I know this is not revolutionary, but while reflecting this break, I thought I’d try out using Google Calendar as a lesson planner. There are a few reasons why I chose to do so.
- I’m terrible with lesson plans. I keep them in my head. Then when I need to share what I’m doing, I have to remember then write it all down.
- This will help me stay on task and organized.
- It’s really not that hard to set up.
- Since it’s in a calendar, I can easily see what weeks are short, which days are minimum, and so on.
- Since it’s in Google Calendar, I can easily share the calendar or event(s) with various people.
- Now the Resource (Special Ed) teacher doesn’t have to hound me about what I’m doing. Bless her for putting up with my ‘organization’.
- I can easily share, therefore making collaboration that much easier.
- My partner teacher can add details and we can have a cohesive program.
- If I’m out and forget to leave lesson plans, anyone with access can quickly see what I’m doing. Still debating if I should make it open or restrict it to people who could help in a situation like that.
So here’s what I did. First, I created a new calendar and named it ‘Lessons’. Then I created an event for each section of my day and made sure it was created in the ‘Lessons’ calendar.
Remembering to make sure each event was repeated 5 days a week until the end of the school year.
Now you can share your ‘Event’ with someone. Select ‘Save’ to save the event.
And this is what my January looks like:
To add details to a subject/day, simply click the subject on the desired day and select ‘edit event’. Then add the details. So Monday, January 11 I will do the following in Math:
Hey Lisa: I use G-Calendar as well. I embed the calendars on my blogger which is where we keep all of our resources as well. Here’s a link to the Class Calendar for all of my classes:
http://keaysclass.blogspot.com/p/class.html
Thanks Joe! I use G Sites to house everything. I thought about putting it on there for students and parents to access.
Lisa..I am blown away with gratitude and absolutely awe-struck that you’ve done this, in part, as a way of helping to keep me (that Resource Teacher) on the same curriculum page with you. Your student’s parents will know at a glance what’s happening in class, and your district team will know at a glance where you are in the curriculum. Applause! Thank you!
I need to thank you. You make me a better teacher. And it will be easier than you trying to hunt me down asking what I’m doing while I tell you because I write nothing down!