A new year always causes teachers to look at their current planning templates and ask whether or not they are still current, effective and user friendly.
Last year when I started to use Google docs for planning I took the time to develop a planning template which was easier to use. With so many documents being shared to Senior Management I thought there had to be an easier way that completing four separate documents each week. Alas, my Google Spreadsheet planning was born.
Prior to last year I really didn't know much about spreadsheets or Excel and this worried me slightly, however it was actually easier to plan this way as I was able to merge cells and have varied column widths (which was not an option in Docs back then).
Basically, using the tabs at the bottom of the spreadsheet, I have created one weekly planning doc which gets added to each week. On each spreadsheet there is my weekly planning (which I include writing in), a reading 'tumble' rotation and a maths 'tumble' rotation. Incorporated into the cells are the links to websites that the children will use during each lesson. I have also created a tab for my groupings so that it is all on the one document to reference when planning for individuals.
This way of planning has been proven easier and more efficient to share with Senior Management, keeps your drive cleaner and more organised and also make me more accountable as once the document has been shared in week one, it is shared for every week. It is also great when relievers are in my class as the planning is all on one document and easier to access than opening and closing a million docs at a time.
The other document that I use Google Spreadsheets for is my classroom description. It makes it very easy to add in each terms data and also this links to my assessment doc. This is another spreadsheet where each child has a tab and I track their assessments for my own records. I aim to print this off at the end of the year and put it in their profile for easy access for their next years teacher.
My personal next step for 2015 are to advance my planning further.
- We are moving into team planning this year and I really like the way the comment tool can be used for sharing ideas, making changes to planning and writing formative assessment notes. This is something I am aiming to get my team using by Term Two.
- Other teams at my school who are still using Google Docs are using the link function really effectively. They link their four documents together rather than simply writing 'see separate planning'. I like the ideas of taking this one step further and linking in the long term planning each week so that it is easily accessible when planning each week.
- Lastly, my goal this year is to include student work samples into my planning so that is becomes an evidence document and artefact towards my Teacher Registration. By linking in documents that students have complete on their Google Docs or blog posts, I have exemplars which can be used in future years.
The links to the docs are below. I am happy to share so that others can learn and develop their planning further but I ask for you to let me know if you do use my templates via twitter @wavesbryant. Please let me know if this post was of interest to you.
Waveney Bryant's Weekly Planning Template
Waveney Bryant's Classroom Description Template
Waveney Bryant's Assessment Record Template
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