5-Day Lesson Plan Template ~ Free

Last year I created a 5-day Lesson Plan template for my TPT store, that included "spaces" to plan for my entire day.  I teach on a 4x4 block schedule with a split lunch and an "Encore" (study hall) period, so I used a version slightly different than the one I posted on TPT (and here) but it was still mostly the same.

I discovered, though,  that by condensing my weekly lesson plan for each class (I teach 3 preps each "block" with one planning period) I was losing some much needed space for "reminders" and for those activities that were new or unfamiliar to me.  As such, I was working out of TWO lesson plans a lot of the time; the 2-page spread that I created for my "lesson planning binder" and an individual "class lesson plan" for those activity-filled days.

Frankly, I was losing my marbles trying to remember where I typed/put/found information!  So it was back to the drawing board for me!  This is the template I'm trying out THIS year.  It's still a 2-page spread, 5-day lesson plan (week at a glance almost), with all of the items my district requires plus a few extras that I like to have on hand. (Like birthdays).

I still went for a colorful mix, because I like bright, cheery colors.  The font used is "Jester" and is freely available on Urban Fonts and Dafont, last I checked.  The owl clip art is from Pink Pueblo, who has adorable cliparts and Photoshop brushes in her Etsy shop.

This lesson plan format is probably most suitable for someone like me, who teaches multiple classes per day and needs a bit more detailed plan for the week. 

The margins are suitable for hole punching in the center so that the plan lies flat in a binder!  Woot! That's my favorite part. :)

If you need a new LP template, check it out!  It's fully customizable, in a docx format and is a free download in my Teachers Pay Teachers store.

Let me know if you need a Scribd link, I can add it there as well!

Hope you're having a great year!

the Creative Syllabus

My school requires a syllabus for every class, every term.  Since I teach on block, and usually have 3 different "preps" (classes) per block, that means upwards of 12 syllabi each year!  (Not really, I repeat 3 or 4 classes once!)

I've been doing a "creative syllabus" for a couple of years now.  I started doing this because otherwise they're BORING to read aloud to them, and they almost never read along, AND I would find them left behind after the first day on desks and tables.  Grrr. 

So... enter the Comic Strip Syllabus:

This syllabus was created using the Marvel Superhero Comic site.  They have an awesome comic creator!  I love that you can download and save or print your finished comic strip or comic book (yes, you can write an entire storyline with multiple pages and layouts!)  This syllabus is for my Imaging (graphic arts) class.  I'm fairly confident they're going to love it!

For my Fashion class, I created their syllabus using MagCover.com. 

This site is also free and you can download your finished cover (many, many different themed covers already set up to edit with your own images and text!)  I did pay the $1.99 fee to download a high quality version though, since I loved it so much.  I might even print and frame or laminate it for my classroom walls. 

The illustration on my Fashion cover is from a Deviantart artist Bree Leman.  This print was free to download from her DV site, but she has some lovely artwork for purchase too (higher quality/resolution prints).

One thing you might note is how concise the information is.  Due to the format of a comic or magazine cover, you have to be short and to the point.  At first I was worried I wasn't "covering everything".  Then I discovered...I was too wordy before.  The kids stop listening after a while, and besides what do I REALLY WANT THEM TO KNOW??

That's what I concentrate on for the info on my creative syllabi.  The really important goods.  The rest is fluff and unnecessary (and can be replaced with cool graphics and fun comic book SPLATS!)

I hope this might inspire some of you to try a new format for your boring old syllabi! 

Days of the Week: Free Printable

I just bought these super fun book & binder bins from Really Good Stuff to organize my weekly lessons.  I really like the set of 5 from Lakeshore Learning, but feel like the primary colors are too juvenile for my high school classroom.  I bought the neon colors pictured below and the "earth" colors too.  Bonus: I have 3 extra tubs for other things! 

The weird thing is that they don't offer a set of 5 with a rack (like the Lakeshore Learning set).  It's a set of FOUR with a rack.  I bought the set without the rack, and I think it will be fine.  I'm not planning on storing binders or large items in them, just my copies and file folders, so they shouldn't tip over.  I have a place on the corner of my desk (against a wall) which will help sturdy them up too.

BUT...I need to label them.  Because I like labeling things!  So I made these:

Aren't they cute??  They are 2.5 x 3 inches each and should fit perfectly in the label/tag section on the front of the bin (with a bit extra for trimming if needed).  I made all of the background patterns in Photoshop and used a fun font from Kevin & Amanda's scrapbook fonts.  Should jazz up my desk nicely!

You can download your 1-page PDF freebie from my TPT store here!

Lesson Planning

I have lots of lesson plan forms I've tried over the years.  I'm still tweaking!  I have two favorites, one that shows the whole week - all classes in a 2-page spread (great for my binder!), and the other is a 1-page/1-class/1-day detailed plan.

Here's a peek at the 2-page plan.  It has a colorful shaded heading for each day of the week, and a column on the right for notes/reminders.   There is also a narrow column on the left to add class periods/class names.  I teach on a 4x4 block schedule, but for my TPT store, I modified my template to include 6-period and 7-period days.  All three are included in one free download HERE.

This second --very detailed-- template is perfect for new lessons or activities (or just new classes!) when you are afraid you'll forget little details.  It has sections for pretty much EVERYTHING, including vocab, chapter/page numbers, warmups, materials, Kagan/Cooperative learning activities, homework, assessment, technology...  Everything!  I uploaded a no-color and a colorful version of this detailed template today and you can download it HERE.   (Free of course!)

Hopefully one or both of these might be helpful to you!