Let’s be real, as primary teachers wear a lot of hats. One minute you’re organising a science experiment, the next you’re managing playground duty, replying to emails, and trying to remember where you left your coffee… again. There isn’t a group of people that need time saving tips more!
There are only so many hours in a day, and when your to-do list is a mile long, it can feel like there’s never enough time to get it all done. That’s where working smarter, not harder, comes in.
The good news? You don’t have to overhaul your entire teaching approach to gain back hours in your week. Sometimes, it’s the small changes that make the biggest difference. Here are 5 practical, teacher-tested, time saving tips to help you reclaim your week.
Time Saving Tips for Primary Teachers
1. Batch Your Planning
Planning lessons can easily become a time-consuming task when done daily. Instead, try batching your planning by dedicating a specific block of time to plan out lessons for the entire week or fortnight.
Focus on one subject at a time (e.g., plan all your maths lessons first, then move on to English). This method helps you stay in a productive flow and reduces the mental load of constantly switching between tasks.
You’ll be amazed at how much quicker planning becomes when you’re not starting from scratch every morning. Plus, it gives you space to see the big picture and identify opportunities for integration across subjects.
2. Streamline Your Morning Routine
The first 15 minutes of the school day set the tone, not just for your students, but for you too.
Creating a consistent and simple morning routine gives students a predictable start to the day and frees you up to take the roll, check communication books, chat with students who need extra attention, or simply take a deep breath before diving in.
Try setting up morning warm-up slides, daily task cards, or simple journaling prompts. Once students know the routine, they can get started independently and that gives you precious time to get organised!
3. Prep Once, Reuse Often
Not every lesson or activity has to be brand new. One of the biggest time-savers is building a bank of reusable resources you can pull out again and again.
Think: hands-on maths games, literacy group task cards, class anchor charts, and interactive slides that can be tweaked each term. This is why we love our UNO Math games.
Invest time once in creating high-quality, versatile materials and future you will thank you! Storing them in clearly labelled folders (digital or physical) makes it easy to grab what you need when you need it.
4. Collaborate with Your Teaching Team
You are not in this alone and you don’t need to reinvent the wheel every week!
If you’re lucky enough to have a teaching team or grade partner/s, lean into collaboration. Share planning responsibilities, swap resources, and divide up tasks like creating assessments or prepping classroom displays.
One teacher might be brilliant at writing writing rubrics, while another has a knack for fun maths warm-ups. Pool your strengths to lighten the load for everyone and create even better learning experiences for your students.
5. Go Digital Where It Counts
We’re not saying you need to be a tech wizard but using digital tools in just the right places can save you time, energy, and paper.
Apps like Google Slides, Seesaw, and Boom Cards are fantastic for creating reusable activities, tracking student work, and giving quick feedback. Plus, they’re a great way to engage students while keeping your lessons organised and accessible.
Start small. Choose one tool to try out and build from there. Even digitising your learning goals or task instructions can shave minutes off your day!
Bonus Tip: Steal Our Time Saving Framework (Free!)
Want to learn more simple strategies that help you feel less rushed and more in control of your teaching week?
We’ve created a free resource to help you take back your time, and it’s designed especially for busy primary teachers like you. Inside, you’ll find practical tips, mindset shifts, and ready-to-use strategies to streamline your week without sacrificing your impact.
You don’t have to do more. You just need to do things differently, and we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Rainbows ahead 🌈
What to read next:
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How to use UNO cards to teach multiplication
Podcast episode: The power of saying NO
About the Author: Ashleigh Smith
Ashleigh Smith is an experienced primary educator, former school leader and Co-Founder of Rainbow Sky Creations. With almost 20 years in education, Ashleigh has taught in Australia and internationally in Dubai, UAE. Today, she draws on her classroom and leadership experience to create practical, engaging resources that save teachers time and make learning meaningful and fun. A passionate cheerleader for teachers, Ashleigh is all about helping educators work smarter, not harder. She also co-hosts the Rainbow Skies for Teachers podcast, sharing practical ideas, strategies and encouragement with primary teachers around the world. Connect with her on Instagram or LinkedIn.
