Comprehensive Project

• Home
• Management and Discipline Defined
• Motivation and Discipline
• The Physical Environment
• Time Management
• Proximity and Mobility
• Praise, Prompt and Leave
• Visual Instruction Plan
• Say, See, Do
• Calm and Consistent
• Limit Setting
• References
• About the Authors

Time Management

The different concepts of time include allocated time, time focused on objective, and academic learning time. Allocated time is “the actual time that the teacher allocates for teaching a skill or concept” (Savage, 1999, p. 81). Allocated time is time spent on taking attendance, distributing materials, returning papers, and other such routines. The time focused on the objective is merely the time that students spend working on the objective. “Academic learning time is the amount of time the student is working on the objective with success” (Savage, 1999, p. 84). 

Time allocation differs amongst teachers. For example one teacher may use 30 minutes a day for reading instruction, while another teacher may use 90 minutes of reading instruction. Some teachers spend more time on subject areas that they like most, however, school is not meant for the educators, but for the learners. Teachers need to make wise decisions and figure out what students need to know, how much time will be required to reach a success rate in students, is there too much time on a particular subject that produces boredom, and finally are you providing a balanced curriculum.

The importance of maximizing classroom time to focus on lesson objectives is to establish routines. Establishing routines is a vital part of an educators’ job. By establishing routines it could save time towards actually teaching then rather being worried about how to handle classroom situations. There are administrative, lesson, and interaction routines that needs to be dealt with daily. The administrative routines include entering the classroom, taking attendance, making announcements, fire/disaster drills, tardy, pencil sharpening, coming to class without material, etc. Some lesson routines include collecting assignments, make-up assignments, returning work, materials distribution, transitions etc. Finally, the interaction routines include participating in discussion, working in groups, getting total class attention, quieting class when talk too loud, using stations, centers etc.

A major contributor to lost time is unclear or poor teacher directions. What you can do is to write the directions and have another teacher proofread them. The educator could write the directions on the board for the visual learners. When a teacher gives oral directions she can ask a student at random to explain in their own words what they were told to do.

Spiritual Application: "Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty" Proverbs 21:5 (New Living Translation). It is important for teachers to take their time in planning a solid classroom management system that takes into consideration the time the teacher has that is focused on learning and the daily routines. If no plan is put into action then the overall classroom management system will fail.