is it common to have to prepare two different lessons for each week?

[eggplant_tyrant]

OP: As I'm sure you're getting from these responses, your situation is, in fact, uncommon. What is common is to have to prepare MORE than two different lesson plans for each week.... Maybe you could clarify your purpose in posting? Are you wondering how on earth you'll ever come up with enough material to fill two lessons? Are you wondering how to stave off the boredom of only having to prepare and deliver two different lessons each week? Are you just complaining or looking for sympathy? Are you conducting an informal survey on how many different lessons people must teach each week? We can help you with all of these, but we need to know what you want to provide targeted responses.

As for me, I teach 5+ unique lessons each week, and I'm a bit bored with just that to do, so I spend time trying to tailor my approach to different lessons to better suit each individual class. That's easier once you get to know your classes, so if you're just starting out, it's a good idea to take a minute or two after each class to jot down what worked and what didn't for that particular group of students. A game that one class loves may be unplayable with another due to the difference in class dynamics. If you're bored, keeping track of things like that and adapting your lessons accordingly can help use your excess mental energy productively, as can picking up after school classes.

If you're feeling overwhelmed, give us an example of your lessons and school-imposed constraints (class size, students' ability levels, number of classes per week, co-teacher present or not, textbook being used, etc.). We'll try to point you toward resources and give you time-saving tips.

Apart from that, if you're complaining, as you can see, you won't really find any sympathy here, as your workload sounds relatively slack. And if this is a poll, maybe you should have chosen the option to add a poll before posting your topic? Something to keep in mind for next time.

[lilo]

Pretty common I think. I have to prepare 3, i teach in a middle school that's also a high school and teach in all grades in the middle and 1st in the high.

Feel your pain.

[Sprite06]

Ok everybody please chill the flip out.  The OP only registered like a week ago, so I'm assuming he/she is new.   

Yes, it's normal to do 2 and you'll be happy that you have only two, soon! :)

Yes others have more.  I have 16 different lessons a week.  No, it's not complaining. No, i don't care if anyone pats me on the back or not.  No, I'm not moaning.  I'm simply answering the OP's question with some comparison to other teachers' schedules.  Some have 1 lesson all week, some people have 22.  Big deal!

Exactly.
We aren't patting ourselves on the back.

Personally, I laugh at the situation.  (In a "why me?" kind of way).  We have the exact same job titles but such different responsibilities.  Why would I boast about preparing 21 different lessons?  I envy the people who teach less than 4.

[superjo2092]

Sorry, wasn't meaning to attack anybody.  Just tired of people on these boards saying "Oh, I wish I had enough time to deskwarm" or "must be nice, I have to plan 16 lessons a week".  For sure, the OP is new to this.  Cut him some slack.

[nardthefox]

Dude, I make 21 lessons a week. You're awfully lucky to only make 2.

[stockw3ll]

Hey, im in an all girls middle school and I can notice a difference between first,second, and third graders, I couldnt expect to teach the same lesson to all 3 grades. I  feel that 3 different lessons is best, or the same lesson but just more advanced English or sentences for the higher grades.

-Mike

[DejaVu]

The way I see it is that the less lesson plans you have, the better quality they should be.  If I had 20 lesson plans a week, I would have no problem making average (or even below average) plans because working any harder would mean I would have to work many hours outside of school and that is not in my contract.

With 5 a week, I feel that my lessons are quite good.

[shaungoose]

wow! Alright I will count my blessings and create the most awesome (2 lessons a week) I can. Thanks for the responses

[ninatinsley]

I have to prepare 3 different lessons per week and 1 after school lesson. I think all schools are different though.

[prospybite]

It is really common to prepare more than 2 lessons a week! I am preparing about 4-6 lessons per week, since I also teach an after school class! It's different for everybody, but... yeah! Good luck!

[IslandGook]

I don't end up lesson planning very thoroughly, but I'm one of the folks that ends up with like 18 lessons per week (+3 after school some weeks).  Teaching two different small schools with a total of 5 grades, and different textbooks at both schools.  I see each class 2-3 times a week, so each session needs a new lesson.

As someone else said though, you just sort of make a trade-off.  I have new and interesting classes every time.  No two are alike at all.  But the flip side is that I never get the time to refine or practice what I'm doing very much, as things change all the time.  It's more like a constant stream of improv than rehearsed theater.