How to Set Up a Teacher Planner for the School Year

A teacher planner works best when the setup is done once and the weekly planning is quick. Here's an order that works.

1. Fill in the basics

Add your timetable, room, school contacts and bell times. These are the pages you'll flip to most.

2. Mark the year at a glance

Add term dates, holidays, parent conferences, report deadlines and testing windows. Seeing the whole year shows which weeks will be short.

3. Set up your class records

Fill in your roster with parent contacts, then copy names into the gradebook and attendance pages. A seating chart helps substitutes and helps you learn names fast.

4. Plan lessons by week

Use a weekly plan to map each subject or period. For lessons you're observed on, or new units, use a daily lesson plan with the objective, warm-up, teaching, practice and how you'll check understanding.

5. Keep a parent communication log

Note the date, the student, how you contacted the family and any follow-up. It's useful at conferences and protects you if questions come up later.

6. Prepare a sub page

Write down routines, helpful students, allergies and emergency procedures now. You'll be glad it's ready on a sick day.

Print your planner

The undated Teacher Planner runs August to July with 12 monthly calendars, weekly and daily lesson plans, a roster, gradebook, attendance sheet, seating chart, parent log and substitute info.

Keep reading: How to make a class timetable · How to plan your month