How are your back-to-school teaching schedules coming along?
Mine is different this year, still teaching Monday-Friday but now have students coming earlier in the day, from noon on and also added one evening per week, this is to accomodate some adult students. Kind of a spotty schedule, a few holes, but so far it's fitting together pretty well. My studio is not full but I'm grateful for the students I have. For others out there who don't have full studios this year, keep chins up and be positive, we're in this together. For those of you with waiting lists and full studios, congratulations and best wishes to everyone for a great year ahead!

Scheduling has been a nightmare. Most of my students are older (8th grade and above) and they have way too many things on their plates. It has been a problem the last several years fitting everyone in. One family did not get its requested hours, so they're probably going elsewhere.

Mine came together so well it was scary. And I've eliminated Friday lessons, so next week I'll just move my Monday lessons to Friday. All is well!

So far, no major conflicts, but students are just figuring out their schedules, so I'm guessing there'll be at least one major problem to solve.

Mine all worked out. Saturdays are packed, with only a 20 minute lunch break, but it allowed me to keep my late evenings free. I'm done teaching by 6:30 on weekdays, and Saturdays I finish at 3pm.

(bump)

I am STILL doing my scheduling for the year--on my fifth draft in a month. The family that did not get its requested hour ended up going to a teacher with fewer students than I do. To keep all of my students, I'm forced to teach on weekends because some have too much homework on weeknights (and they aren't even in high school!!). And sports?? Don't get me started.

Mine worked out pretty well - the new sign up form I used on my website really helped.

www.evolvingmusicedu.com/lesson-schedule.php

For some strange reason, this semester's scheduling is more at the whim of my student's (or student's parental units') scheduling than usual. I hate to turn people away - for economic reasons - and I'm bending over backwards to accomodate, but for some inexplicable reason, no one wants lessons on Saturdays (!!)

This is a first, usually many people beg for Saturday slots!

Uggh... scheduling was very difficult this year. I hate sports. I'm considering that I might not be so flexible about sports in the future. Johnny can leave soccer practice early one day a week.

+1...!!!! Amen!

I have 2 fewer students this year but due to my spotty schedule, I'm working more. My schedule has holes, big ones, as now I am teaching some students as early as noon and a few in the evenings. So a student with a one hour lesson gets an hour and a half because there's no one coming after him. Only myself to blame, this is not efficient. Possibly train the cat to scratch/meow at the door on the hour...

I just moved a bunch of students around today. Did a lot of shuffling.

I actually have my iPhone set to give a little chime 10 minutes before the lesson is over. It helps keep me on schedule and not get behind.

I have holes too! And then things will change again when blasted soccer is over. I do the same thing, Barb. I am trying shoo kids out the door, but I am subconsciously listening for the next student, forgetting that their isn't one. Often it's the kids who start looking at their watch.

I need to do that! Also, wearing a watch is helpful