35 & 40 min long lessons -help!

[RosieLig]

Hi

Hoping someone can give me some advice.

I'm one year out of my NQT year and struggling at my new school (secondary) with such short lessons! In my previous school were 50 mins long.

I feel that by the time I've got them settled, done my explanatory bit (maths) there's not much time left, let alone for a plenary.

How do others manage? Thanks!

I am primary so hopefully someone will come along with more experience however I would cut down the 'settling' and have a starter on desks ready so they are doing maths as soon as they're sat down.

Perhaps build in mini plenaries during the lesson so that you don't need a full on one by the end. Then you could always start by recapping yesterday's learning as part of your starter?

35 minutes is not long enough for a full lesson. I would teach one lesson over two, so a starter-type of activity or going over homework, then your explanation with them doing a couple of questions as you go along. The next lesson after that would be a recap of the explanation, then a good chunk of time working through questions with maybe a plenary/extension at the end.

When I was a timetabler, I was always asked for 40 minute lessons from Maths and MFL. They really didn't like doubles.

God no, more than an hour is a nightmare, even with sixth form.

We have 45 minute lessons at my school but the school is huge and corridor traffic is slow so it's really 35-40 depending on where your group's coming from and what time of day it is. I love these lessons (secondary English). If we had an hour, we'd just do the same work more slowly. The impetus that what isn't finished in class is done at home drives the students to concentrate and ask useful questions.

OP, look at some of your colleagues' lesson plans and, if you can, ask to observe a few other lessons both in and out of your department.