I haven't found a good way to plan for the year, month, or week. I have flip flopped back and forth between online planbooks, homemade planbooks, and store-bought planbooks and can't settle on one.
Part of the problem is I have to plan too much-I teach all subjects, I teach 2 grades. That's a LOT to keep track of. Do I keep it organized by subject, with parts for each grade? Hour by hour according to what I do? I don't know. That I haven't figured out yet. With the range of abilities, I can put science or social studies lessons together for the whole group, but not ELA or Math.
Making my own template for plans was OK when I taught one grade and 2 subjects, and traveled from room to room. All I had to do was slot in an ELA and a math activity for the day, and then copy it to every point on my schedule where it occurred. But life is more complicated in this job.
This year I'm going to try going back to planbook.com. I've used it before, for a short time, and I did like the way that it let me organize everything according to how many blocks I needed, unlike a paper planner, which is pre-printed and limiting. Ultimately at that point, I left that job and didn't want to create my own account for my next school as my planning was much simpler.
I prefer paper because when I write something down, I remember it better, and I like to plan away from my computer at times...on the couch, sitting on the porch, whatever. However, this time I have my Ipad and I can use the app to plan wherever I am, so that might make the experience better.
And frankly, I have discovered one too many times that my paper planbook is at school when I want it at home, or at home when I want it at school, and that's just too much of a pain. At least with a web-based planner it will be wherever I am.
This might help with teachers I coordinate with as well. I could always give them the login information so they can view my book and collaborate, add special events in their classrooms I need to get my students to, and let me know what we should expect when we come in for inclusion. I can share with my principal so she can check it out, and can provide feedback, or know what to expect when she comes in for an observation.
We'll see how that works out. I have a backup paper book if I turn out to hate doing it online. But if there's any perfect system I'm missing, I'd love to know.
