Semester Plans
Here are the Semester Plan documents you can use to record your long range plan. When downloading this file, remember to save it to your computer and to email me a completed copy. An even better option would be to fill it out on a Google Doc, so we can collaborate and add to it all year. If you’re up for it, email me and I’ll send you the link for it.
Tips for Long-Range Planning
• Long-range planning is a common task that teachers use at the beginning of the year. It takes some time to create, but it is a valuable tool that you will refer to in your lesson planning all year. Use these Semester Plan documents to complete your long-range planning. You can create them ahead of time and email a copy to me, or we can work on it together at our meeting. Let me know what you decide and don’t hesitate to ask for help.
• Start by having the following items handy: a pencil, grade-level state standards, teacher’s guides, and your curriculum. If you plan to use them, also gather the files or handouts of the VIE pacing guides and VIE thematic units.
• List the primary curriculum you will be using.
• List the dates in each learning period on the top of the chart. CTs will have their families on a revolving learning period timeline, based on your meeting dates. The learning periods are usually 20 days long, except around the holidays.
• Begin to list an abbreviated version of the lessons, chapters, pacing assignments, or unit studies that you will teach for each learning period. Remember that this is your quick reference of your plan for the year, not a detailed account. Save your more detailed planning for a lesson plan book. Visions will be providing a lesson plan book for grades K-6 for this purpose. Planning sheets for grades 7-12 will be available upon request.
• As you plan, keep in mind holidays, field trips, school events, testing, etc. which will affect how much you plan for a learning period.
• Also keep in mind that you can complete certain units or chapters in a different order than listed in the teacher’s guide. For example, the plant chapter may be in chapter 2, but spring would the best time to study plants and integrate related experiments. Give yourself freedom to customize your plan according to your needs.
• Look through the state standards and fill in units that are not covered by your curriculum choices. If you need help with this, make a list of these standards for me so I can help you find creative projects to meet these standards.
• After you’ve worked with the state standards and your curriculum, you can now add extra units or projects that you want to cover this year.
• Review your Semester Plan and make necessary adjustments. Once you have made these adjustments, fill in the table on the word document and email a copy to your me. Keeping a version on the computer makes it easy to read and update throughout the year.
• Refer to your Semester Plan as you create more detailed plans in your lesson plan book. The Semester Plan will help you stay on track and keep you focused on your teaching goals.
• Stick with it. Long range planning may seem like a daunting task at first, but when you’re done you will find it to be a valuable tool. I am here to help!
