Before you toss it in a drawer, let’s squeeze a little magic from your current teacher planner.
So the last bell has rung, your classroom is packed, and your teacher planner is still in your teacher bag—half loved, half abandoned.
But before you shove it in a cabinet or let it gather dust, let’s take five minutes to turn it into something that’ll actually help you when back-to-school season rolls around. Trust me—your future self will be doing a happy dance in August.
3 Things to Do With Your Teacher Planner
Here are 3 super quick things to do with your teacher planner before your brain fully flips into summer mode:
1. Bookmark the Wins in Your Teacher Planner
Remember that week everything just… clicked? The routine flowed, your sub plans were solid, or your centers were actually fun and functional? Find those golden pages in your teacher planner and slap a sticky tab on them.
You don’t need to overthink it—just flag the lesson plans, routines, or schedules that you know you’ll want to repeat or reference next year. That way, when you’re staring at a blank planner in late July, you can flip right to your own greatest hits.
2. Jot Down What Didn’t Work
It’s easy to forget the things that drove us nuts in the moment (especially when it’s sunny and you’ve got your toes in the sand).
Take a second to flip through and leave yourself a few honest notes.
💭 “Too much going on Monday mornings. Shift planning block to Tuesdays.”
💭 “Parent communication logs—never used. Don’t print again.”
Future you will thank past you for keeping it real.
3. Flag Reusable Templates & Notes
Your teacher planner isn’t just filled with lesson plans—it may be full of staff meeting notes, PD take aways, IEP reminders, and weekly routines.
Use sticky notes or paper clips to flag:
- Weekly planning templates that worked
- Meeting notes worth revisiting
- Any systems or schedules that might work again next year
Don’t let those nuggets of wisdom get lost in the shuffle!
Love Little Systems Like This?
If this kind of simple, save-your-sanity tip is your jam, you’re in the right place. 🖤
Check out some of my other blog posts to help you slowly and painlessly prep for next year—especially if you’re the kind of teacher who wants to enjoy summer and feel ready when back-to-school sneaks up.
Happy summer, teacher friend. You deserve it. ☀️
You May Also Like:
The Ultimate Substitute Binder: Essential Tips for K-5 Teachers
The Scoop: Why a Weekly Classroom Newsletter is a Must-Have Tool
The 3 Best Teacher Planner Tips to Stay Organized by Scholastic
