In today’s podcast episode Jamie Sears is discussing her new book, How to Love Teaching Again and strategies to help combat teacher burnout. Since leaving the classroom Jamie has founded Not So Wimpy Teacher and has sold millions of copies of her resources from her TpT store. Jamie now wants to help keep teachers in the classroom through a helping hand to work less and love teaching again.
Paper Grading Strategies
Jamie’s first strategy to help you save more time is about grading papers. Not every paper given to students is something that needs to be graded. First, reflect on the purpose of the assignment. If it’s meant for practice, it doesn’t need to have a grade. When you are looking for mastery, you should take a grade on the assignment.
The Great Homework Debate
Is homework truly necessary?
I loved this part of the conversation with Jamie Sears. I can only remember not assigning homework during the year of Covid and the following year. How my homework looks also changes from year to year - you can read more about different homework options in this blog post, 5 Alternatives to Homework.
Jamie, on the other hand, doesn’t believe students should have homework. After listening to what she had to say I feel it makes perfect sense!
Lesson Planning Using Batching
Batch planning is the idea that you are planning one subject at a time for several weeks. For example, you might plan out 5 weeks of reading lessons before switching to another subject. The idea behind planning this way is your brain is quicker to work through the task rather than have your flow of thought interrupted.
Planning Your Time
How to Love Teaching Again offers many great strategies for saving time. One of these strategies is to use a calendar, or planner, to timeblock your tasks. Jamie Sears walks us through how to be very specific with our time to feel accomplished with completing a part of a task.
Jamie refers to this as making a meeting with yourself. Being intentional and focused with our limited time will help us feel more successful with what we are accomplishing.
Setting Boundaries
“A boundary is your permission to say no” Jamie tells us in this episode. She even gives us a great phrase to use for our email out of office reply. This tidbit from the podcast is gold! Jamie also gives us a great reminder to keep our eyes on our own paper when it comes to comparing our teaching to someone else.
Connect with Jamie Sears
How to Love Teaching Again - purchase through Amazon or your favorite bookseller
Jamie’s instagram - @notsowimpyteacher
Jamie’s blog - NotSoWimpyTeacher.com
Jamie’s facebook - Not So Wimpy Teacher
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