How to magically find more time in your lessons
And I mean ALL your lessons
Ever look at lesson plans and wonder how on Earth you’re supposed to fit it all in? Ever found yourself begging the gods of time and space for just a little more? Ever simply run out of time and failed to finish a lesson?
I hear ya. I’m not the quickest, and I’ve been there more times than I can count. And, goodness gracious, I do tend to waffle on when I get going.
In my first year of teaching, I found myself running out of time in (and I’m not exaggerating) every single lesson.
So, what if I told you that one of my colleagues showed me how, almost by magic, you can create more time in a day?
All you need is a kitchen timer.
That’s it. That’s the proverbial tea.
Make Time Work for You
Here’s why it improves every single lesson I teach.
Scenario:
Imagine: You set your students off on a task. Something short and sweet - 30 seconds with a learning partner to decide what they think this zoomed-in picture is.
Twenty seconds in, the slower workers are just starting to focus. “I’ll give them another 30 seconds,” you think. No one else has gotten the right answer anyway.
Time’s up.
You zoom out a little. Still not clear what the image is, so you give them another minute.
And another.
By the fourth time, the children know what they’re looking at, but you’ve used up five or six minutes discussing the image—and you’d only budgeted for two. Now you’re behind.
This goes on until you realize that the final, independent task - a 20-minute online research session exploring the properties of blood and recording what students have found - is only afforded eight minutes. And, with slow-starters in your class, that’s not long enough.
Worse yet, the lesson’s slow pace has lowered the momentum and energy, even though you planned an interactive, fun experience. The low energy means everyone makes a slow start, and no one quite achieves the outcome you’d hoped for. Not even the wannabe scientists in the room.
All because you thought, “I’ll give them a little longer,” and you lost track of time again and again.
With a kitchen timer, you don’t need to keep track of time. And, by keeping students to a routine schedule, they soon catch on - work fast, or miss the opportunity to be part of the lesson. It may seem harsh, but this is a valuable lesson for them. They’re children and, therefore, highly adaptable. It takes time and practice to embed, but with consistency, things improve.
Why Choose a Kitchen Timer?
Other timers exist, but none of them compare to the kitchen timer’s affordability, simplicity, and versatility.
Phone alarms/timers: You probably don’t have to buy something new. Computer-based timers: Visual, and you can project the time remaining for students. Egg-timers: Visual prompts with a bit of old-world charm.
But each has its drawbacks:
Phones are likely prohibited in your classroom.
Computer-based timers may require sacrificing a learning-support display.
Egg-timers are fixed to one time period, so you’d need several.
With a kitchen timer, you have a simple tool that doesn’t obstruct whole-class visuals, is classroom-approved, and gives you the flexibility to set any time limit you need.
I’ve tried them all, and none offer the simplicity, versatility, or impact of a kitchen timer.
Bonus Benefit: Behavior Management & Building Trust
It gets even better.
The kitchen timer also serves as a behavior management and relationship-building tool.
Ever had a student who doesn’t always enjoy school but thrives on responsibility? Give them the timer.
I’ve done this recently, and now, the moment I say, “You have 30 seconds to discuss what you see,” my helpful student loads up the timer and sets it off - no further communication necessary.
I was hesitant to fulfill this request when they asked, but it’s proven incredibly useful. Now, this effortless setup makes asking Alexa to set a timer feel like too much effort!
With this routine, I find that:
Lessons move more quickly, giving us more time for learning.
The momentum of the lesson helps maintain interest and engagement.
Select students also feel trusted and accountable, especially those who might rarely experience this in school.
Benefits of the Kitchen Timer, Summed Up
Keeps you on schedule effortlessly: Manage time without glancing at the clock.
Encourages faster engagement and focus: Students work quickly to stay on pace.
Adds flexibility to lesson plans: Set time limits for any activity.
Builds trust and responsibility: Delegate timer management to students for added engagement.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Giving too much extra time: Stick to the timer! Extending time repeatedly defeats the purpose.
Lack of consistency: Use the timer regularly for best results; students will quickly adapt to the new rhythm.
Overuse for every activity: Be selective with tasks. For some activities, a timer may feel restrictive, so use it where focus and quick pacing are key. I deliberately wasn’t going to include this part in because it’s up to you to give it a go and work out when it serves you best, but this is your heads-up to keep it in mind for the future.
Your turn
Unlike before, I’m not writing this newsletter for myself - I’m now writing it more for you. I want to chronicle the expertise I’m blessedly surrounded by and share what I learn with you.
If there’s something in teaching that you find most challenging, let me know in the comments by clicking below. I’ll keep an eye out for it in my own workplace and share what I learn.
You lucky thing, you.
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Being a teacher is fun and enjoyable. As much as a teacher brings to the classroom to teach students, the students bring a lot for teachers to learn about as well. In designing our lessons, we should plan learning activities to engage students cognitively and culturally. It’s teaching and learning for everyone.
Great post! I fall to the extended timer trick. But ever since the virus, students have worked slower and slower and slower. Their time management skills are nonexistent.