The Not So Dreaded Lesson Plans

 **UPDATE** You can now find an EDITABLE version of my Long Range Plans, Planning Calendar, and more in my newest Lesson Plan Series of blog posts!

So, with the common core being implemented for us next year, I've started revamping my lesson plans to incorporate these changes.  I really don't think there's going to be too much to be changed, but it's definitely something I want to knock out this summer!  So far, my biggest accomplishment is creating a cover for my new lesson plan binder...hey, it's a start!

I know lesson plans are so personalized to teachers and one way doesn't work for all, but I just thought I'd share what I've found works best for me!  I used to write weekly plans on a two-page spread that showed all of the subjects and their plans for the week.  This worked great for me for years, but then when I moved to my current school our district was moving to the Focused Learning Format for lesson planning (activating strategies, teaching strategies, summarizing strategies).  My principal sent out a lesson plan template for us to use and, well, I freaked out!  It was NOT in a nice two-page spread so that I could see everything at a glance. *Insert panic, temper tantrum, fit-throwing here* {Pull yourself together, Amanda}  Fast-forward to now and these lesson plans are my saving grace!!
The format just didn't lend itself to weekly planning, but instead to planning an entire unit at a time.  Fine.  I could do that.  I sat down with my state standards and got to work developing unit plans.  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the unit plans!  Planning in this way helped me see the big picture; you know what they say..."Begin with the end in mind." I was able to actually see the end of the unit from the beginning which helped me to stay focused and even plan for learning celebrations at the end of each unit.  Now, my lesson plans for the year (and year to year) are complete - at least the meat of them.  All I have to do is tweak them to continue making them better with new ideas or to meet my students' needs of that year.
Here's a glimpse of what is in my binder.
First, I must have my standards in one easy to read format with each subject on a single-page.  Click the image below for the PDF that includes the following five pages: Reading Common Core, Writing/Language Common Core, Math Common Core, SC Social Studies, SC Science standards.
This stays in the front of my binder so that I can highlight standards as they're taught and make notes about reteaching, if needed.  Next, I keep a copy of my Long Range Plans.  These aren't completed for the upcoming school year since I have to tweak my units and the length of each might change, but you can see last year's below.
I also create a yearly calendar to go in the front of the binder that serves as a workable long range plan that I can write daily events on (sorry, the picture below cam out portrait instead of landscape, but you can click it for the PDF).
The rest of the binder is dedicated to my lesson plans.  I place tabs in the binder with the subject titles and times on them.  Then, I just have to flip to that subject to see that day's lesson!  How do you manage your lesson plans?  What about your files?  Do you plan weekly or use unit planning?  Share your best lesson plan tips with us!  I'll leave you with some pics of my binder "in action."

42 comments

  1. Wow! I LOVE this! :) I really liked how you formatted the CC into a color coded document. I'm going to have to add that to my to-do list this summer. I have a binder of the standards, but I like the way you did it.

    Our school does weekly lessons, but I plan out my units ahead of time. I have huge binders where I keep all of my unit lessons and activities for each subject (Science & Social Studies especially). I do something similar to what you do for your long range plans but it's not nearly as detailed as yours. I have a document that list the weeks of school and the units we'll be covering during those times (which I have yet to update for the upcoming year...That is already on my to-do list)

    Thanks for sharing! I will be creating a binder for myself... haha :)

    ~Sara~
    Ramblings of a Deaf Ed Teacher's Mind...

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  2. You are looking very organized. I especially like that first document. Could you just whip that up for 1st grade? :)
    ❀ Tammy
    Forever in First

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  3. Oh my gosh, I love how organized you are. I need to get myself established with a set up like yours so it's all at my fingertips. Thanks for giving me some ideas how to organize for next year! :)

    Lisa
    Learning Is Something to Treasure

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  4. Wow! It's all so organized and color coded. Love the monsters on your binder cover. :)

    Amanda
    The Teaching Thief

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  5. Thanks everyone! I do like some organization...and it helps the year to run smoothly when I'm prepared! I usually have these done by spring break of the previous year, so I'm feeling a little behind this year! ;)

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  6. I love your lesson plan organization! I will definitely come back and visit this post when I do mine. Thanks for sharing! :)

    Rachel
    A-B-Seymour

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  7. They look awesome. I need to get my plans more organized.

