How Do Teachers Spend Their Time?

It's A Bigger Job Than Many Think!

Teaching is often seen as a 9-to-3 job, but anyone familiar with the profession knows it is anything but. The complexities of a teacher's workday go far beyond what many people observe. The time teachers spend in the classroom is only one slice of their daily responsibilities. To understand how teachers use their time, we need to take a broader view, including both their in-school and outside-of-school duties. Research into this area sheds light on teachers' challenges in managing their time effectively.

A Day in the Life: What the Research Shows

According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), teachers in many countries work an average of 38-48 hours a week, with significant variations across regions (OECD, 2019). However, only about half of these hours are spent on activities directly related to instruction. The remaining time is devoted to planning lessons, grading, attending meetings, and administrative duties. The Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) found that teachers spend, on average, 11 hours a week just on lesson preparation and administrative tasks (OECD, 2019).

Lesson Planning and Administrative Tasks

Lesson planning is one of the most time-consuming aspects of a teacher's work. It seamlessly transitions into administrative duties, which often follow the planning phase and require similar levels of attention and detail. Teachers need to prepare and adapt lesson materials to meet the needs of diverse learners, incorporate new technology, and ensure that their lessons align with educational standards. A study conducted by the RAND Corporation found that teachers spend about 7 hours each week on lesson planning and resource preparation (Kaufman & Berglund, 2021). This process is further complicated by the need to differentiate instruction for students with different abilities and learning needs, which requires creativity and meticulous attention to detail.

In addition to planning, teachers are responsible for a variety of administrative duties. Filling out reports, communicating with parents, managing student behaviour records, and coordinating extracurricular activities all contribute to the workload. These tasks may appear minor individually, but collectively, they take a significant chunk of time away from other teaching activities. According to a report by the Education Policy Institute, teachers in the U.K. spend approximately 6-8 hours weekly on these administrative duties, impacting their ability to focus on instructional quality (Jerrim & Sims, 2020).

The Hidden Hours: After-School Commitments

Another often overlooked aspect of a teacher's schedule is the amount of work done after school hours. Grading and providing feedback are key components of a teacher's role, as they help students understand their progress and areas for improvement. This process can vary significantly depending on the subject being taught and the student population. For example, grading essays in language arts may require more subjective analysis and detailed commentary, whereas grading in mathematics may focus on accuracy and procedural steps. Additionally, larger class sizes or a higher number of students requiring individualized support can greatly increase the time needed for this work. This process is time-intensive, particularly for teachers handling large class sizes. A study in the United States showed that teachers spend, on average, 5-6 hours per week grading and assessing student work outside of school hours (Gray & Taie, 2020).

Professional development is another area that demands time and attention from teachers. Teachers often participate in training sessions, workshops, and courses to keep up with the latest teaching strategies and curricular changes. The OECD (2019) reports that teachers spend at least 40 hours per year on professional development, adding another layer to their responsibilities.

Balancing the Unseen Duties

The multitude of responsibilities teachers take on is not just a matter of time but also one of emotional energy. A significant portion of their work involves interacting with students, managing classroom dynamics, and responding to the unique needs of each learner. These tasks require emotional resilience and the ability to multitask under pressure. Research from the American Federation of Teachers found that more than 60% of teachers report feeling stressed several times a week, largely due to time management challenges and workload (Walker, 2022).

Moving Forward: Supporting Teachers

Understanding how teachers spend their time is crucial to supporting them effectively. Policymakers, administrators, and communities must recognize the demands placed on teachers and work to alleviate unnecessary burdens. Reducing administrative tasks, providing more planning time, and offering additional support staff are all practical ways to help teachers manage their workload. For example, in Ontario, several school districts have implemented dedicated administrative support roles to handle non-instructional paperwork, allowing teachers to focus more on classroom instruction and student interaction. This initiative has led to improved teacher satisfaction and better instructional quality. Moreover, respecting and valuing the unseen hours that teachers invest can go a long way in improving teacher retention and satisfaction.

Conclusion

Teaching is a profession that extends well beyond classroom walls. Teachers invest substantial amounts of their personal time to ensure their students succeed, often at the expense of their own work-life balance. Recognizing the depth and breadth of teachers' responsibilities is the first step in providing them with the support they need. As we continue to highlight the invisible labour of educators, it becomes clear that investing in teacher support is an investment in the future of education.

References

Gray, L., & Taie, S. (2020). Public School Teacher Attrition and Mobility in the First Five Years: Results From the First Through Fifth Waves of the 2007–08 Beginning Teacher Longitudinal Study. National Center for Education Statistics.

Jerrim, J., & Sims, S. (2020). The Impact of Workload on Teacher Retention: An Analysis of Teachers' Working Hours. Education Policy Institute.

Kaufman, J. H., & Berglund, T. (2021). Teachers' Workload and the Complexities of Lesson Planning: Insights From the American Educator Panels. RAND Corporation.

OECD. (2019). TALIS 2018 Results (Volume I): Teachers and School Leaders as Lifelong Learners. OECD Publishing.

Walker, T. (2022). Teacher Stress and Mental Health: The Role of Workload and Time Management. American Federation of Teachers.