Teacher binder

I started the summer creating what I think is an AWESOME teacher binder.  I incorporated suggestions from two colleagues, used some of the forms I developed over the years, adapted some things I saw on pinterest and Teachers Pay Teachers, and created what I think is a great resource.  My colleagues have their own versions, too, since we each picked how many of each page type we wanted. 

 

 

I created a cover that uses a clip art we found on google.com that represents our content area.  I didn't put the cover we made on here because it wasn't copyright-free clip art, but it was very easy to make.  Just find clip art that you like and put it on a new page in PowerPoint, then make a border using the Shapes tool.  We all have the same image, but it says our own name.  It also has our classroom number in case it gets misplaced, and it has the school year on it in case we love it so much we want to use the same cover another year.

We laminated the cover so it is sturdy.  Since we planned on bringing the planner to Staples to be bound into a notebook, we wanted the cover extra-sturdy like a "real" cover.  (We wanted a spiral notebook instead of a binder so it's more portable.  I tried the traditional binder thing and it never lasted more than a month, I'd just leave it on my desk and add papers to it whenever I remembered.  I hope that this notebook is more convenient so that I can throw it into my bookbag or just grab it and go.


There are two options for lesson plan pages.  Both options show a week at a glance over a two-page spread, with daily space for essential questions, homework assignment, and schedule of the day's activities.  (We all teach Spanish so it's written in Spanish.)  The middle school version (on the left) has space for absentees, five periods to note students who don't show a homework assignment on a spot-check, and space to note students who've made up incomplete assignments.  The high school version (on the right) doesn't have space for notations about students but includes space for two unique lesson plans each day.  Each set also has a big space (same size as the daily space) for extra notes a teacher might need to keep, such as for BIPs or student anecdotal data.  We included 43 copies of these, printed back-to-back.

We wanted to be able to see all of the most common IEP accommodations and modifications by class period.  We decided the ones we referred to most were copy of class notes, listening tests reread (we all teach Spanish so we do a lot of listening activities), preferential seating, and extended time.  We included space for other accoms and mods we need to keep track of for individual students, like when someone has unlimited bathroom access or needs to have their homework agenda pad signed daily.  At the bottom there's a space to note which students are on which academic team and with which guidance counselor, so it's easy to follow up with a student's case manager.  (We have four interdisciplinary teams and two guidance counselors on each grade level in the middle school.  There are, at present, four special education teachers on the grade level I teach. 

There are lined pages organized like traditional looseleaf paper, in three columns, and in five columns (not shown).  I'm not sure what we'll use this for but it's a "just in case" thing for this year and next year we may decide it's not worth it. 

We put a year at a glance over a two page spread that can be used for curriculum mapping, tracking meeting minutes, or even student anecdotal data.  I included six in mine, printed back-to-back, so I could have a set for each of the mandatory monthly meetings I attend (department, grade level, faculty) and each committee I'm on.  There's also a monthly calendar noting school holidays, including extra space each month for additional notes.  In our actual books we included a page printed from our district website that has the complete school year on one page, too.

There are grading pages that look like the old grade books with space for 10 assignments.  One friend is using these to track homework, but I think I'm going to use it to track mastery of required content.  I included 10 pages, back to back, so there's two for each class period.  My friend included double so she has two for each class, one for each marking period.

Parent contact log.  I usually use email for my contact, which I then sort into folders by class period.  This is mostly for phone calls and parent meetings, since I usually forget to log emails.  I put four pages, back to back, which will give me space to log 40 phone calls/meetings.

At Staples we purchased dividers like you'd use for a regular binder and inserted them into the sections of our planner.  We got the dividers you write on, not the ones with the insertable paper pieces that fall out.  Then we took it all to the copy center and asked the nice young man to bind it for us.  He used a reinforced spiral binder that he said should last the year (at least), and then put a nice sturdy cover on the back.

I admit, it's a little abnormal to be THIS much in love with a plan book.  If you want to use mine or if you want to download it and change it around, however you like, this is the link.  If you use it, please leave me a comment letting me know how you like it!