• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Ms. Rachel Vincent

A Teaching Blog

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Start Here

How Year Long Planning Can Save You Time

June 14, 2017 By Rachel 2 Comments

Are you a planner? As teachers, we are required to be planners and to flexible with those plans all at the same time!  But do you ever feel like you just can’t seem to get a handle on all the planning you’re required to do?  This is exactly how I felt and planning usually comes naturally to me!
How Year Long Planning Can Save You Time - Planning Your Way to a Better School Year - Free Template

 

One thing I’ve learned after many years of teaching is that just because you know how to plan doesn’t mean you are planning effectively!  Most teachers are required to do weekly plans and even if you’re not, you still need to know what you’re going to teach!  What I realized is that planning needs to be systematic…a system of when to plan and how to make your planning time more effective.
The Plan Your Way to a Better School Year Series is going to show you how to systemize your planning so that you can leave work at a decent time and have your nights and weekends back!!
Part 1: Year Long Planning
Part 2: Weekly Planning
Part 3: Planning Tips

How Year Long Planning Can Save You Time!

For the past 6 years, I have spent my summer creating year-long plans.  Now, don’t get all nervous on me…they’re not detailed like the long-range plans you had to create your first year of teaching!
They’re just an overview, of what will be taught each week!  This helps in 2 ways…
How Year Long Planning Can Save You Time - Planning Your Way to a Better School Year - Free Template
  1. You can make sure you cover everything you need to by the end of the year (or in some cases, by state testing time)
  2. It makes weekly lesson planning 10x easier!!

Step 1: Schedule the Time

You’ll need to set aside a good chunk of time to complete your year-long plans.  Especially if you are wanting to integrate some of your subjects.  Summertime is usually a great time to get your year-long plans done!  You have the time and brain space to actually do it, plus it sets you up for a successful year!  But if you’re reading this during the year, just plan out the months you have left!

Step 2:  Gather the Materials

You will need to find your school calendar and district’s curriculum or pacing guide to reference as you’re planning.   If your district doesn’t have a pacing guide, then find your state standards to help guide you.  You may want to have a paper version in order to cross things off as you add them to your year-long calendar.  That way you can make sure you’ve included everything.  You might also want to pull any teacher manuals or programs that you use and have those nearby.
How Year Long Planning Can Save You Time - Planning Your Way to a Better School Year - Free Template

Step 3: Create the Calendar

This is where you will put all your topics or units of study.  I have a free template in Microsoft Word available that’s completely editable so you can modify it in order to add your school dates, subjects, etc.
Year Long Planning Template

Step 4: Plan the Year

Once you’ve plugged in your school days, then pick a subject and start planning!  It’s easier to start with a more straightforward subject such as math, but there’s no right or wrong way to do it.  If you want to tie the reading and writing curriculum in with your science & social studies standards, it will probably take a little longer to plan.
*Personally, I print the calendar blank after setting up the dates.  I find it easier to plan with paper & pencil first so I can make changes without having to mess with merging and unmerging boxes in Google Sheets. Then I transfer over to the digital version
Once you’re all finished, sit back and celebrate the fact that you’ve planned your whole year!  Yes, things will change as the year goes on, but at least you have a blueprint for what it should mostly look like.  The best thing is this will make your weekly planning so much easier! 

Click here for the second part to see how to systematize your WEEKLY lesson planning.

Rachel

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Featured, planning, Time Management

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Rachel D. says

    June 19, 2020 at 8:32 PM

    This looks amazing! Just the resource I need to get organized. How can I get access?

    Reply
    • Rachel Vincent says

      June 22, 2020 at 5:47 PM

      Hi Rachel!
      I just moved my website to a new platform and it looks like the sign-up forms did not transfer over. I have fixed it and you should be able to sign up now. Sorry about that!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Welcome! I help new-ish teachers feel confident and comfortable in the classroom. Let's keep that new teacher "spark" every year!

Follow Me

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Find it fast

Popular Posts

Solids Liquids and Gases Activities
3 Ways to Make Your Classroom Bulletin Boards Pop!
21 Interview Tips for Teachers
Hassle-Free Class Store
How to do all your lesson planning at school
The Best Advice for Student Teachers
5 Tips for Making the Most of your Planning Time
How to motivate your students to read

