Have you heard of batching? It’s a term a lot of teacherpreneurs use to describe how they manage their business in a productive and efficient way. They focus on one topic or task and get it all done before moving on to something else. One easy way to understand batching is to imagine meal prepping. Instead of taking out all the ingredients each day, cooking everything each day, and then cleaning all the pots and pans each day – you cook all the meals on one day, clean it all up, and then you have meals ready to go for the rest of the week! It’s easy to see how taking one day to meal prep saves you time throughout the week. But let’s dive in to how batching can help you save time planning, prepping, and copying throughout your week…

Why I got started with batching

I actually came across this method almost by accident. Our first three weeks of school were all virtual this year, but I wanted my students to have actual paper work to do rather than having everything online. We set up a pick-up day for parents to come get the materials their child would need for the next three weeks, and that was the only time they could come. They needed everything for the at least the first three weeks all before school started. So, a little overwhelmed, I sat down and planned out our entire first novel studies and our writing units (one of each per grade level I teach). Next, I printed everything out that went along with our novel study and made enough copies for each student. Lastly, I put it all together in folders for each kid.

Now, this was a lot of work. And I must admit that I was very stressed out and overwhelmed during the process, especially with all the unknowns and changes that came along with this challenging school year. However, over the next few weeks I had a pleasant surprise. I had no planning to do. No copies that needed to be made. No work that needed to be posted. Why? Because it was all already done. Already in a folder for each kid. Already in each kid’s hands.

After this realization that batching our reading and writing units saved me a ton of time day-to-day, I started doing it for every unit we had. Each novel study unit would be prepared ahead of time and put together in folders for each kid. I even started numbering every activity in the folder to make it easier for the kids to find. I created an identical folder for myself so I could look in and see what we needed to get done each day. But I never had to make any copies once my batching was complete. Ever.

What does batching look like in the classroom setting?

In my classroom, I batch for two different things – but they both look the same. I batch my writing units, which we do about 3-4 a year. And I also batch our novel studies, we do 3 of those per year.

I pick out any supplemental materials (like nonfiction texts that align with our novels, depth and complexity charts, and writing graphic organizers) and decide the order that they need to be done in. Then, I number each item. I make copies and put it all in a folder for each students, labeled with the subject (reading or writing) and the specific unit or novel it aligns with. I make sure to include plenty of lined paper in the writing folders too so students have everything they need in one place.

As we go through our units, I say things like “open your writing folder and take out page 2”, or “open your reading folder and grab packet 8”. Students quickly and easily grab what they need and we are good to go! I don’t even have to waste time passing out individual papers or packets for that day’s activities.

In a math class, you could batch worksheets and activities you need for an entire unit and put it together in a binder for each student. That way, students can easily flip through it and work on whatever page they need to that day. Maybe even number the pages to make it easier to tell students what needs to get done that day. A bradded folder, or even a regular folder, could also work well.

For science and social studies, you could print out all of the informational texts and activities you plan on doing for the first marking period and put them together in folders for the kids.

Now that you have a little bit more of an understanding of batching, think about how you could use it best in your classroom. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

Why batching is important for teachers of the Gifted and Talented

Because I teach multiple grade levels, as most teachers of the Gifted and Talented do, it’s important that I have plenty of time to prepare lessons for each class. I have to be intentional and on-top of getting things done so that I am prepared ahead of time.

As a teacher of the Gifted and Talented, you often have so much on your plate with testing and identification, plus working with so many different grade levels. Batching for each grade level can get you ahead of the game, and free up your time during the week to address your other commitments and responsibilities.

Also, our GT students often finish things at a much quicker pace than others, and even sometimes a much quicker pace than we imagine. Having everything batched and prepped ahead of time means that these early finishers can keep moving forward with the unit or project, and don’t get caught with free time or doing busy work when they finish early.

Is batching for me?

Would you enjoy never having to wait in a long line at the copier for a last minute copy you forgot to make?

Would you like to not have to worry about lesson planning and prepping day-to-day?

Would you rather get everything done at once, and then have nothing to worry about throughout your unit of study?

Do you want to spend less time handing out papers, and more time actually getting the work done?

Are you a teacher?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then batching is definitely for you. It saves you time, allows for a better work-life balance, and reduces your day-to-day stress. I encourage you to batch at least one unit, even if it’s just a small one, and see what you think. Let me know in the comments below if you plan on trying out batching, or if it’s something you already do!