The Crank it out term

Our principal in staff meeting this week reminded us that this is the 'crank-it-out' term.

No Testing. No Reports. All Learning.
He challenged us to make the most of our timetables.

To make sure we are seeing all our groups
2-3 times per week 


I thought to myself well of course I am,
but then reflected actually am I?
Truth is I'm probably not.
Actually, I know I'm not - at least not ALL my groups.
The question is why?

I crunched the numbers and realised that I am probably not always making the most of my time in the classroom. Time is tight, and it is way too easy to run out of it.

Lets look at Reading as a subject.

1 group @ 20~minutes per guided reading session 
2-3 times p/w = 40-60 minutes p/w
Therefore 4 groups @ 20~minutes 
= 160-240 minutes p/w

5 groups

= 200-300 minutes p/w

That's a lot of minutes! For my team here at school, that usually all has to come out of our morning block. Even if you take out a fairly low amount of time for writing each week, assembly on Fridays, and our daily news. You find that the time remaining is already quite tight...

	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thur	Fri	Total Minutes
9.00-11.00	Total					600
Assembly					45 Mins	-45
Writing	40	40	40	40	???	-160
News	20	20	20	20		-80
9.00-11.00	Total Remaining					315

...and this is before any other interruption, transition, chat on the mat, pack-up, or roam.

In fact, this remaining '315 minutes' is on the assumption that Friday after assembly time can be used for guided reading sessions instead of "Finishing time" as well.

I've realised I need to be way smarter with my time, and smarter with my planning. Even just to see the right amount of groups for the right amount of time. This will also require me to become more precise with some my interactions with the learners, particularly around management and instructions.

Feeling cautiously optimistic

Challenge accepted.