hey guys, in my first year teaching 3rd grade. It seems like it is a ton of planning! At my school we have every subject, everyday. Plus we have the added class of bible. We also have a pretty long school day. One day I know I want to teach social studies and only have one planning and just teach the same thing over again. I feel like I don't have really quality lessons as I have so much to plan for. I know some of it may be the fact that I am a first year teacher also.... but does anyone else feel this way with planning?
I don't feel like that anymore, but I felt the same way you're feeling during my first year. This is my 8th year teaching, so planning is pretty simple. I tweak things every year, though--otherwise, I'll be bored out of my mind teaching the same material year after year. Please know that things will get easier next year (especially if you remain in the same grade level). Don't forget to hang onto everything. Make a file for each theme/unit (for example: Theme 3/Week 1). Next year, you can just pull out the files you've already created and modify them if necessary. Congrats on your third grade position. I've heard it's a fun grade to teach!
I student taught 3rd and LOVED it - congrats! I agree with youngteacherguy about it getting easier each year... at least until something changes, lol! Know that each class of students has different needs, so your materials will change somewhat, even if the standards/basal/etc. don't change. I am in my 5th year in 1st grade now, and there has been something new each year (this year, it's Common Core and a new teacher evaluation system!). That being said - it's never ever boring!!! Oh, is there another teacher for your grade level? We have two first grade classes, and I write the ELA and social studies plans, an my co-worker is supposed to write the Math/Science/Health plans. I end up doing most of them anyway, but it's supposed to be a division of labor, lol.
It is a lot of planning, but as you develop units your first year, the following years you just add and tweak what you've already got.:thumb: it's never 'easy' as curriculum changes and class needs change as well, but it does get easier.
Try to integrate subjects to get more "bang for your buck." If you can effectively integrate and create units that meet your targets and include all subjects, it will begin to feel more seamless. For example, I design all my units around big ideas. We are just starting a new unit called "myself" and today's big idea was "What is a family?" To help answer this, I read a book in which their focus question was "Who is in the family?" Then we wrote about our own families. In small groups this week we will read about families to help us uncover the big idea. Once you have your main focus, you really just have to tie all the subject areas together to make it complete, but it definitely means doing some work. Like Czacza stated, after this year your units will be written so you'll just be tweaking.
The first year is the most difficult but if you stay organized, it does get much easier if you stay in the same grade. And middle school is no longer teaching one prep all day. Most social studies teachers that I worked with also taught another subject (language arts usually) and taught two grade levels (7/8th). So while it can be less planning, it was still planning 3 or more preps a day.
I agree! Except for me, only because I've taught K,1,2,3 and basic skills in 10 years :lol: but this year is much easier to plan in 2nd grade because I taught it last year as well. It will get easier!
Once you get a groove going it will get easier. If you can get ahead in any way, do it. For example, I taught alternating weeks/units of social studies and science. So while I taught one week, I planned for the next week.
It will get easier sizzla. Like other posters, try to get ahead if you can. The first year is rough...you want to try so many new things, and it can be overwhelming. Try to pick 5 things you want to try right now, and put the other ideas away for next year. I am sure your lessons are quality-sometimes less is better for the kids!
At our school, which is small and Catholic, elementary teachers team teach, so one teaches math/science and the other teaches L.A./Social Studies.
