To the untrained eye, prep periods may be seen as “free time” in the world of teaching.  Let me inform you of some of the uses of prep periods, keeping in mind that they are usually only 30-40 minutes in length, and it takes at least 5 minutes of travel time to and from your classroom to anywhere else in the building (office, bathroom, other teachers’ rooms, etc.).

• going to the bathroom – important when trying to avoid UTI or other lady issues
• making copies – because students (and others) tend to lose things
• waiting for the copier – you’re not the only one with a prep and there are only 2 copiers in the building, if they’re working that day
• Filling out paperwork – for the business office, or main office, or student referrals, etc.
• grading papers, as well as calculating grades
• connecting with other teachers (collaborating) – some issues are more pressing and cannot wait until the end of the day to discuss (i.e. “How did you want me to help Susie with her math when I see her next period?  What is she struggling with?”)
• reading your e-mail – some issues are more pressing and cannot wait until the end of the day to discuss (i.e. “Susie and Sally want to fight today-watch out!”)
• lesson planning – we all have lives outside of school (wait, that wasn’t a secret, was it?), and sometimes can’t stay until 5:30 preparing for the next day
• calling home – Parents are just as much a factor in the equation of student success
• exploring new ways to teach better – the internet is a wealth of knowledge, and like I said, we can’t always stay until 5:30 to get things done
• running personal errands, like going to the bank, which on most days is not open by the time you would ordinarily leave school
• peace of mind – let’s be honest, if we were with our students for every minute they were in school, we would all go crazy.  Even the best of teachers need a break from their students to recharge their minds, and to remind them why they love coming to work every day.  Give us a chance to miss our students!

Feel free to add your favorite prep time activity – something that you cannot live without during your 30-40 minutes of  “freedom”.