My New Favorite Routine

I have a habit of falling off the face of the Earth, and not blogging once the school year begins.  What better way to get back into the swing of things than with the 2017 Explore MTBoS Blogging Initiative?  This week's topic is "My Favorites".  (Is anyone else a huge Impractical Jokers fan that cannot read the words "my favorite" without hearing it in Sal's ridiculous voice?)

The thing that I am most obsessed with right now is my new routine.  I have not been able to get into a groove all year.  I was so frustrated with how my planning was working (or at times, not working) that I just had to make a long list of all of the things that I have to do weekly to prepare my lessons.  I blocked similar tasks together, and then designated days of the week to complete each task.  My goal each week is to complete the plans for the following week.

My new routine is as follows:
Sunday - write out plans, update the Google Calendar that is shared with my Geometry classes, begin worksheets, quizzes, and tests for the week
Monday - finish worksheets, quizzes, and tests
Tuesday - complete homework assignments and unit planning work required by my district
Wednesday - complete answer keys, make any corrections, and update my interactive notebook
Thursday - make copies, make SMART Notebook lesson presentations
Friday - finish SMART Notebook lesson presentations

Putting together my worksheets, activities, interactive notebook pages, quizzes, and tests takes up the most time, so I planned to make it a two day activity.  I made Tuesday just a homework day so that if I still needed to complete some of the worksheets etc., I will still have that time.  Although, now I'm thinking of making Sunday and Monday "worksheet and homework" days and Tuesday the "quizzes and tests" day.  The unit plan stuff that I have to do for my district may not be needed each week, so sometimes I can catch a break there.  I really needed to designate a day for completing answer keys and proofing the work I've done.  Regrettably, this was the part of the whole planning process that I sometimes skipped.  I save the SMART Notebook presentations for last because if I put them together before I do the answer keys, chances are I will have to change both the worksheet and the presentation.  The goal is to get as much of this done on Thursdays as possible because I have so many end-of-the-week routines to do on Friday.

I tried this routine out the week before winter break, and was able to maintain it since returning from break.  I still have some kinks to work out, though.  For one, I didn't get to update my interactive notebook this week.  It's only two pages, so I will easily be able to get it done this weekend. 

The other kink I still have to work is getting my third prep on the same schedule.  I've only had two preps until last year, and I'm still not used to having three.  Hopefully this new routine can remedy that.  This is a work in progress, and I'm enjoying the process.