My hope is that planning will be a piece of cake. Add a dash of collaboration, a splash of time management, my secret ingredient and I should be able to walk out of school knowing that my weekend is free and if I do any planning it's to get a jump on the following week.
The Secret Ingredient
My secret ingredient is careful summer planning. I've tested the water by reviewing my kindergarten plans and mapping out the first semester. I've glanced at my first and second grade maps. Those maps are in great shape. I just need to flesh out the unit plans. I jumped in with both feet and started the planning process for 3-5 grades a couple of weeks ago. I went to my favorite coffee shop and set out to write a detailed unit plan using a UBD format. Last year I created a template but I didn't use it very often which led to inefficient planning near the end of the year. My goal this summer was to have all 6 units for third through fifth grades sketched out this summer. Notice I said sketched, every map, unit plan and lesson plan is subject to revision. Think of the summer mapping as the compass that sets the direction for the year.
A Dash of Collaboration-
The trick is to hook the teachers. They have to believe that as the librarian I am cost effective and time saving. Those two principles will get them in the door to look for resources but that's not true collaboration. The next step is to start planning toward a common learning objective where we share the teaching responsibilities and work together to help our students gain new understandings. I created two resources for my teachers: a collaborative planning document and a what's happening in your classroom google doc. The collaborative planning document will be shared the first week of school. I'll offer candy to the first grade level that responds. :) The collaborative planning document will be available in both hard copy and as a Google form. These resources will result in efficient and productive planning sessions.
A Splash of Time Management
My schedule says planning but I'm often shelving books or developing the collection and as a result planning for instruction was often left to the weekend which led to a cycle of being miserable on Sunday afternoon. It's the pits to know that you have to get your plans written when you would rather be spending time with your family. I am going to dutifully use and protect my planning time. I read 18 minutes: Find Your Focus..
One of his principles is to move items from your to do list to your calendar. Another principle is to set an alarm that serves as a reminder to review the last hour and get back on track. So everyday I will keep that planning appointment and with any luck I should be foot loose and fancy free on Friday. Shelving and other admin tasks will also be scheduled. If its not on my calendar it's not a priority. I highly recommend 18 Minutes as it will change the way you think about time management.
A Piece of Cake
The time invested in summer planning, working with teachers, and guarding my planning time will lead to a much more productive year overall.How do you make time for collaboration? How do you protect your planning time?
