Some of us aren’t even on summer vacation yet and folks are already talking about planning for next year. I know, I know… Still, two emails arrived this week asking which teacher planner I use, so here’s a quick video to explain how I save a fistful of cash each year. And if you’re not ready to think about any of this until August, I’m cool with that, too.
Want the not-at-all cute, bare-bones lesson planner you saw in the video?
Click here and a copy of the PowerPoint file will automatically download to your computer. The .ppt file will open in Microsoft PowerPoint, Apple Keynote, and Google Slides.
Summer on, everyone!
You are unbelievably amazing! This has been something I’ve been trying to work out for two years and couldn’t find a workable solution. I never would have thought about using a slides/ppt format to do it. Yesterday was my last day at school and I was already pushing my own kids to help me brainstorm a way to do this yesterday, and here I open up my email today and you are light years ahead of me as usual. With this format I am able to add all the necessary components. I can insert links to docs or open up comment boxes to add text to explain the bullet-pointed agenda items. Basically, I use this same format for my class webpage on the school website, but it gets deleted every year (already gone and school’s been out just one day), so I wanted to find a format to save all this info in. Thank you!
Great minds plan alike, Kristine! So glad this’ll be a useful tool. And we ABSOLUTELY need to own/control our calendars. One of my colleagues lost everything on her Google Drive when she switched districts and had to rebuild from scratch. No. Thank. You.
Once again, you rocked it! I am a previous Erin customer…I loved the planner….BUT…I have used a free on-line planner the last two years….It worked O.K. but, I kept having to mess with the format….your idea is superb…Thank you so much for your constantly motivating ideas!
For sure, Lynnly! I’m all about simple solutions. 😉
Yeah! I am so glad. The last two years I don’t even want to think about how much money I have spent on all of that. I used it one week at the most. One week. So nope…I am taking the free download and making it work. Thank you for everything you do for the teacher community. I wonder if your ears burn? I have been doing some PD in my school district of talking about the importance of collaboration and connecting with teachers outside of our classrooms. Since I started by finding you on TPT many years ago I always kinda start there. 🙂 Thanks for keeping me connected.
I hear you, Mommyrhetoric. Those stickers and color-coordinated marker sets are pretty cute. As for your PD sessions, spread the word, my friend. The more folks who grab the free stuff on my blog and in my TpT shop, the better. I want EVERYONE to have more evening and weekend time to enjoy. Teach on! 🙂
I completely agree!! I created my own lesson plan template very similar to this one on an Excel spreadsheet. So easy and I can customize to how I wish. Planners always seem fun but they only end up being cute for about the first week or two. 🙂 I certainly have more fun ideas to do with my $50!
For sure, Lori. There are a LOT of things I’d rather buy with my $50. You get me. 🙂
Love it. Just got a new curriculum from my district and this will work perfectly. Thanks – always appreciate your willingness to share!
My pleasure, Nancy. That’s what I do. 😉
Hi Laura . . . Happy June. This is an interesting topic. When I first started teaching, my school district gave us planners and we had to turn in a copy every week. Then I moved to a school district where my principal didn’t want us to turn them in; he just wanted to know if we had an outline for the year. Since I have been teaching in CA for the past 15 years and no one asks about my day-to-day plans, I only write myself notes in my planner because I usually have more than one prep. I mostly use it to remember what I have done and what I am going to do. This is longer than I intended. Have a restful summer break. Kendall
Thanks, Kendall, for reading and commenting! I’m fortunate to have never worked in a district where I had to submit detailed daily or even weekly plans. What a nightmare that would be, right? I, too, enjoy the simplicity of the calendar overview or just a list, and that’s all my administrators have ever needed, too. Whew! Lucky us. 🙂
Thank you Laura for all your stuff…. and advice!!!
Very good ideas!!
Have a nice summer over there!!
Soledad
Thanks so much, Soledad! I appreciate your support of my work. 🙂
Hi Laura,
I was just wondering, what program/app do you use to create your spreadsheets for each year’s lesson plans? Thanks!
Hi Kelsi,
I supplied a PowerPoint version for everyone here on the blog because that software’s widely used by our teacher tribe, but I actually draw my own calendars from scratch using Adobe InDesign. I love the design flexibility that Adobe software provides, even if it’s a less popular program. Happy summer! 🙂