Planning with Sticky Notes

Do you want to change up your planning routine this year?  Last year I tried planning with sticky notes and it was GAME CHANGING. I'd previously typed my lesson plans, but I coveted those colorful planbooks that I saw all over my Instagram feed (even though the cost made my eyes water).  So 2 years ago I created my own.  I loved the colors and it had exactly the right amount of space for monthly overviews, weekly lessons and to do lists without a lot of extra pages taking up space.  But at the end of the year the thought of throwing out the used pages broke my heart.  I couldn't see storing them year after year, either.  So my solution was planning with sticky notes!

I've uploaded a FREE video where you can learn more about tips on planning with sticky notes on Teachers Pay Teachers if you'd like more information, or if you prefer, just read on. 

Storage

I store spare sticky notes on plastic sleeve within the planner.  I have them sorted out by color so I have what I need for each subject. You can also use page dividers or the inside cover of your lesson planbook.

Color Code Planning with Sticky Notes

I like to use a different color sticky note for each subject so I can see the progression of each over the course of the week.  That also allows me to take them down at the end of the year and compile them by unit.  I do occasionally mix up the colors if I'm doing an integrated thematic unit.  If I'm covering writing standards in a science lesson, for example, I would put it on yellow (for my science color).

Moving Notes

For two day lessons, I put the note on the first day and leave the second day blank.  Similarly, if I plan 5 writing lessons in one week, but I need 2 days for a lesson, I move the sticky notes along and put the last one in the "next week" section of my to do lists.  No arrows, crossing out, or rewriting necessary!  And I don't know about you, but at my school last minutes changes are pretty much a weekly occurrence.  It's the number one reason that typing my lesson plans were not working for me anymore.  So if flexibility is more important to your school culture than consistency, this system will make your life easier, I promise!

Similarly, some days I find that a lesson bombs (keeping it real, here, people).  So it’s back to the drawing board; I need to insert a new lesson for the next day.  I can just move tomorrow’s lesson along and stick the new lesson in for the following day.  

Multiple Mini-lessons

If you are planning a new set of 2 (or more) mini-lessons for a single day, and you won't necessarily teach them on the same day next year, you can cut your sticky note in halves, thirds, and so on.  For example, you may find that your group of kids this year need a lesson on cooperation right before a lesson that includes a phonics game.  I would cut my sticky note in half and save that phonics lesson for next year, but I would either discard the cooperation lesson or put it in a section on classroom management.

Planning with Sticky Notes: Additional Uses

I use sticky notes for test makeups and put them directly in my planner as well.  I put it in the “Notes” sidebar for the week with the name of the test and students who need to make it up.  

My To Do Lists (Make, Copy, Prepare, and Do) are on sticky notes as well.  That way if there are things I haven’t crossed off on Friday, I can carry it over to the next week.  

Putting notes for the week on sticky notes instead of writing them in allows me to save my pages for the following year.  You'll see that I didn't do this consistently this past year, so I will reprint some pages next year, (although the borders are colorful, my own planner doesn't use that much color ink; it has plenty of white space) but the more you use sticky notes, the more pages you can save!  

Key content, such as spelling lists, can also be recorded on sticky notes.  I actually typed mine (on 3 x 3 inch sticky notes, then cut them down to size).  This way my key content for the week is highlighted.  The vertical list stands out against the wide sticky notes containing my actual lessons. 

Planning with Sticky Notes for Organizing for Next Year

At the end of the year, I compile the stick notes from each unit by month (notice how the colors lets me organize with ease).  This helps me stay on track with my pacing.  I put all the sticky notes from May onto the page divider, since it's durable plastic and can stand up to the weight of all those sticky notes.

Materials

You could use a 3 ring binder, but I use a Martha Stewart Discbound Planner (for a hard cover) with Levenger 1 1/2 inch discs (for smoother turning pages) because I like to fold it around and hold it on my lap.  The tabbed dividers that come with the cover are a nice durable plastic as well.  And I like the aqua color.

The boxes in my LMNO Planner are the perfect size for 2 inch by 1 1/2 inch Post Its.  I love the Cape Town Collection Post Its, but there are several really pretty World of Color collections to choose from.

I also use 32lb paper (any brand is fine) so the ink doesn't bleed through when printing.  It feels more luxurious and holds up perfectly for repeated sticking and removing of Post Its.

If you'd like to this planning with sticky notes system in action, you can stream it for free here.  I also have my LMNO Planner available for you on Teachers Pay Teachers.  If you'd like to download some FREE colorful coordinating sample pages, I have templates for your student roster, cover sheet, classroom contacts, seating chart, and more for you here.  And please let me know if you've made planning with sticky notes work for you!

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