Day 1. It’s the beginning of a new year and we all have great ideas of how we will do things differently this year. To help you organize your great ideas, and keep your planning time short and sweet, here is a tool for creating a simplified planning calendar.

Click here to download a free template of the simplified planning calendar.

Start with the first column labeled “What I’m teaching this month”. Run through each course and plug in the chapters, units, or concepts you will be teaching. Don’t get too detailed, this is for big picture planning.

Now go to the second column labeled “Don’t forget these great ideas”. Have a new lab you want to try? Read an article you want to incorporate? Found a video you want to share? Quickly jot these down here next to the chapter/unit/concept etc it relates to. Maybe it will fit in this year and maybe not. But either way, you won’t forget it!

Finally take a look at the third column labeled “What I need to get ready for next month.” Here’s where you do a little planning that can save you those last minute, late night runs to the store for supplies. Let’s take a hypothetical look at how this would work: Take a look at September’s “What I’m teaching this month” entries. Do any of your units require supplies? If so, add “Get supplies for food lab” (or whatever your unit might be) to your “What I need to get ready” column in August. Do you want to invite a guest speaker for your unit in January? Put this invite in the “need to get ready column” in December. Stay one month ahead and you’ll save yourself time, money, and unneeded stress!

Welcome back to school and happy planning!