I am currently a student at Auburn University, so I am not in my own classroom yet,therefore, I can't really comment on my planning time. I have though, heard from other teachers that I know, commenting on their planning time. Some of them never have anything bad to say about their planning time, but I have heard a few say that they did not like the period that it was in, or wished they could have longer for it. Sounds like you have it down pat well if you were able to plan without even having a planning period for those years.

I am with you--I do feel thankful for planning time every day.  Do you realize, though, that most of our time is taken up with running errands, documenting, or making parent phone calls?  It has taken me years to synchronize it so that I have enough time to make the calls, drop off the copies, pay my sunshine dues, talk to this or taht person, fill out forms, input grades, and still be able to hit the restroom before I have to pick up my kids.  Thoughtful planning, our style, just has to wait.  I really like to be prepared, and that takes time.  My goal is to get to school 45m to 1h early and leave 1 hr afterwards. What do you think?

JCK

In a parochial school setting, teachers relish their planning periods.  Often, planning times are pre-empted by a last-minute duty or change in schedule needs.  Having time to plan is built into the school schedule, but emergencies happen, the school nurse (volunteer) may not be there on a particular day, and we cover for one another no matter in what capacity.  Also, there is rarely any financial compensation for after-school activities.  We just take them on because that is what will most help the children.

It is hard to imagine having more than 2 or 3 periods to plan per week.  That sounds wonderful!

I still have one year left before I will have my own classroom but I have observed how the teachers I have worked with have used their planning time.  The last teacher I worked with would often spend her planning period running errands to different places in the school or grading students work.  For the most part she did not actually plan during the planning period.  She along with the other two fifth grade teachers would stay late on Friday afternoons to plan together.  They would all do the same thing for Language Arts since they each taught that then it was up to them individually to plan the content area they specially taught like math, social studies, and science.  I don't know if she got to school early or how long she stayed after school but I know that she did all of her planning done.  When I do have my own classroom I would like to get to school early and try my best to not have to stay after school.  I know that is not always possible but I feel like that would suit me best to be able to get all of my planning done.

Our planning period is 45-55 minutes a day depending on which year it is. We usually have maybe 2 or 3 of those to ourselves to be used however we need. There is almost always a meeting with admin-type people during the week and we have a team meeting once a week. However, sometimes we don't get any time to ourselves because of Spec. Ed. meetings, Speech ARDs, parent conferences, etc. I think that is why so many people spend their before and after school time planning, because they can't acutally count on getting a planning period during the day.

JCK & Lizzy, I'm with you on the getting to school early. I get to school about an hour before the kids arrive. This time is wonderful because there is hardly anyone else there. I don't have to wait to use the copy machine if I need it, I have time to go over my plans to see if I have forgotten anything, I can grade papers, check e-mail, update student folders, gather materials, or whatever else I need to do with very little interruptions. This allows me to go home about a half hour to 45 minutes after the kids leave. I try to get myself out of there by then, even if I end up taking some work home with me. Hey, at least if I'm grading at home, I'm doing it in my jammies with a glass of Coke or tea by my side while catching up with my family or watching some t.v.

Planning time is such a struggle.  We get 45 minutes 4 x a week but like most of the comments its taken up by meetings or errands.. I am the first one to get to school and this is for two reasons.  One is beacuse nobody is there and I have peace and quiet to plan, run copies, use the laminator etc.  and the second reason is because I leave right at 2:45 b/c I have two young children whom I haven't seen all day. I do find myself staying up late to grade papers or taking work home, but I cherish the time with my children and I have to have that!  

Planning time is such a struggle.  We get 45 minutes 4 x a week but like most of the comments its taken up by meetings or errands.. I am the first one to get to school and this is for two reasons.  One is beacuse nobody is there and I have peace and quiet to plan, run copies, use the laminator etc.  and the second reason is because I leave right at 2:45 b/c I have two young children whom I haven't seen all day. I do find myself staying up late to grade papers or taking work home, but I cherish the time with my children and I have to have that!  

Yes! Something we agree on!

As a preschool teacher I heard so man teacher's complain about not having enough planning time. But I had two full time classes and was STILL able to create lesson plans, prepare arts and crafts projects and complete parent communication logs for 25 students. the two full time classes equal two full time jobs too!

I planned during nap time, in my head during free time, and before and after work.

I know as an educator we have to plan ahead and that often includes doing things on our own time. When you work with children you have to realize that it isn't like an office job, that these students depend on you to get the job done.

Good on ya Mystery Teacher- excellent post!

Oh, my husband is a teacher and he is not a morning person. He chooses to stay after work to do his planning. He gets in about 6 or 6:30 PM. He and our daughter have breakfast in the morning together and spend a good deal of time together on the weekends so he isn't forfeiting much family time.