Teacher Tip: Long-Term Planning Calendars
We have officially entered the absurdly long, bleak stretch between winter break and spring break. Many of us arrive at school while it’s still dark outside and find the sun dipping below the horizon by the time we leave. Despite the dreary weather and kids who are cooped up inside all day, this can actually be one of the most productive times of the school year. Your routines are well established, you know your students and their needs, and there are probably fewer interruptions to the school day than in the fall or spring.
Most teachers are starting a new marking period sometime in January, so spend a few minutes taking a big picture look at what the quarter holds for you. Try using a calendar to map out the coming marking period. Do a web search for “calendar template” and you’ll find plenty of options out there that you can save on your computer and type into.
As you do your long-term planning, remember to mark these important features on your calendar. Look for anything that impacts students’ time in class or your own workflow.
- Holidays when there is no school (Come on… Presidents’ Day!)
- Teacher work days/ Professional days
- Partial school days or other days with limited instruction
- Assemblies, festivals, pep rallies, field trips and other days with interrupted instruction
- Days devoted to state/district testing or test preparation
- Days devoted to school-wide testing, such as elementary reading assessment
- Due dates for interim grades, report cards, or parent/teacher conferences
- Due dates for making recommendations for next year’s courses
- Your personal commitments (Family visiting for the weekend? Don’t collect an essay on Friday!)
- Time you can keep clear on your calendar spend getting ahead (If needed, can you come in early every Tuesday? Stay late on Thursdays? Block out one Saturday a month to spend grading papers at a coffee shop?)
Now that you can see the big picture of the next few months, it’s easier to schedule in due dates for tests, projects, portfolios, etc. at times when students will be in class and you will have time to grade and provide quick feedback.
If you save a version of the calendar before inputting your personal and classroom information and email it to your colleagues for them to use as well, I guarantee you’ll be the most popular person in the teachers’ lounge today!
–Claire Lambert
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