5 Planning Tips that save you TIME!

I left school on Friday (practically on time) with a 3 day weekend ahead of me and EVERYTHING ready to go for the next week. I'm not bragging.....I'm just amazed that it actually happened! Sometimes the stars align and I actually get everything done that I need to get done. Here are a few tips that have worked for me and might just work for you too!

#1 Have a system in place for this week's copies

AND have a system for making your copies each week. My unit plans were already copied so I just loaded them all into the correct day and I am set! We make our unit plans 6 weeks in advance so they are ready for us and they include this one page MORNING WORK page that aligns with Reading Street. It's my go to every morning. As long as I have that copied I can pretty much wing the rest of the day. (just kidding, but occasionally that can be the case!)  

#2 Have a routine in place for centers
When you have a routine in place for centers, lessons, free time....you name it...your planning becomes so much easier. We have a super solid center routine in place in our classroom so all I have to do is fill the shelves. Sometimes that just means adding a few copies, sometimes I switch out hands on materials, but either way it doesn't take me very long. I reinvented the wheel for YEARS and it took a ridiculous amount of time. This is so much easier!

This is an example of how we store our centers. For this week all I switched out was a cut & glue page, some dabbers, an ABC center, and the write the room papers. Everything else was already there in the baskets and ready to go for the next week. Occasionally I'll add a new option, but I am sure to train my kiddos before I set them free with it. I use a Daily 5 model in my classroom so students choose what they want to do. I don't have to keep track of who has done what, they just do it!

#3 Store seasonal items together for easy access next year
I have large binders in my closet labeled by month. That way all of my masters for the month area easy to get to! I just have to flip to the unit plan and pull out the couple of centers I wanted to add in.

I also keep my unit binders handy for the same reasons. 

Click HERE or on the picture to get these FREE binder labels.

Math tubs are seasonal and used throughout the month so I never have to plan for them again. I posted about them HERE if you are interested in learning more. I use math tubs as part of our math block rotations, 15 extra minutes at the end of the day, or just as a much needed hands on break during the day. They LOVE math tubs.

Here is an example of an activity in our math tubs. The cards were copied and laminated last year so all I had to do was add in a few blocks to make it a little more interesting. I took the picture so I could print it out this weekend to show the students the expectation at that center. 

#4 Have a plan ready for small groups and get that area ready
There is nothing worse than calling over a small group and not knowing what to do with them. I worked out all of my small group stuff before I left on Friday so I wouldn't have to search for stuff on Monday....I mean Tuesday morning. I blogged about the materials I needed HERE and it is good knowing it will all be ready for me when I need it!  

#5 Use your time wisely
This tip is just for me. I am horrible about wasting my time after school talking to people, making unnecessary trips to the office, and just not being productive. It's hard after a long day to get focused but if you can put the rest aside and focus on the job at hand it truly makes a difference. A few snacks on hand help and a little bit of music helps too!

Thanks for stopping by today. If you want to save some of these tips for later Pin it here! Thanks!