As a student, one of the most exciting and nerve-wracking moments of the summer is getting your class schedule. It is the day all the most important questions are answered. Would you have classes with your friends? Would you have to face the year with a notoriously strict teacher? Could you use your first period study hall as a way to get an extra 40 minutes of sleep?
As a teacher, the schedule reveal is also eagerly anticipated. However, the questions you seek to answer have evolved. One of the biggest things secondary teachers will be on the lookout for? How many preps they’ll have in the upcoming year.
What are “preps”?
For new teachers or anyone unfamiliar with this lingo, “preps” refers to the number of individual classes a teacher has to plan for. Mr. Freidhoff, aka @a_biology_teacher on TikTok, explains this teacher colloquialism clearly and concisely.
Scrolling through the comments on this video reveals a wide variety of answers, with some teachers having as many as seven unique classes to plan for! While it may be comforting to know you’re not the only one with a seemingly overwhelming workload, it doesn’t make it any easier to get it all done.
Meet the queen of teaching multiple preps: Shelley Sphor
This is where veteran secondary teacher Shelley Sphor has some words of wisdom. Shelley has been teaching science for 14 years. In that time, she has taught 6th, 7th, and 8th grade science, as well as high school biology and environmental science. She’s managed to hone in on several key tips for balancing the workload of multiple preps, and was kind enough to share her experiences with We Are Teachers.
1. Organization is key.
One of the most critical pieces of advice Shelley has to offer is the importance of staying organized. “Have clear daily, weekly, and long-term plans,” she shares. “But don’t be afraid to alter them if things don’t go smoothly. Jot notes after each class (I know it’s hard to find the time with the short time between classes) on how far you got or what went wrong/right.”
While each teacher needs to find a system that will work for them, Shelley’s shared an easily customizable starting point. “An amazing fellow teacher showed me a calendar that she keeps for each prep with every activity, assignment, test, etc., hyperlinked for each day. All I have to do is open that calendar to see exactly what I am doing on that day (given I have been updating it daily).” (See how TikTok user @alldayapril does that here!)
But when will you have time to create this document, let alone plan the lessons you’re linking in? Organization is also key in Shelley’s approach to managing planning time and keeping her content current. Luckily, she relays that this gets easier as you gain experience. While the ideas of teaching two or more unique classes may be completely overwhelming as a first-year teacher, each year you will add to an arsenal of trusted lessons. Starting out, Shelley worked up to 80 hours a week including planning high school lessons on intricate cellular processes. However, this decreased as she fine-tuned her plans and developed tried-and-true lessons.
2. In the beginning, don’t push yourself to build everything from scratch.
If they are available, draw on curricular resources provided by your district. While you’ll need to customize the provided materials to meet your students’ individual interests and needs, they provide a time-saving starting point. Shelley regularly embeds text and simulations from her district’s purchased curricular resource into her lessons. Other teachers in your building also make a wonderful resource. Don’t be afraid to ask veteran teachers for their favorite lessons and strategies to incorporate with your fresh new ideas!
3. Once you find your footing, start innovating.
After a few years of refining and fine-tuning, Shelley has been able to shift her energy to other aspects of teaching. These include building relationships with students and providing high-quality feedback. However, she warns that you shouldn’t get too comfortable with your plans. In her interview with We Are Teachers, Shelley stressed that it is important to “review, assess, and alter as necessary.” Her favorite ways to keep lessons relevant include surfing scientific journals and news articles to find interesting stories to spark students’ interest. Shelley is able to keep her plans fresh and engaging, all due to a solid foundation of organization.
4. Advocate for your needs with administration.
Just being organized isn’t enough to guarantee success. No teacher is an island, and administrative support is especially essential to teachers with multiple preps. First, administrators need to understand the difference in what they’re asking their teachers to do. “It’s not that we have double the workload,” Shelley clarifies, acknowledging that multi-prep teachers have the same number of classes and theoretically the same amount of grading. “But,” she explains, “it is harder to switch gears, prep for different labs/activities/assignments/lectures, and stay organized.”
Scheduling can make or break a teacher’s chances of a smooth day. Administrators and those in charge of scheduling should keep this in mind when possible, as “it is difficult to prepare mentally, physically, and organizationally for a completely different class” in only a few minutes of passing time. For schools with alternating daily schedules, keeping one prep per day can be helpful. If this isn’t possible, Shelley notes that having the same preps consecutively in between is helpful for a mental reset. Breaking up different preps with an off period, such as lunch or study hall, is also helpful.
In addition to having to readjust one’s self to different content or ages, multi-prep teachers may face additional challenges. Some may be asked to attend more meetings, such as both a 7th and 8th grade level meeting. This can detract from already overtaxed prep time. If you find yourself in this situation, it may be helpful to have a conversation with your administrator. Some may be amenable to attending meetings on an alternating basis, and getting notes from a colleague in off weeks. Hopefully, they will be able to help you determine a solution that helps you be the best version of yourself in the classroom. And to any administrators reading this piece, remember Shelley’s message that “a little bit of acknowledgement and empathy can go a long way.”
5. Embrace the silver linings!
At this point, new teachers gearing up for multiple preps might be wondering what they’ve gotten themselves into. Luckily, Shelley shares that there are positive aspects to teaching multiple preps. These include having variation in routine and getting to teach a wider variety of material. But the best part? Strengthening relationships with students. Shelley provides the example of the cohort she taught in their 6th, 7th, and 8th grade years. “Being with them for three consecutive years forged a bond that is less likely to be attained with students you only have for one year. I definitely appreciate forming relationships with students over multiple years.”
Now it’s your turn!
New multi-prep teachers reading this, don’t panic. It is my sincerest hope that reading Shelley’s advice helped you feel equipped with strategies to build your confidence and competency while embarking on this challenge. Now take a deep breath, seek out support from your fellow teachers and admin, create your hyperlinked calendar, and above all, show yourself grace and compassion as you tackle this new adventure. You’ve got this!