing the wheel.

knitknack
thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

www.teachit.co.uk/702

Timer from teachit^^