How Much Time Should I Spend on Lesson Planning?

Teaching with Valor Podcast: A Veteran Teachers Perspective

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Welcome back to Teaching with Valor, the podcast where we explore the strategies, insights, and day-to-day practices that help teachers become the best they can be, one lesson at a time. I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today we’re diving into a question that every teacher has asked at some point: How much time should I spend on lesson planning?

If you’re an educator, you know that lesson planning is the cornerstone of a well-run classroom. But it can also feel overwhelming—especially when you’re balancing so many other responsibilities. Between grading, parent communication, professional development, and, of course, teaching, it can be hard to know just how much time to devote to creating your lesson plans. Some teachers spend hours crafting the perfect plan, while others try to streamline the process to leave more room for other tasks.

So, what’s the right balance? How do you ensure that you’re dedicating enough time to creating meaningful, effective lessons without burning out or losing sight of the big picture? In today’s deep dive, we’re going to explore how much time you should ideally spend on lesson planning and how that might vary depending on whether you teach elementary, middle, or high school. We’ll also look at strategies to maximize your efficiency and tips for creating flexible lesson plans that work for all learners, without taking over your life.

And for our parent listeners, stay tuned for a special bonus segment where we’ll answer a common question: How can I help my child stay organized and manage their time effectively at home?
Show Notes
For more information on this topic checkout the following resources:

• Edutopia – Time-Saving Strategies for Teachers: www.edutopia.org - Practical tips for balancing lesson planning with other teaching responsibilities.
• Understanding by Design (UbD) by Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe: A guide to backward design and long-term planning.
• The Together Teacher by Maia Heyck-Merlin: A resource for time management and organization for educators.
• Teachers Pay Teachers: www.teacherspayteachers.com - A marketplace for lesson plans and teaching resources shared by educators.
• MindShift – Efficient Lesson Planning: www.kqed.org/mindshift - Resources for efficient lesson planning and classroom management.

Stay tuned for more episodes, and remember, every student is unique, and every classroom can be a place where all students succeed. Keep teaching with valor!