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Let’s face it – between planning lessons, managing classroom behavior, and grading what feels like a never-ending stack of papers, it’s no wonder teachers are exhausted. Social studies, in particular, can be time-consuming with all the projects, writing assignments, and content-heavy lessons. The good news? With some smart teacher time management strategies, you can work more efficiently without sacrificing quality.
Here are 7 ways to manage and grade social studies more efficiently so you can take back your evenings and weekends!
#1: Batch Your Lesson Planning
If you feel like you’re constantly scrambling to prep for the next day’s lesson, it’s time to try batch planning.
Instead of planning one lesson at a time, try planning for a full week, month, or even an entire unit all at once. Set aside one specific day (I always liked to plan for the following week on a Tuesday or Wednesday) to outline all your lessons. Then, make your copies on Thursday or Friday. By the time you head into the weekend, you’re already set for Monday.
Teacher Time Management Tip: Use a lesson plan template to keep things consistent and save time when planning week after week.
#2: Reuse & Adapt Resources
There’s no need to reinvent the wheel every year. One of the most effective teacher time management hacks is building a reusable digital resource bank in your Google Drive or on a USB Drive!
I used to keep every paper copy possible – until a flood destroyed our school and I lost it all. After that, I solely relied on labeled digital folders organized by subject (social studies, reading, writing, etc.). Trust me – digital is the way to go. Back everything up on multiple USB drives or cloud storage to cover all the bases!
Modify old lessons instead of starting from scratch. Refresh activities or update examples to keep them relevant. And don’t sleep on those templates! Canva and Google Slides are perfect for creating handouts or presentations in minutes.
#3: Use Self-Grading Quizzes
Grading stacks of quizzes by hand? Every single time? No, thank you.
Try self-grading assessments with Google Forms or Quizizz. These tools allow you to input the questions, answers, and feedback – and they do the grading for you. It’s instant and efficient.
For open-ended questions, set up auto-feedback that helps students reflect and revise without needing you to read every single response.
Teacher Time Management Win: Automate where you can. Your future self will thank you.
#4: Grade Assignments Efficiently
For those assignments you have no choice but to grade by hand, think about ways to be more efficient! Grading doesn’t have to take all weekend. Here are some grading strategies will help you finish faster:
- Use a simple rubric – It speeds up grading and gives students clear feedback.
- Batch your grading – Grade the same set of questions across all papers at once. (All page ones, then all page twos, etc.)
- Try voice feedback – Use a tool like Mote to record audio comments on digital assignments instead of writing everything out.
These small changes can save you hours each week. Teacher time management for the win!
#5: Streamline Social Studies Stations & Group Work
Stations and group work don’t have to be stressful. The key is structure and predictability.
- Plan out station tasks like map work, primary source analysis, or reading passages.
- Assign roles in student groups so they stay focused and don’t rely on you to guide everything.
- Use predictable routines like 10-minute rotations or end-of-station reflections to keep transitions smooth.
Teacher Time Management Strategy: Once stations are set up, they run themselves – freeing you up to observe, support, and actually (dare I say it) breathe during class time!
#6: Use AI & Tech Tools for Social Studies
Edtech isn’t just a buzzword – it can seriously help with teacher time management when used with purpose.
Here are a few game-changers:
- ChatGPT or MagicSchool AI – Use them to generate lesson plans, rubrics, and writing prompts in minutes.
- Edpuzzle or Nearpod – Assign interactive, ready-made lessons that require little prep but keep students engaged.
- Google Classroom – Pre-schedule assignments with auto-reminders and due dates.
These teacher time management tools reduce your workload without reducing student learning.
#7: Set Work Time Limits & Stick to Them
This might be the hardest tip – but it’s the most important. You have to give yourself permission to stop working.
Set boundaries like no schoolwork after 5 PM, or no grading on weekends. And…stick to it!
Use the 80/20 rule: 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts. Focus on what moves the needle – like lesson planning and student engagement – and don’t sweat the small stuff.
Delegate when possible. If you have student aides or early finishers, let them help you with tasks like organizing materials or putting up bulletin boards.
Final Thoughts
You don’t have to do everything at once. Start with just one of these teacher time management strategies this week – maybe batch planning or trying out self-grading quizzes. Once that becomes a habit, add in another.
Remember: teacher time management or efficiency isn’t about cutting corners – it’s about working smarter so you can spend more time doing what you love… and less time buried in paperwork.
kirsten hammond
Kirsten is a former 3rd and 5th grade teacher who loves helping upper elementary teachers by creating resources and sharing ideas that are engaging, research-based, and TEKS-aligned. She is a work-from-home mama of 3 rambunctious little ones and loves running, true crime, and lots of coffee.
