Teacher Productivity: 10 Simple Ways to Work Smarter, Not Harder

Teaching is a very fulfilling profession but it does come with responsibilities and challenges. From grading assessments to planning out lessons, everything can be very taxing. It can lead to stress and make teachers really exhausted. Teachers need to manage their workload and have a work-life balance to be able to find that teacher productivity to deliver their best.

Many teachers struggle with burnout due to increasing demands. Here are some key facts:

• 44% of teachers in K-12 schools often or always feel burnout.
• 90% of teachers say burnout is a big problem.
• More than 75% of teachers have stress-related health problems.

These figures show how important it is for teachers to maintain a balance. Simple changes can help save time and energy.

10 Simple Ways to Be More Productive as a Teacher

Being productive does not mean you have to work harder. It means you have to be able to work smarter in a way that helps you save more time and effort. Here are a few tips you can follow:

1. 1. Plan Ahead

      • Why it helps: Planning ahead reduces last-minute stress and improves lesson delivery. It ensures a structured and consistent teaching approach. It helps in managing classroom time effectively and allows for better adaptability in case of unforeseen circumstances.
      • How to go about it: You can make lesson plans for daily, weekly, or monthly schedules. conduct classroom activities and student engagement strategies. Give assignments, play quizzes, and give project timelines, and also plan parent-teacher communication and meetings in advance with Extramarks.
      • Tools to Use for Planning: With the learning management system of Extramarks, you can plan lessons and assignments effectively and monitor student progress in real-time. This tool centralizes all your materials and helps track the progress of every student, ensuring that no one falls behind. You can also use Google Calendar or Microsoft Outlook to organize the day-to-day activities. Even productivity apps for teachers are great for task management.

   2. Have a Routine

      • Why it helps: A structured routine creates a sense of stability and consistency, which is essential for both students and teachers. When students know what to expect, they feel more secure, leading to better focus and participation. A predictable schedule also reduces anxiety, improves discipline, and enhances overall classroom efficiency.
      • How to go about it: Teacher productivity in the classroom improves when everyone follows a structural approach. You can set a fixed schedule for different activities like lectures, discussions, and student interaction. You can use morning routines for attendance, warm-up exercises, and reinforcing classroom rules. You can inform students about the schedule so they can prepare accordingly.

   3. Use Templates

      • Why it helps: Using templates saves time and ensures lesson delivery and communication consistency. Extramarks provides easy-to-use templates for assessments and lesson planning, making it simpler to focus on teaching rather than administrative work.
      • How to go about it: You can use customised templates based on subject and student needs rather than creating documents from scratch.
      • Tools to Use: Extramarks provides pre-made templates for lesson plans, worksheets, grading rubrics, and emails. There are also several other tools you can use, especially for making presentations to help with your teaching processes.

   4. Make a To-Do List

      • Why it helps: A to-do list keeps teachers organised, reduces forgetfulness, and provides a sense of accomplishment when completing tasks. Noting everything down not only makes you more organised but also gives you results and helps you deliver better.
      • How to go about it: With Extramarks, you can keep track of all assignments and assessments in one place, making task management a breeze. You can write down your tasks so you don’t forget anything. This makes it easier to focus and get things done. This is a key part of teacher productivity strategies.
      • Tools to Use: You can use the digital task manager with Extramarks, prioritise them as per importance, and review and update the list regularly.

   5. Use Online Learning Tools

      • Why it helps: Online tools centralise lesson materials, simplify grading, and allow teachers to focus more on instruction rather than administrative tasks.
      • How to go about it: Extramarks offers an efficient LMS where you can track students’ progress, assign work, and grade tests with ease, all in one platform. You can implement Learning Management Systems (LMS) to organise assignments and student progress.
      • Tools to Use: Utilse digital resources for quizzes, presentations, and homework submission, and automate grading with online tools to reduce manual workload.

1. Give Quick and Clear Feedback

   • Why it helps: Prompt feedback helps students improve faster and reduces the backlog of assessments for teachers.
   • How to go about it: With Extramarks, you can quickly grade assignments and provide instant feedback, reducing the time spent on manual grading. You can create a system for giving students feedback quickly. Online grading tools can help teachers save time and give students useful guidance about where they are lagging, and how they can improve in a particular area.
   • Tools to Use: You can use digital grading tools that provide instant feedback. You can develop a feedback template with common comments to save time. You can also schedule one-on-one meetings with students for personalised guidance.
     

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     Also Read: A Teacher’s Guide to Providing Helpful Student Feedback

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2. Avoid Unnecessary Tasks

   • Why it helps: Eliminating unnecessary tasks frees up time for meaningful instruction and student interactions. Some tasks take up time but don’t help students learn.
   • How to go about it: Try to focus on what matters. You need to be able to figure out what is working for your students and how they are learning faster and better. Using Extramarks, you can automate tasks like grading and lesson delivery, freeing up time to engage with students on a deeper level.

3. Reduce Distractions

   • Why it helps: Reducing distractions allows teachers to complete tasks more efficiently and stay focused on teaching objectives. Teacher productivity statistics show that staying focused helps teachers get more done. If you have a routine and a schedule that you follow, you will be able to be more productive.
   • How to go about it: Avoid distractions by setting specific times for everything you need to do. Set specific times for checking emails. Use productivity apps that block distractions, and create a focused workspace with minimal interruptions.
   • Tools to Use: There are no specific tools here, but more of what you can do. Ensure that notifications in your devices are turned off for the most part when you are looking to improve teacher productivity.

4. Use Time Blocks

   • Why it helps: Time blocking improves focus, reduces procrastination, and ensures all essential teaching tasks are completed without an overwhelming workload.
   • How to go about it: Set aside blocks of time for different tasks, like lesson planning, grading, and answering emails. This helps you stay organised and avoid multitasking. With Extramarks, you can plan and organise tasks in time blocks, ensuring that you’re maximising productivity throughout the day.
   • Tools to Use: You can set timers to stay disciplined and avoid task switching, and adjust time blocks based on workload and priorities.

5. Take Care of Yourself

   • Why it helps: A healthy teacher is a productive teacher. Good health boosts teacher productivity and your energy levels will be high.
   • How to go about it: Maintain a healthy diet, stay hydrated, and get enough rest. Schedule breaks during the day to recharge are necessary. You have to engage in physical activity or mindfulness exercises to reduce stress. Extramarks provides flexibility in how you manage your workload, giving you the space to take care of your well-being.
   • Tools to Use: There are several tools to help track your health, give you reminders to take breaks and drink water, and help you meditate. Choose and use the right ones for you.
     

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     Also Read: 7 Best Stress Management Techniques for Teachers
     

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Bottom Line

Being a productive teacher doesn’t mean working non-stop. It’s about using simple strategies and teacher productivity tools to make things easier. Whether it’s planning ahead, reducing distractions, or using technology like Extramarks, small changes can make a big difference. By working smarter, teachers can have a more balanced and enjoyable career.

Last Updated on March 5, 2025