Ok, seriously. Has the whole entire internet been keeping this gigantic secret from me this whole darn time?
In, oh, I don’t know, about APRIL I saw a fleeting post about an online planbook.
“Wha???” I thought to myself. “How can this be? I HATE lugging that stupid planbook everywhere I go. I’m getting back problems! Can I truly plan on the internet??”
Well of course the answer is YES. And it’s easy. And CHEAP. And there’s no more aching yuckiness right between my shoulders. (Except for carrying my laptop. But that’s a whole ‘nother story.)
I am linking up with Sabra from Teaching with a Touch of Twang for
because I seriously HAVE TO HAVE my account on planbook.com.
It’s possible I am the last person in the whole teaching world to know about this, but just in case there’s someone else out there who hates lugging a planbook on top of everything else in their overstuffed teaching bag, I will tell you all about it!
First things first. You can try it for a WHOLE MONTH for free. FREE. That’s what really caught my attention. “Ok,” I thought. “I’ll give this a try. If I hate it, no harm done.” (HAH! I loved it!) And after the FREE trial period? IT’S TWELVE DOLLARS. For the WHOLE YEAR. About the same cost as the aforementioned lugged around paper planbook.
PS I am not being paid or cajoled into writing this. I seriously just love it THAT MUCH.
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| This is what it looks like when you go to planbook.com |
You can learn all about it from the first page, and sign up to get your free-for-30-days account. They don’t even ask for a credit card or anything when you sign up. You only have to give them that information if you want to keep using it after the 30 days.
After signing up (easy-peasy-mac-and-cheesy style) you fill in a few items to get you started. The only part that confused me was the “Class Name” field. I read the little description and figured out that these will be the names of all your subjects. (For elementary anyway. Class periods for middle and high school?)
Once you have added your first class/subject it brings you to the screen above. From here you can edit your settings, add or change the subjects and click on the subjects to create lessons.
To create all your subjects or classes, you click on the drop down menu that says “Go To” and then click on classes. Then it takes you here:
You can add all you subjects, color code them and choose which days they will be taught. Eventually, yours will look like this!
If you want to add the time you teach each subject, you click the little gear on the right hand side and choose “edit.”
Once you have your schedule laid out, it will have every subject at the time you teach it and it will be just waiting for you to add what you want to teach!
Then you just click on the subject name on your screen and you can type what you will do in the lesson AND you can even add standards from your state or Common Core.
Ok, ok. This is turning into the longest blog post EVER. So I will just say this. Usually my paper planbook has almost nothing written in it for the last few weeks of school. But since planbook.com is so easy AND I can access it from any computer (or my iPad) with an internet connection, I was able to keep up with recording my plans for most of the school year.
For me, this is a MUST HAVE. Go link up and share your must-haves today!
Oh, and if you stuck with it till the end, leave a comment telling me your favorite way to plan (book, online, sticky notes, whatever!) and I will choose a random winner by midnight tonight (Tuesday) for a $5 Starbucks card…you deserve it!
PS I know this post was super long. Would anyone be interested in a video on all the features of the planbook? It might make it easier to see everything it can do? If you are interested, leave a comment or email me!
I like to plan online because it is easy to update.
Crystal Shepherd
lucytumnus@gmail.com
Lamppost in a STEM classroom
I found you through a comment on my blog and am I glad that I did… I LOVE this planbook! We have the option of using an online planner via the grading/report card package that our district uses. However, the planner STINKS! So I purchased one of those mega-expensive designer planbooks that everyone raves about, but I really do prefer typing my plans on a computer. Sure know what I'm using next year. THANKS!!!!!! And thanks for the sweet message about Ms. Daisy at my blog. Give your babies a hug from me:)
Angela
The Teacher's Desk 6
No, you are definitely NOT the only teacher on the planet that didn't know about this! After reading your blog, I went to the planbook.com site to check it out. Thank you so much! I have tried using an Excel template, a Word template, etc. but this is even better! Thank you so much!!!!!
HOLY MOLY this sounds amazing! I have never heard of this before, and am so glad you decided to share! I hate hand-writing my lesson plans, so I always end up typing them (much easier for me to make changes as the week progresses!) I am definitely going to have to try this out as it is pretty much a hand written plan book, but computer style! THANK YOU!!
Ashley
Fifth Grade Features
I am a creature of habit and write out my plans old school style. But I did splurge on an Erin Condren planner this past year which made the planning a bit more fun.
Jane
Learning in the Little Apple
I agree, Crystal! So much easier!
Nichole
I'm so glad this was helpful, Angela! 🙂 It's a great tool. I hope it works for you! And congrats on winning the Starbucks!
Nichole
I'm so glad you found it helpful! I LOVE it and I hope you love it too!
Nichole
Hi Ashley! I think the reason I love it is because I can type so much faster than I write AND it is easy to move things around when I can't get to everything. I hope it works for you!
Nichole
Hi Jane! I have seen those planners on a bunch of blogs and they look adorable!
Nichole