    ✿Michele
    Miss Nelson's blog

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  8. Amanda, what program did you use to create that first document?

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  9. I used Microsoft Word. It's just a table with cells merged and text direction changed.

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  10. I absolutely loved the calendar you created! The read aloud mapped out at the top, and showing the unit study! Loved it so very much! Way to get yourself organized! I'm using a lot of exclamation marks! :) Loving the monster theme too.

    Amanda
    Ms. Wilkie's Second Grade Class

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  11. Thanks for sharing these! You're so very organized!! I created a template for myself for weekly plans and I just use a monthly calendar to map out our Science and Social Studies units for the year.

    ❤- Stephanie
    Falling Into First

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  12. I just found your blog, and I am your newest follower. I love your lesson plan set up! Taking down the ideas now. I would love for you to check out my blog if you get a chance.
    Barbara
    happyteachingfirst.blogspot.com

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  13. I just found your blog, and I am your newest follower. I love your lesson plan set up! Taking down the ideas now. I would love for you to check out my blog if you get a chance.
    Barbara
    happyteachingfirst.blogspot.com

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  14. Amanda, thanks so much for visiting my blog so I could head over to yours! :) I've visited your classroom website and Teachers Clubhouse many times over the years, so I was so excited to see you had a blog too! I LOVE your lesson plan binder. It's so true, what works for one teacher, doesn't always work for every teacher. My lesson plan binder in fact looks different every grade I've taught!
    Lisa
    Fourth and Ten
    Like Fourth and Ten on Facebook!
    Formerly Stories From Second

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  15. Amanda, thanks so much for visiting my blog so I could head over to yours! :) I've visited your classroom website and Teachers Clubhouse many times over the years, so I was so excited to see you had a blog too! I LOVE your lesson plan binder. It's so true, what works for one teacher, doesn't always work for every teacher. My lesson plan binder in fact looks different every grade I've taught!
    Lisa
    Fourth and Ten
    Like Fourth and Ten on Facebook!
    Formerly Stories From Second

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  16. Wow Amanda! You are SUPER organized! THANKS for sharing your format and ideas! What a great source for us oldies, and all the newbies out there!

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  17. I love this Amanda! Your organization is amazing!


    Heather
    Heather's Heart

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  18. Thanks so much for posting this! My district is moving to the Common Core for the upcoming school year. It is soooo nice to see your example!

    Victoria

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  19. I've been looking for good Second Grade pacing guides. I am moving this year from Kindergarten! I'll definitely use yours for some inspiring scheduling ideas!

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  20. Thanks for the helpful peek into your binder. I am a new follower and love you blog!

    Laurie
    Chickadee Jubilee

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  21. Great Organization. Thanks for sharing!
    I am a new follower.
    Tammy

    First Grade @ Klinger Cafe
    dtklinger@gmail.com

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  22. Thank you for sharing! :-)

    kdeyo@spsmail.org

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  23. Thanks for checking out my teacher binder at teachonalimb.blogspot.com

    I don't have any Common Core pages worked directly into my binder, although I referenced them during my curriculum planning. I'm going to check out your .pdf so I can see how it might fit in my own binder. Thanks Amanda!

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  24. Hi Amanda, You have an adorable blog, especially the name! I'm following :)

    I'd love to know how you created your monthly unit plans-they're so perfectly organized for reference!

    I'm guessing you don't use a reading series? We have Reading Street.

    primary practice

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  25. Thanks Patricia! My school/district does use Houghton Mifflin, but I choose to teach through genre studies instead. All of my documents were created in Microsoft Word - lots of merging of cells within a table. Time consuming, but worth it in the end! ;)

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  26. Thanks for checking out my blog and helping me find yours!! I love your planning!!! Looking forward to reading more. :)

    Brynley
    Brynley's Brainstorms

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  27. Thank you so much for posting these! I am a new teacher in GCSD so they are really helpful and useful! I am adapting them for first grade! I love your blog and am so excited to work in a district with such amazing teachers!

