Ep. 179 I Don’t Have Time to Plan—What Do I Do?

If you’ve ever sat down to plan and felt instantly overwhelmed, this episode is for you. ESL teachers juggle multiple grade levels, language levels, paperwork, meetings, and constant interruptions — all with the same planning time as everyone else. It’s no wonder planning can feel impossible.

In today’s episode, we talk honestly about why ESL lesson planning feels so heavy and what you can do when time is limited but your students still deserve meaningful instruction. You’ll walk away with simple, realistic strategies that help you plan faster, smarter, and with less stress — even during your busiest seasons.

Before you dive in, don’t forget to explore engaging, scaffolded ESL resources designed to save you time:
👉 myadventuresinesl.com/store

✨ In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why ESL teachers aren’t unorganized — the system simply isn’t designed for our workload
• How planning for multiple grade levels and language levels creates decision fatigue
• What really happens when your planning time feels scattered and unfocused
• How to shift from “I don’t have time” to “How can I use the time I do have?”
• A simple mindset change that helps you work smarter instead of harder
• The power of using a reusable lesson framework across all your ESL groups
• How to stop creating lessons from scratch every day
• A practical structure you can plug any content into
• Ways to reduce last-minute planning stress
• How to protect your energy and regain control of your planning time

🧩 Strategy Spotlight: Use a Reusable Lesson Framework

One of the fastest ways to cut planning time in half is to stop reinventing the wheel and start using a consistent lesson structure.

When you already know the flow of your lesson, you only have to plan the content — not the format. That saves time, mental energy, and frustration.

Sample ESL Lesson Framework

• Warm-Up (5 min)
• Vocabulary Preview (5–7 min)
• Modeling / Input (10 min)
• Guided Practice (10 min)
• Independent Practice (10–15 min)
• Exit Ticket (2–3 min)

Use the same structure with all grade levels and simply adjust the text, task, and scaffolds.

💛 Encouragement for ESL Teachers

You’re not failing.
You’re doing the work of multiple teachers at once.
Your planning struggles are a reflection of the system — not your dedication or ability.

Small, intentional shifts can transform how your planning time feels.

🚀 Your Action Step

Try today’s strategy for the next five days:

• Commit to one lesson framework
• Batch similar planning tasks
• Dedicate one planning period only to planning
• Avoid jumping between emails, organizing, and lesson creation

Notice how your stress and efficiency change.

📲 Stay Connected

Share your wins and connect with the community:

• Instagram: @myadventuresinesl
• Website + Resources: myadventuresinesl.com/store

If this episode encouraged you, follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with another ESL teacher who needs a reminder that they’re not alone.

🎧 Until Next Time…

Take a deep breath.
Give yourself grace.
Your time matters.
Your energy matters.
And the work you do for multilingual learners makes a difference every single day.

You’ve got this. 💛

 

If you are looking for a community of dedicated and motivated educators, who support Language Learners, join us here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/adventuresinesl