By Pam Schaffner
The assessment team in PA is often asked if they have any tips to make meeting quality standards easier. Since they have experiences visiting many programs in their professional careers, they have seen many programs employ strategies to make things easier, more efficient, and more effective. Implementing quality can be stressful and time consuming, but it is always worth it. So, this Q-T Corner moment aims at helping you along the way.
Installment #12:
Preparing lessons in advance
Giving teachers planning time is costly. Paying them time out of ratio is an expense that some programs feel they cannot afford to bear. But there is a cost in not providing planning time for teachers. That cost may have greater financial burdens for the program than the cost of providing lesson planning time.
Imagine sending out invitations to your 5-year-old son’s birthday party. The invitation lets his peers know the time and place of the party. But imagine not having anything planned for the event and a slew of young children come to your door. They complain about being bored or hungry or wanting to go home. Arguments and rough housing ensue because there is nothing to do. This scenario is unlikely. Birthday party planners have time for cake, present opening, and often games or activities. Maybe the entire venue is an activity such as a party at a pool, arcade, or sports center. Even wedding planners, who plan for adult gatherings, create some structure and flow of events for the wedding to run smoothly.
Yet, we expect our teachers to have a smooth flowing day, involving children having fun and staying interested in activities without any pre-planning. What often happens in classrooms where new activities, toys, and unique experiences are lacking is bored children. Boredom breeds misbehavior. It is akin to having a child’s birthday party 5 days per week, 8 (or more) hours per day with no plan. Children who are challenged, engaged, and learning get too involved in activities to think of misbehaving. Instead of being proactive with plans for the day, teachers are forced to become reactionary to the challenges of the day when planning time is lacking.
What is the true cost of not providing planning time? Stressed out teachers and teachers who feel ineffective and ill equipped to do a good job for the children. These teachers often leave the profession and put programs in a bind in finding staff to replace them. The pandemic did not help the staffing challenges that programs are facing. The solution is not an easy one or an overnight fix. If we could find a way to help teachers be more prepared for the day or week, they will feel a sense of pride when their plans are well received by the children. They will be proactive and active participants in teaching children.
The cost of providing planning time is invaluable and teachers need it to be their best.
