Mastering Focused Lesson Planning: 10 Hacks to Unleash Teaching Creativity

Are you ready to write your lesson plans but find yourself struggling to work efficiently? Do you sit down only to realize you forgot to grab your pen, notebook, phone, or laptop from your bag? What about your water and snacks?

This situation is so frustrating and throws off your whole flow, wasting your valuable time and energy. Having waited the entire school day to be able to do this critical work, you feel thwarted yet again.

Fear not, teachers. Here are 10 ways you can achieve effortless flow and create engaging lessons through focused lesson planning. Teachers, if you are neurodivergent you may find these tools especially impactful; and those who are neurotypical should also benefit!

This blog offers educational content; not medical advice. Please, consult a healthcare professional for personal mental health concerns.

Hack #1: Gather Your Materials

Your first step in focused lesson planning is to gather all of the necessary materials. Before getting in the zone, make sure you have everything you need within arm's reach. Here are some specifics to focus on.

• Organize Your Workspace (However that Looks for You)
  • Set a timer on your watch or visual timer for about 10 minutes. (Adjust as needed but don't go past 15 min. It doesn't need to be perfect; just functional)
  • Forget making it look photo-worthy, and find what is actually functional for you. Do you need more clutter-free space to brainstorm? Consider moving a doom pile to a basket to be followed up on later at a specific day and time.
  • Pens, pencils, whiteout tape? Make a list and post it on your wall with a photo or icons of what you need.
  • Refer to that list as you begin to prepare.

• Prepare Necessary Reference Materials and Resources
  • Have a binder with your class schedule, school calendar, district calendar ready for easy reference.
  • Review your personal commitments on your phone calendar or planner (or wherever you store it)
  • Review any administration-based communications regarding special events (ex. planned fire drills)
  • Have your roster(s) handy as well as ready access to family contact details.
  • Have any important reference textbooks, templates, previous plans, previous class notes, ready.
  • If you need any particular software, make sure you have your passwords ready.
• Tech Check
  • Do you have your charger(s) nearby?
  • Do you have your work laptop or home computer ready?
  • Are your passwords accessible if needed?
• Refreshments
  • Fill up your water bottle. (Bonus: add some ice or lemon!)
  • Check your snack stash. Consider some of the following gnoshes to keep handy:
    • protein bars
    • peanut butter pretzels
    • dried fruit (apples, pineapples, banana chips)
    • yogurt drinks, baby carrots, dip, washed apples (if you have a mini fridge)
• Personalize Your Space
  • Add a couple of items that make you feel comfortable and happy, like:
    • a small rotating fan
    • essential oil diffuser
    • succulents (if you can water them regularly) or fake flowers (if you can't)

Incorporating these tips into your lesson planning routine can help you gather your materials efficiently and set the stage for a productive and focused planning session. Remember, a well-prepared workspace sets the tone for a successful lesson creation process.

Hack #2: Snack Smart

Keeping your energy levels up while diving into focused lesson planning is crucial. Choosing the right snacks can make a big difference in your productivity. Here's how you can snack smart to stay on track:

• Opt for Brain-Boosting Snacks
  • Select snacks that are known to enhance cognitive function. Foods like nuts, seeds, berries, and dark chocolate are packed with nutrients that support brain health. These options can help you stay sharp and focused during your planning sessions.
• Hydrate for Mental Clarity
  • Don't forget the importance of staying hydrated. Dehydration can lead to fatigue and difficulty concentrating. Keep a water bottle nearby and take regular sips to maintain mental clarity and focus throughout your lesson planning.
• Avoid Sugar Crashes
  • While sugary snacks may provide a quick energy boost, they often lead to crashes later on if they aren't paired with a protein or fat. Opt for snacks with complex carbohydrates and protein to sustain your energy levels more steadily. Foods like whole-grain crackers with cheese or yogurt with fruit are longer-burning fuel choices.

