Ask an Educator – August 2026

Dear Educator,

I’ve been teaching for several years, but lesson planning still takes me at least twice as long as the lesson itself. Between preparing materials and designing activities, I’m struggling to keep up with the demands of both work and home. How can I reduce prep time without compromising the quality of my teaching?

Dear Concerned Teacher,

You’re not alone. Many teachers, both new and experienced, find themselves spending hours each evening preparing for the next day. The good news is that saving time doesn’t have to mean lowering standards. A few intentional systems can help you plan more efficiently while maintaining the quality your students deserve.

Create a Consistent Lesson Framework

One of the biggest time-savers is establishing a predictable structure for your lessons. For example, you might begin each class with a “Do Now” or thought-provoking question and end with an “Exit Ticket”. The learning activities in between can follow a familiar sequence, such as direct instruction, partner work, independent practice, or review.

A consistent framework doesn’t limit creativity. In fact, it allows you to focus your energy on the content rather than rebuilding the structure of every lesson from scratch.

Work From a Planning Template

Starting with a blank document every day requires more mental energy than most of us realize. Consider creating a reusable planning template that includes your schedule, subject blocks, routines, transitions, and other recurring elements.

Having a template makes planning more efficient, reduces decision fatigue, and helps you see your day at a glance. If you teach multiple classes or subjects, color-coding sections can make organization even easier.

Plan in Batches

Rather than planning one lesson at a time each evening, try planning by unit, week, or even month when possible. Looking at a broader stretch of instruction allows you to identify patterns, build in review opportunities, and reuse successful activities.

Batch planning can transform lesson preparation from a nightly scramble into a more manageable and proactive process.

Collaborate and Share Resources

Teaching becomes much more sustainable when colleagues share ideas and materials. If your school already has a culture of collaboration, take advantage of it! If it doesn’t, consider taking the initiative.

Sharing lesson plans, activities, assessments, and resources saves time for everyone and often leads to stronger instruction. Sometimes a simple shared folder or regular planning conversation is enough to get the momentum started.

Rethink Project Preparation

Sometimes extensive preparation may be a clue that the activity itself could be simplified.

For Preschool teachers: Ask yourself whether the project is truly child-centered. Often, less teacher preparation allows for more student creativity and exploration. Learning happens through the process, not through creating a “Pinterest-perfect” final product.

For Elementary teachers: Look for opportunities to involve students in appropriate preparation tasks. Early finishers can create review games, vocabulary cards, or organizational materials that support upcoming lessons while giving them a meaningful enrichment opportunity.

Use Design Tools Strategically

Creating attractive classroom materials can be very time-consuming. Platforms such as Canva offer ready-made templates for worksheets, presentations, newsletters, posters, and classroom visuals.

Beginning with a template rather than a blank page can significantly reduce preparation time while still producing polished, professional materials.

Leverage AI Thoughtfully

AI tools can also help streamline parts of the planning process. They can generate discussion questions, brainstorm lesson hooks, create differentiated practice activities, draft exit tickets, or simplify directions for different learners.

AI is not a substitute for a teacher’s judgment and expertise, but it can take care of some of the routine groundwork.

A Final Thought

Lesson planning will always require time and thought. After all, good teaching doesn’t happen by accident. But spending every evening buried in preparation isn’t a requirement for effective teaching.

By building predictable routines, planning ahead, collaborating with colleagues, and taking advantage of available tools, you can make lesson preparation more efficient and sustainable. The goal isn’t to do less for your students. It’s to create systems that allow you to support them well while also preserving your own time, energy, and well-being.

For more tips and ideas, please reach out to the JES helpline.