After school hours

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After school hours
By Sue

I did the same as you during student teaching -- 2-3 hours a night, and all day Sunday.

My first year, I was the same way. I often spent 2 hours a night, grading, making tests.

The planning was easier due to the fact
that I didn't have to write it all down word for word to turn in, but could abbreviate in my lesson plan book. (But dont' forget those emergency lesson plans for substitutes)
I learned to not grade as many papers myself, nor to take as many grades. I let the students correct daily papers (immediate feedback). I got better organized, ( I used the student number system).
I think what

ate up all my time the first year was deciding what to do. What am I going to do for science? What will I need for the experiment? I would spend my time looking for interesting ideas, bouncing ideas off my colleagues. Once you have gone through a grading period you begin to have more confidence in your decisions and you will trust yourself more.

I was an interim teacher first, and I was constrained by the schedule the teacher had established (reading was at the end of the day -- no one was focused.) I had a lot of ideas that I couldn't implement and that was frustrating. But, when I was hired, it was like a breath of fresh air -- I could do things my way.

Anyway, your exact question is one that I posted myself. I got lots of tips and advice. From gradebooks, to file organization, etc.

Also, although I have not read it myself, everyone usually posts to read Harry Wong's book. I bought the book "Your first year as an elementary school teacher" -- it was great helping with little things like where to leave your keys, and parent notes, etc.

I hope this helps somewhat.
Good luck -- don't work yourself too hard, but isn't that what many great teachers do?