MS. RACHEL VINCENT © TERMS · PRIVACY POLICY · BRANDING + WEBSITE DESIGN BY LAUGH EAT LEARN

Back to Top
Hi, I'm Rachel! It’s been a hot minute since I’ve posted on IG let alone introduced myself so here’s 5 random facts about me! Can you relate to any of these?!
1️⃣ I’m 5'10" and have to air dry all my pants 💁🏻‍♀️
2️⃣ Napping is my favorite sport and I'm pretty good at it!😴
3️⃣ I’m addicting to watching stay at home mommy YouTubers and I’m neither of those thing! 🤷🏻‍♀️
4️⃣ I probably won’t go but I still want to be invited 🤪
5️⃣ I like mint and chocolate but not together!😝
What’s your favorite December read aloud? I have What’s your favorite December read aloud? I have so many I can’t decide! 😍
Are you a fan of teaching poetry?! ❓❓It’s ac Are you a fan of teaching poetry?! ❓❓It’s actually one of my favorite things to teach!! Tell me I’m not the only one!
Our class store is now digital and I’m wondering Our class store is now digital and I’m wondering why I didn’t do this sooner!! 🙌🏻 What’s one thing you’re doing differently this year that’s actually better than before?!
I might have forgot to bring this home to prep for I might have forgot to bring this home to prep for tomorrow but I made a list of each day so it should only take me a few minutes to set up! It’s my favorite way to add a little holiday joy each day. 🎄🎅🏻
SWIPE to check out the Black Friday Deals that are SWIPE to check out the Black Friday Deals that are still happening!! 3 of my best selling products are 50% off today!! Grab the link in my bio > @msrachelvincent
Happy Thanksgiving!!! Hope you have a wonderful da Happy Thanksgiving!!! Hope you have a wonderful day!! 🧡💛🤎
Even in this crazy year, I have so much to be than Even in this crazy year, I have so much to be thankful for. The gorgeous fall we had is definitely on my list!! What are you thankful for?
I got this note in my box today from one of my stu I got this note in my box today from one of my students last year. I made me cry because this class was amazing and I never got to really say goodbye and I miss them! And sometimes you just need to hear that you are making a difference.
I love finding new books to share with my students I love finding new books to share with my students and you!! This book is so cute and has several life lessons that would be great for morning meetings!! Check out @bethatspark and my stories for more details!
For the first 144 years of America, a woman was no For the first 144 years of America, a woman was not allowed to vote. I don’t take that lightly and will always vote, no matter what! #teachersvote #womenvote
Are you team chocolate or team confection? I’m a Are you team chocolate or team confection? I’m a chocolate girl for sure! 🍫 I'm so happy I added the digitial version to our our history of candy research project!! I can’t wait to use it with my students this year!! 🍭 🍬
What would you do?! ⁉️ My daily cart has not h What would you do?! ⁉️ My daily cart has not had the same attention this year! 🙁 It used to hold my copies for each day but since having less papers and being in a hybrid schedule I just haven’t really used it. It’s making me wonder if I should repurpose it is just wait until next year when things hopefully return to normal? 🤔
In love with my new sign from @simplystainedshop T In love with my new sign from @simplystainedshop They have the cutest wood signs and decor!!! And just for being awesome you can save 15% when you use my code RACHEL15 😍😍😍
Fall has quickly become one of my favorite seasons Fall has quickly become one of my favorite seasons. If I’m being honest, I never really experienced fall. I lived near the coast of South Carolina my entire life, so fall for us was when the temperature dropped into the 80’s. After 36 years, I moved to the upstate near the mountains and now I know what fall really is and all I can say is I AM IN LOVE!! 🍁🍂 What’s your favorite season?
We started multiplication with area model. When I We started multiplication with area model. When I first moved to 4th grade, I was so nervouse to teach this because I didn't get it, but now I see the benefits of using strategies like this to teach multiplication. One way I try to engage students in tougher concepts is letting them write on their desks with dry erase markers. It's such a simple engagement trick! What do you do to spice up your tougher lessons?
Just your midweek reminder that...you've got this! Just your midweek reminder that...you've got this!! You can handle anything that comes your way!!
As we get closer to Halloween...students start to As we get closer to Halloween...students start to get a little antsy. One thing I like to do around this time of the year is bring out Spookley. He hops around during the day to visit student desks who are showing good behavior. Obviously this year...a stuffed pumpkin isn't going to work...so I found a plastic pumpkin that I can wipe down in between visits!!
We are using our multiples numbers like crazy righ We are using our multiples numbers like crazy right now since we're learning factors, multplies, prime, & composite! I've uesed these numbers in 2nd-5th grade. In 2nd & 3rd, we just skip counted every day using them, Now we use them to understand deeper math concepts
We’re celebrating another birthday tomorrow. A We’re celebrating another birthday  tomorrow.  And birthdays are a BIG DEAL!! It’s important to make sure your students are seen everyday but especially on their birthdays. Students get a little goodie bag. ➡️ Swipe to see! Plus the birthday monster sings and dances for them!