Planning for the new year

I don't know how others plan for the year, but I plan by reviewing my course of study. Yes, I know. I know it. I work closely with it all year. I reflect on the lessons and assessments I use to make sure mastery is achieved according to the standards in that course of study. (In Alabama we use the Alabama College and Career Readiness standards. These standards are basically Common Core States Standards with Alabama additions.) I reread and unpack the standards again.  My interpretation may have changed as PD was performed over the year. I want the best for my students!

Next, I read other teachers' plans that are published in blogs and Pinterest. I tie all my thoughts together with a theme for the year.  My system has a yearly plan. I use it for my general planning. It is basically a 2x2 square grid with one square for each quarter. I fill in what I plan which standards I plan to cover each quarter. This keeps me somewhat on track for the year. From there, I plan each week on a weekly form my district used to publish (seven squares in a line). It may look something like this:

• Daily - Strand: 
• Poetry 180 - Strand:
• Independent reading - Strand:
• Grammar lesson (or writing lesson) - Strand:
• Literature lesson (or speaking lesson)- Strand:

I try to tie each piece together so they are fluid lessons, flowing one into the other.

Next, I plan each lesson, in detail a month at a time, prior to the month. Those lessons are fully fleshed out to include:

• Specific standards
• Assessments for those standards - formative or summative as needed
• Titles of pieces and pages, if applicable
• Lists of items needed for students
• Lists of items I need for the lesson
• Anticipated time allotted for each part of the day
• Homework/Classwork assignments
• Accommodations that can be made for each lesson 
• Extensions for lesson

Lastly, prior to each week, I make tweaks to the lesson plans to reflect any changes, such as drills or other activities that may change our schedule. After the first week, I can start listing specific accommodations for spec ed and EL students, as well as specific extensions. 

I also look at my classroom management plan. I make changes, although most are slight, each year. 

After the basics of the year and management plan are laid out, I begin crafting my first day of school newsletter. I wish I could say I was really good at sending one out each week, or quarter, or semester, but I am not.  I do have a classroom facebook, and that seems to be the best way to keep in touch with parents. I post a link to my lesson plans and link any supplemental papers I can.

Smiles,
Trish