Getting ready for 2021: Where to start? Planning!

Over these short holidays already, I have been messaged by teachers - especially first year teachers; who are stressing about beginning their journey in the classroom. A first teaching job can be very scary and daunting. And you might feel alone. BUT DON'T WORRY! Every teacher out there had those feelings starting out. 
This blog post is the first of a series called 'Getting ready for 2021' - targeting different areas of teaching to get you going before heading to the classroom! This blog post talks about planning. 

Of course on your practicums and placements you would have been exposed and shown many different planning templates. Some you might have loved and some you might have hated. Over my nine year teaching career I have changed up my planning template every year for seven years of it! I couldn't find something that worked for me. I trialled so many different set ups; online, off line, in teacher planning books, on Google docs, on Google sheets. Finally last year in 2019 I made something I was happy with that I have continued to use this year and will continue in 2021. 

Above you will see a snippet of what my planning looks like. Of course every single teacher works differently so you might see this and think WHAT?? I'll give you a quick run down of how I plan:

• I plan online using Google Sheets for my long term and weekly plans. I create slideshows with information on Google slides if I need supporting evidence. 
• I plan each night for the following week from Wednesday-Sunday. This is usually while I am watching TV because I am an active relaxer. Wednesday is usually making a copy of the same template; deleting off things I don't need; copying over things I might need; changing the date and filling in quick information. Thursday is usually where I fill in the activities or learning I know we will be doing e.g maths work/reading books/writing general plan/inquiry etc. I don't plan on a Friday or Saturday unless I am super bored and have nothing else going on but this is not usual. On a Sunday I bring home modelling books and fill them in for the week PLUS anything else I missed on my planning. My whole planning time including modelling books takes between two-four hours a week. 
• In each holidays, I spend a good amount of time completing my long term plan for the term. This is so I am prepared, have a general idea of what I am covering and work with other teachers in my school to preplan things we might need. As I am in a small school, we don't have large long term plans as we cover things in our own way. In bigger schools, your long term plan might be given to you by your mentor or team leader/teacher; or you might work on this as a team. I would spend between eight-twelve hours in the holidays completing this with planning, resourcing, creating any resources I would need so I am set up for the term. 
• For maths and reading, I group and plan based on ability. Yes there are pros and cons to this; but with my large mix of age groups and small school, this is what works for me and my classroom. For writing I group based on writing goals which are individually set based on students next learning steps. 
• I complete a weekly playful learning plan too as play is such an important part in my classroom. I plan my provocations for the week (or fortnight) and what we will be focusing or covering for our goals and key competencies. These are also listed in my planning for anyone to be able to refer to. 
• I plan with enough detail that another teacher or relieving teacher will be able to follow along and teach what I was planning to do.  

As I have said, your mentor teacher or school may provide you with a template or guide for planning. Each school has their own expectations when it comes to planning and I have been fortunate I ahve worked at schools have have given me autonomy to work how I would like. I provide evidence of my planning to my leaders and principal where necessary so it isn't just a free for all. Some principals believe in professional trust and it is obvious when walking into the classroom if you haven't planned. 
When planning, these are some things you might like to think about:
What is the learning you want students to achieve? How will they know they are successful?

What are you looking for in the session with students? How does this link to the curriculum? How does this show progression in learning? Does this link to your long term planning? Is it clear enough?

Planning does not need to be complicated - the more straight forward and clear it is, the happier you will be and the less stressed you will be. Detail and clarity means smoother lessons and will ultimately make your life easier! 
There will be many more questions you will have so if there is something more you would like to know please contact me on [email protected] or speak to your mentor teacher at your school!

Need some resources? Check out my planning template resources available in my store. Or purchase the New Zealand PRT Teacher Book and receive the planning templates free!

Google Planning templates

NZ$8.00

Variation of Google Planning Templates

Use these Google planning templates to help get your planning going. There are a variation of Google docs and Google sheets planning templates for both short term and long term planning.

Included are:

-Inquiry LTP (Google Docs)

-LTP Template (Google Docs)

-Reading LTP Template (Google Docs)

-Maths LTP Template (Google Docs)

-Writing LTP Template (Google Docs)

-Term overview (Google docs)

-Weekly Planning template (Google docs)

-Google Sheets planning templates

This one includes:

-1 Term Overview

-2 Weekly Overview Templates

-3 Reading Templates

-2 Writing Templates

-2 Maths Templates

-Google Sheets Long term planning template

All of these are customisable. Simply make a copy for yourself and edit what you need. This resource is sent with a link to the Google Folder fill of all the templates.

Please do not share these templates with others. Direct them to this link to purchase these for themselves.

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Playful Learning Planning Template

NZ$0.00

Playful Learning Planning Template

This is a template of my Playful learning planning template that I have set up and used for my classroom and planning. This is made on Google Sheets and is a template that you can make a copy of.

Once downloaded, this pdf will have the link to the planning template. Click on the link to be prompted to the Google Sheets template to then make a copy of. This will then open in your Google Drive.

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New Zealand PCT Teacher Book

NZ$10.00 NZ$8.00

New Zealand PCT Teacher Book

This book is a great resource to have when beginning the first two years of teaching. Designed specifically for New Zealand PCT teachers, this has templates, resources and ideas to bring into your classroom!

This resource includes:

• General classroom information and tips
• New Zealand teaching information
• Year and term overviews
• Calendar overviews
• Class information
• Weekly planner
• Goal templates
• Reflection templates
• Mentor meeting information
• classroom set up
• Note templates
• How to teach... ideas
• Where to start - ideas from my classroom

This book contains 114 pages that can be printed off and bound into a book. Templates, lesson plan templates and more; that can be printed in multiple copies before being bound.

This resource also includes a FREE copy of my Planning Templates; giving you some examples or ideas that you can use to begin planning in your classroom.

This book also comes in two different forms - black and white or colour

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Frequently asked questions from PRT's and beginning teachers:

• How long should it take to plan? It shouldn't be taking all week to plan for the next week. Find a template and system that works for you and continue to fine tune it over the year. Use the support systems your school has to help you. I would say between two-five hours over the week for planning would be appropriate (complete planning finished in that time).
• How often should I plan? I would plan to spend a few times on planning over the week. Whether it is after school, night or weekend sessions. Find what works for you. 
• How much planning? Planning should be enough to give you a heads up and guidance for the week. It should have enough links, ideas and information for you or anyone else to pick up and use. It shouldn't be taking too much time to complete.