The 3 Planning Tools Every Teacher Should Use Before the School Year Starts

Posted by goodfellastech on May 5, 2025

Every teacher knows that a smooth school year starts with smart preparation. Whether you’re a veteran educator or stepping into your first classroom, having the right teacher planning tools in place before day one can make a massive difference in how organized, efficient, and confident you feel throughout the year.

In a world full of apps and digital calendars, physical planning tools still stand strong. From writing out lesson plans to tracking student progress and preparing for the unexpected, these three essentials—a teacher planbook, a class record book, and key support pages—form the foundation of a well-managed classroom.

Why Planning Tools Still Matter in a Digital World

You may already have access to a learning management system or schoolwide software for attendance and grading—but when the Wi-Fi is down or the system is lagging, you need something more reliable.

Physical teacher organization tools give you quick access to your plans, records, and notes—no loading screens, no logins. They’re also easier on the eyes, free from distractions, and incredibly helpful when you need to leave instructions for a substitute teacher or grab a student’s information during a parent call.

Digital platforms are great—but a printed backup system keeps you prepared.

1. Teacher Planbook – Your Daily Lesson Organizer

The most effective classrooms run on routine, and nothing supports your daily rhythm better than a well-structured teacher planbook.

Whether you prefer a daily planbook, weekly planbook, or flexible format planbook, these tools help you outline objectives, gather materials, and stay aligned with your pacing guides. Teachers who use planbooks often report less stress during the week and faster lesson prep time each morning.

Need to reference what you did last Wednesday? Flip the page. Want to sketch out ideas during a team planning session? It’s all in one place.

If you’re teaching multiple subjects or rotating classes, a planbook keeps your lessons organized by period and ensures you’re meeting standards without losing sight of the bigger picture. Explore all of our Teacher Planbooks to find the format that fits your teaching style.

2. Class Record Book – Tracking Grades & Student Info

Even in districts with online gradebooks, a class record book is an essential backup—and often a more practical one for on-the-spot reference.

These books let you record daily assignments, quizzes, tests, and even informal participation grades in one place. More importantly, they offer room for notes on makeup work, student behavior, attendance, and even parent communication—helping you create a holistic picture of each student.

Let’s be honest: SIS systems sometimes go down, and navigating them mid-lesson isn’t ideal. A quick glance at your record book can show you exactly who turned in what, when it was graded, and what needs to be followed up on.

Our Class Record Books are designed with large writing areas, clearly labeled sections, and durable spiral bindings that hold up all year long.

3. Support Pages – Seating Charts, Sub Plans & Key Dates

What often gets overlooked in a teacher’s toolkit are the extra planning pages—and they’re some of the most useful.

Seating charts help you establish classroom management from day one. Pages for important dates let you track report card deadlines, field trips, or standardized testing windows. And sub plan templates or teacher info sheets make it easy to hand over your class when you’re out, knowing that everything is covered.

Many of these organizational tools for teachers are already built into our professional books, meaning you don’t have to scramble to find or print extras throughout the year. Just flip to the page and go.

Using These Tools Together Creates a System

Individually, each tool saves you time and keeps your day on track. But when used together, they form a planning system that makes your entire school year run more smoothly.

You’re no longer reinventing the wheel every Monday. You’re working from a routine that supports your energy, your goals, and your students.

And when the unexpected happens—as it always does—you’ve got a structure that helps you bounce back fast.

Wrap Up: Start the Year with the Right Tools

You don’t need to overhaul your teaching approach—just equip yourself with the right tools. With a teacher planbook for lessons, a class record book for tracking student progress, and support pages for everything in between, you’ll feel more prepared and less overwhelmed—right from day one.

Explore our full line of Professional Books to find the planning tools that match your teaching style and give you more time for what really matters—your students.