    Sarah

    Laughing with Lane

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  28. WOW! You're so inspiring! I am an organization nut, but haven't stayed in the same grade level long enough to get anything like this started! I am now motivated to get my plans looking like yours! :o) Thanks for all the amazing ideas!

    Ashley
    Inspire, Dream, & Create!

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  29. Me again... Would you mind sharing your calendar template? I love the way that you have the formatting set up! If you don't want to share... I totally understand! I'll start working on my own... :o)

    Ashley

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  30. Hey! You are the first person I have read that uses learning focused AND writes a blog! :-) We have been introduced to Learning Focused...aquisition lessons...focus walls...etc over the past year. I have to say it has been frustrating in many ways. I am very open to learning new things...but this has been a challenge at my school and grade level. (I am 2nd grade too). I would really love to hear more of how you make it work for you. Of the greatest difficulty for our team are the focus boards for every subject area. Do you do these? I'd love you to e-mail me your thoughts if you ever have a spare moment. Thanks!!!

    ~Mindy

    mayer2ndgrade@gmail.com

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  31. Amanda, you are pure teaching genius!
    ~Natalie

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  32. Are you using the unit plan graphic organizer from Learning Focused for yourself? with your students?

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  33. Are you using the unit plan graphic organizer from Learning Focused for yourself? with your students?

    Criswellj@k12tn.net

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  34. I am IMPRESSED! I love how you did the standards. I teach self-contained special education so I have K-5 in my classroom all day. I would love to talk with you about your organizational skills tips IF you ever have a moment. ANY advice would be greatly appreciated. :)

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  35. Hi Amanda,
    I see that you were using many different "units". Could you please suggest units that would work with Common Core? I noticed that the above plans were for a year or more ago. Have they changed because of Common Core? I would greatly appreciate any help or insight you can give. Thank you on advance.

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  36. Hi Amanda! I am so impressed by the organization and functionality of your long range plan. I have been trying forever to create a format of my own but can't figure out how to keep the cells in one column all uniform while writing vertically in other cells. Any advice or do you happen to have a template of this for sale on TPT?! Thanks so much for sharing this in the first place. This is exactly the visual I have been longing for but haven't been able to create it myself!

    Thanks,
    Jacqueline
    jacqueline.moody@tcis.ac.th

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  37. Hi Amanda, I would love your help in creating lesson plan binder you shared above. I would GLADLY pay for any templates you have created. I am also very interested in the Learning Focus lesson plans and your spelling template. Thank YOU!
    Norma :))
    nkelmfamily@sbcglobal.net

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  38. Hi! Absolutely love the long range plans...I think I must have come across these several years ago and they inspired mine. This year I tweaked mine and, well, I kinda liked your layout better so mine look an awful lot like yours. I have been looking to revamp my lesson plans. And, I have to admit that when I first looked at your "unit" plans I freaked out a little. But, I think this is a good direction to take because it leaves room for differentiation and the year-to-year tweaking without totally rewriting plans. Do you do the same for math? We are moving to a "math workshop" this year, and this planning style would work wonderfully. I can't wait to share this with my teacher-partners!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Amy! I freaked out about it at first, too, but it has been the BEST change in planning to happen to me! Saves SO much time! I do use this same format for all subjects.

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  39. I am new to second grade this year after teaching kindergarten for 10 years. I am also team leader and I am responsible for the long range plans. Do you have an editable version of your long range plans availble for download or to purchase? Needing lots of help!
    Thanks!

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  40. I know this sounds trivial but looking at how you organized your lesson plan binder by times really helped me figure out how to incorporate schedule into lesson planning. Many lessons require multiple pages to document strategies and standards while others do not so this will help along with the inclusion of a long range goal page/calendar for focus. Thank you so much for sharing!

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  41. Thank you so much for making your standards lists available. I'm moving to 2nd this year and will definitely put those in my binder!
    Chrissy
    First Grade Found Me

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Thanks for visiting my blog and sharing ideas! I love to read your comments. I like to reply back by email, so make sure you have that option enabled so we can chat! :)

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