How do you stay organized with your daily lessons – and planning ahead? One quick and easy way that I’ve learned – that actually WORKS for me – is using Color-Coded Files for my daily lesson plans.
I’ll admit I spent WAY too long planning my lessons and planning WHAT I’d do and WHEN I’d do it.
Keep reading to find out how to keep your lesson plans organized AFTER you’ve planned the lessons.
Using Color-Coded Files for Organized Lesson Plans
First, you have to get yourself organized. This method requires 10 Hanging Files – 5 of one color and 5 of another. That’s enough for two weeks, Monday through Friday. You’ll need file folders to go inside the hanging files and lots of labels and tabs.
Hint – match your file folder colors to the hanging file colors so you’ll know right where they go if they get out of order – you’ll thank me later!
Take a look at the yellow files above. I have a hanging file folder labeled “Monday,” “Tuesday,” etc., for each day of the week. They’re all the same color – as you can see. I used blue files for “Week 1” and yellow files for “Week 2.”
Inside each hanging file, I had folders labeled for each subject that I taught. Each folder had its own label. For example, I had “Math, Mon. 2” written on one folder. That meant the file contained Monday’s Math for Week 2.
In that same hanging file was Monday’s Reading for Week 2 and Monday’s ELA for Week 2. Those were all of the subjects that I taught. The other days and both weeks were labeled the same way.
That’s it for the set-up! You’re ready to make copies and sort your papers.
Organized Lesson Plans – What I Do
And yes – it was wonderful that I could easily carry my portable file caddy around!
After finishing the copies, drop any other materials, like manipulatives, task cards, etc., into the hanging file folders as well.
Your lessons are officially organized, set up, and ready to go!
Finally, I’d love for you to follow my Teacher’s Pay Teachers Store!
Keep Reading –
If you’re looking for more organization articles, be sure to check out my Teaching Binder Organization Step-by-Step – they’re a great way to organize paperwork!
