Time-Saving Hacks for Lesson Planning and Grading

If there’s one thing every new teacher learns quickly, it’s this: the work never ends. Between planning, teaching, grading, and meetings, your to-do list can feel endless. The trick isn’t doing everything—it’s finding smart ways to save time while still giving your students what they need.

Here are some tried-and-true hacks to help you manage lesson planning and grading without losing your evenings and weekends.

Plan Backwards, Not Forwards

Instead of starting from scratch each week, begin with the big picture:

• Identify your end goals (curriculum outcomes, projects, or assessments).
• Break them into smaller checkpoints.
• Plan lessons that lead directly to those goals.
  

This way, you’re not scrambling to “fit it all in”—you know exactly where you’re headed.

Reuse and Adapt, Don’t Reinvent

Pinterest-worthy lessons look great, but they take hours to create. Don’t be afraid to:

• Reuse activities from your mentor, colleagues, or online teacher communities.
• Adapt existing worksheets or slides instead of building new ones.
• Keep a folder of “tried and true” lessons you can grab anytime.
  

Teaching is about impact, not reinventing the wheel.

Batch Your Planning

Set aside one or two larger chunks of time each week for lesson planning rather than squeezing it into 20 minutes here and there. When your mind is focused, you’ll move faster and with more clarity.

Grade Smarter, Not Harder

Grading doesn’t need to consume your life. Try:

• Spot-checking: Grade a few questions thoroughly instead of every single one.
  
• Rubrics: Create simple rubrics that speed up marking while keeping feedback clear.
• Student self-assessment: Have students reflect on their work before you even touch it.
  

Remember: timely feedback is more valuable than perfect feedback.

Use Templates for Consistency

A template cuts planning time in half. When you use the same structure each week, you spend less energy deciding “how” to plan and more energy focusing on “what” to teach.

A Little Extra Help

To make this even easier, we’ve created an Editable Long-Term Planning Template just for new teachers.

It helps you:
Map out the big picture for your entire term or year.
Break units into clear, manageable lessons.
Stay organized without spending hours on formatting.

Think of it as your roadmap—it keeps you focused on what matters while saving you time each week.

👉 [Get your editable template here]

Final Thought

Lesson planning and grading will always take time, but they don’t have to take all your time. By planning backwards, batching your work, and using tools that keep you organized, you can find a better balance.

Because the truth is—you deserve evenings that aren’t filled with stacks of papers. Your students need a teacher who is rested, recharged, and ready to teach.