How to use Your PPA Time as an ECT

As an ECT, it is important to make the most of your PPA time. This time should be used to plan and prepare for your lessons, assess your student’s learning, and reflect on your teaching practice. In this article, we will discuss how you can make the most of your PPA time.

– How to use PPA time to plan and prepare for lessons

Early Career Teachers (ECTs) need to make sure they use their Planning, Preparation and Assessment (PPA) time wisely. The main job that ECTs and other teachers will do during their PPA time is planning their lessons. This will involve checking through the National Curriculum and the school’s yearly overviews to ensure that all of the correct objectives are being taught. This can take some time but is very important as we do not have time as teachers to be teaching the wrong lessons in class.

Once the objectives have been identified teachers will need to create some interactive whiteboard slides. Some schools use the Smart Notebook software, but increasingly schools are switching over to just using Google Slides as we become ever more ‘Google focussed’. Remember that slides need to engage the class and draw them into the learning. You do not want to be stood at the front of the class for more than a few minutes without doing some questioning or some form of activity.

They will also need to spend time resourcing the lessons. Worksheets will need to be photocopied, displays will need to be sourced and changed and all paperwork will need to be trimmed to fit into their exercise books. This can all be very time-consuming but is essential to make sure that the lesson is engaging and differentiated for all learners.

There are several ways that teachers can resource their lessons. One way is to create their own resources. This can be time-consuming, but it ensures that the resources are tailored to the specific lesson and objectives. Another way is to use ready-made resources from websites or commercial providers such as TES or Twinkl. Check out our shop below:

https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/The_Teaching_Couple

This can save time, but it is important to make sure that the resources are of high quality and fit the lesson objectives. Finally, teachers can work with their colleagues to create their resources, this can help to split the workload.

The Early Career Framework: 5 Core Areas for ECTs

– How to use PPA time to assess student learning

As any new teacher knows, there is a lot to do and it can be difficult to know where to start. One of the most important things you can do is to use your Planning, Preparation and Assessment (PPA) time wisely. One of the jobs you will need to do during this time is to assess students’ learning.

This can be done in some ways, such as by looking at books, talking with children or carrying out summative assessments (tests). By taking the time to assess students’ learning regularly, you will be able to identify areas that need improvement and adapt your teaching accordingly. Therefore, effective use of PPA time is essential for all early career teachers.

It is worth mentioning that some teachers and students are not big fans of summative testing. One reason is that it can be time-consuming to mark all of the test papers. Another reason is that some teachers feel that summative tests do not give an accurate picture of what students have learned.

This is because students may only remember what they have studied in the lead-up to the test and forget what they have learned earlier in the year. Finally, some teachers feel that summative testing puts too much pressure on students and can lead to them feeling stressed and anxious.

While there are some drawbacks to summative testing, it is still an important way of assessing student learning. This is because it allows teachers to identify which students need extra help and which students are struggling with the material. In addition, summative testing can help to motivate students to study hard and do their best.

– How to use PPA time to reflect on your teaching practice

Early Career Teachers (ECTs) need to make sure they use their Planning, Preparation and Assessment (PPA) time wisely. One of the other jobs that teachers will do during their PPA time is to reflect on their teaching practice. This is important because it allows them to identify what is working well and what needs to be improved.

It can be helpful to keep a journal or portfolio in which you record your reflections regularly. This will not only help you to track your progress but also provide a valuable record of your development as a teacher. When reflecting on your practice, it is important, to be honest with yourself and open to feedback from others.

By doing this, you will ensure that you are always striving to improve your teaching and provide the best possible education for your students.

– The importance of making the most of your PPA time as an ECT

For Early Career Teachers (ECTs) their Planning, Preparation and Assessment (PPA) time are really important. It is a time for them to gather their thoughts, plan their lessons and assess how well their students are doing. It is also a time for them to relax and rejuvenate after a long day of teaching.

ECTs need to be able to use their PPA time effectively to be successful in their careers. By taking the time to plan and prepare for their lessons, they can ensure that their students are getting the most out of each class.

Additionally, by taking the time to assess their students’ progress, they can identify areas where improvement is needed and make changes to their instruction accordingly. In short, ECTs need to make the most of their PPA time to be the best teachers they can be.

FAQ-

How much time should I spend on Planning, Preparation and Assessment (PPA)?

This is a difficult question to answer as it will vary from teacher to teacher. Some teachers might need to spend more time on PPA than others, depending on the demands of their job. However, all teachers should aim to use their PPA time wisely and make the most of it.

What should I do with my PPA time?

There are some different things that you can do with your PPA time. You could use it to plan and prepare for your lessons, assess your student’s progress or reflect on your own teaching practice. You might also want to use it to relax and rejuvenate after a long day of teaching.