Teacher Planner - DIY

Detailed Binder set-up video

After looking at several planners available for teachers, I came to the realization that it would be easier to just create my own. There are a lot of amazing lesson plan binders out there as well as printables for teachers, but I could never find one that would house everything I wanted to have in one place.

I opted for the mini 3 ring binder.  I have used full sized binders in the past, but as my main teaching planner, they would become too heavy for me to carry back and forth between home and school.  I now have a comprehensive planner I can use daily and transport with ease.  

Using Power Point, I changed the paper size to 8.5 x 5.5, which is 1/2 of a sheet of letter sized paper.  I reworked my forms and lesson plan templates to fit on these smaller pages. 

Section 1: Business

1) In this section I have a calendar spread of a school year on 2 pages where I plan on keeping track of my absences, professional development and per session work. 

2) Seating Chart

3) Parent phone #'s

4) Parent Call Log

5) Parent Communication Form

Section 2: Calendar

1) Monthly Calendar

2) Undated Weekly Planner

3) Section for notes and to do's

Section 3: Lesson Plans

I created a two sided generic template to use for more detailed planning if necessary.

Section 4: Assessment

1) Homework Log where I keep track of the assignments I give out.

2) Grade tracker where I track the homework, classwork, tests, quizzes, and projects.

(Each marking period is a different color)

Section 5: Standards

Using the common core standards, I created a tracker to help me to monitor the students' progression through the different standards.

In the very back of the binder, I have sheet protectors which contain conference sheets, and daily assessment sheets.  

Thanks for stopping by.  Until next time...

Teaching: Start the Year Off Right!

BACK TO SCHOOL!

As the summer winds down here in NY, the teachers are inevitably thinking about getting back into the classroom.   For myself, I have found that if I at least have a few key procedures, handouts, and files in place,  I can begin the year feeling organized and prepared.  The items below in red are samples, suggestions, and / or printables.  Feel free to use any or all that you find useful.

Procedures and Arrangements to Consider:

This file box has files labeled 1-31 to correspond with
 the days of the month.  I temporarily put extra handouts
 in file marked with the date they were used in class.
If a student is absent they know where to go
 to get missing handouts.

• Entering and Exiting the classroom
• Checking Homework Completion
• Correcting homework
• Returning homework
• What if a student is absent?
• Borrowing books
• Borrowing supplies
• Bathroom Procedures
• What happens when a rule is broken? (Consequences have to be clear and spelled out)
• Storing homework / classwork/ projects / tests 
• Storing Supplies and Manipulatives
• Room Arrangement -  groups?  how many per group?  centers?  storage?  traffic flow? during tests?

Handouts / Things you should have:

• Student supply list   (Sample 6th Grade ELA  Sample 6th Grade Math
• Bulletin board paper, borders and letters
• Grade book
• Parent Phone Numbers
• Passwords
• Call log for parents 
• Bathroom sign out sheet / book/  pass
• Conference Sheets / notebook or binder
• Anecdotals template
• Welcome Letter for Parents  (for orientation or meet the teacher)
• Student discipline sheets / progress reports

File Category Suggestions:

• School Memos
• Calendars
• Professional Development (articles / handouts)
• Meeting Notes
• Extra Class Lists
• Testing Information (Dates / Procedures)
• Test Scores (Student data)
• Extra Parent Handouts
• Notes from parents
• Copies of notes to parents
• Office Business ( Book lists / furniture inventory / teacher's choice receipts)
• Schedules
• Special Needs Information
• Standards
• Curriculum Maps / Unit Plans
• Copies of Important emails
• Per Session Papers
• TO -DO file (requires attention and response)
• Copies of Anecdotals

Click HERE to create file labels using template 5266 or AVERY 5066

My Malden...Personal, Purple, Paradise

I wanted to do a post about my Malden set up because it has already gone through so many changes in the few short months that I have had it.  

 

My Dashboard...  I basically just have clips, cards with washi tape and some project life cards in the front slots.  In the long pocket, I made a decorative envelope to hold my extra stickers.  I usually put cash in the slit in front of the zipper.

 Monthly :   I use the month on two pages from Day Runner.  I like that the months are tabbed and that the pages are nice and thick.  My monthly divider is from Reman Design Studio - Etsy

Weekly:  I use the week on two pages from Filofax.  The cream colored week on two pages came with my planner and I like the paper quality.  

Daily:  I have not yet settled upon a daily insert that I can actually use long term.   I have created 3 different inserts and I am beginning to think that I don't need daily inserts at all.  (Daily divider by Reman Design Studio on Etsy)

                  

To Do's and Projects:  I created these inserts to help manage the many things that I have going on.  Each project has so many components that I need to see them listed out.

Goals and Lists:  These two sections just contain blank paper for now.  The paper for the goals is Filofax lined colored paper, and the pages for my lists I created using stamps from Heidi Swapp. I also made the dividers from a paper pack called Amy Tangerine from American Crafts (found at Michaels).  

        

Capture:  I created this divider to be a small folder that houses all of my sticky notes.  In the center of the divider, I added a piece of transparency paper to be able to fit more inside.  This section closes with a small piece of Velcro on the tab.   

Finances:  Since I also used my personal as a wallet, I have a section for my finances.  I created an insert to keep track of the bills I pay bimonthly.  It folds into 3 sections.  

I keep my credit cards in the card holder with a post it flag completely covering the information on my card.  (The flag is on the plastic so that I can easily remove the card and use it.  I place my receipt in the pocket folder immediately after the purchase.  

On the other side of the folder I keep my coupons.  The final dashboard stores graph paper for me to write down my shopping list or items to pick up on errands.  

Finally, we arrive at the back cover. I keep a small thin notebook that I picked up from Staples in the back pocket.  I write down all of my daily purchases.  Once they are recorded in here, I can remove the receipt and either file it, or throw it away.   The little owl is a magnetic clip that I made.  He stay back here until I need him.

If you have any questions about my set up, inserts or any items that you see please leave a comment below.   Until next time...