Written by Emily Upton - Posted Sept. 5, 2023
Remember the days when organizing your life meant "Marie Kondo-ing" every nook and cranny of your house or apartment? While decluttering and sparking joy is its own kind of therapy, as a teacher, your daily focus is keeping your lesson materials as organized as possible. The last thing you want is to spend precious minutes searching for a worksheet while your classroom descends into anarchy. If that's been you (we've allll been there), I've got your back, because we're going to explore my three favorite lesson organization hacks that will take your lesson plans from "crap, where is it?" to smooth sailing in no time.
1. "Week at a Glance" Google Slide: Your Lifesaver
Imagine having a single document with everything you need for the entire week. I'm talking content plans, reminders about special assemblies, substitute teacher arrangements, links to daily slideshows and other resources, and a snapshot of each lesson. Meet the "Week at a Glance" Google Slide, your ultimate game-changer.
This simple yet brilliant solution involves creating a Google Slide with a table labeled with the days of the week. You and your teaching partner (or substitute teacher) can collaborate on this shared document seamlessly. Jot down essential details like lesson titles (e.g., "Lesson 3.2 Division with Remainders"), links to resources (hello Google Drive worksheet links), and any other critical information.
One feature you're going to want to include? Color coding. Create a new slide each week with a green background and change the old one to red. Not only does this help you quickly see what's on the agenda for each day, but it also provides an invaluable record of your entire year's lessons, down to the day. When I was out on maternity leave, this doc was also shared with my long-term sub, ensuring a seamless transition in teaching.
2. Daily Google Slides: Your Lesson Roadmap
Daily Google Slides are your absolute must-have for staying organized during instruction. These slides serve as your lesson roadmap, containing links, videos, your Morning Meeting slide, and any other materials needed for the day. What sets these slides apart is their dynamic nature; you can embed timers to keep your kiddos (and you!) on track for each part of the lesson. Website links let you model for your students exactly what you want them to do when you set them loose on their Chromebooks. And embedded videos and content visuals keep students engaged and on task. Need I say more?
Now, you might be thinking, "I literally do not have time to finish the latest episode of The Bachelor, when am I supposed to create slides for each day?!" While creating these slides may seem time-consuming at first, the payoff is tremendous. They can be reused year after year making lesson planning a streamlined event. No more scrambling to find that one video link or struggling with timing—everything you need is neatly packed into your Daily Google Slides from the previous year.
3. Rainbow Organizer Drawers: Your Weekly Worksheet Savior
If you still need to jump on the rainbow organizer drawer bandwagon, it's time to hop aboard. Those colorful organizer drawers from stores like Michaels are the best way to keep those millions of worksheets organized and at your fingertips.
Here's how it works: designate a drawer for each day of the week, creating a daily bin. In each bin, store all the copies and materials you need for that day's lesson. As you start your day, simply pull out the entire stack and place it on the corner of your desk for easy access.
The real trick to success with this method is consistency. When you're making copies in advance, attach a sticky note to label the days of the week. Any extra copies or materials that don't fit in the bins can be stored neatly in your cabinet with corresponding stickies.
By implementing these 3 lesson organization hacks into your teaching routine, you will feel like the teacher boss that you are. No more searching for lost worksheets or feeling overwhelmed by the daily chaos of teaching. With these strategies, you'll have more time to focus on what truly matters—actually teaching. Try out these organizational tools, and watch your teaching experience transform for the better!