Snacking smart not only supports your overall well-being but also aids in maintaining a productive lesson planning session. By choosing nutritious options and staying hydrated, you set yourself up for success in creating engaging and effective lesson plans.

Hack #3: Ergonomic Bliss

Getting your space as comfortable as possible for focused lesson planning is key. No one wants a stiff neck or back! Let's explore how to set up your workspace for ergonomic comfort.

• Adjust Your Chair and Desk Height
  • Ensure your chair is at a height where your feet can comfortably rest flat on the floor, and your thighs are parallel to the ground. Your desk should be at elbow height to maintain a neutral position for your wrists while typing or writing.
• Use Proper Lighting
  • Opt for natural light when possible to reduce eye strain. Position your desk perpendicular to windows to minimize glare on your computer screen. If natural light is limited, consider investing in a desk lamp with adjustable brightness levels.
• Arrange Your Computer Monitor
  • Position your monitor at eye level to prevent neck strain. Make sure the top of the screen is at or slightly below eye level, and about an arm's length away from your eyes. Adjust the brightness and contrast settings for optimal viewing comfort.
• Incorporate Supportive Seating
  • Invest in a quality ergonomic chair that provides lumbar support to maintain the natural curve of your spine. Use a cushion or pillow for additional support if needed. Remember to take short breaks to stretch and avoid prolonged sitting.

By implementing these adjustments, you can create a workspace that promotes comfort and focus during your lesson planning sessions. Prioritizing your physical well-being enhances your overall productivity and creativity, and may even help you like your job more!

Hack #4: Silence the Distractions

Another critical component to prepare for successful planning is to make your space as dedicated as possible to the task at hand. Anything else besides what you are currently working on does not have a place in this space.

(Use your best judgment and make plans with family members or anyone else who might be impacted.)

• Minimize Noise Interruptions
  • Consider silencing any phone notifications or putting a “Do not disturb” message.
  • If you have family or roommates, make a plan with them ahead of time to avoid any miscommunication or hurt feelings.
  • Consider putting a sign on your door or laptop letting others know you are busy.
  • Use noise-cancelling headphones or ear buds.
• Eliminate Visual Clutter
  • To the degree it's feasible, having a clear space can be a game changer. A trick for folks who get overwhelmed by their clutter and also can't readily deal with it? Cover it with a sheet or a towel! This temporary fix can give your nervous system a little extra hug.

Hack #5: Prioritize

• Take a minute and think about your to-do list.
  • Write it down using a brain dump prompt to get it all on paper and in front of you. (See Teach with ND's “Free Printable Worksheets for ADHD Adults” for your free copy!)

• Pick two items to start with in this session.
  • One should be important and urgent, and one should be important but not urgent. (See “10 simple prioritization techniques” by Sanjay Currie of LinkedIn for more information.)

When everything feels important, this can be challenging. Prioritizing is never easy for adults with ADHD and other neurodivergent conditions. However, when done, it can actually help reduce stress by knowing what it is we are “supposed to” be doing.

Hack #6: The Pomodoro Technique

This is one of the more popular ways of structuring productive work time. It helps schedule chunks of time as well as breaks. You can read more about it in the Todoist article by Laura Scroggs, “The Pomodoro Technique — Why It Works & How to Do It.”

(For more ideas on how to manage time during your actual teaching, please read “Five Ways to Manage Time as a Neurodivergent (ND) Teacher.”

Hack #7: Brain Breaks

Whether you decide to use the Pomodoro Technique or any other method of timing your work, don't forget to plan a brain break every so often. Taking breaks during your lesson planning can help maintain and boost focus. Some ideas to try:

• Physical Movement Breaks (jump up and down 10 times, stretch down to your toes, or take a 5 min walk around the block!)
• Mindfulness Exercises with or without music (I enjoy using the Insight Timer app for this.)

Hack #8: Accountability Buddies

When you find the right person, you can set up systems for yourselves to help hold each other accountable. For example, you could agree to do a morning check-in with your three top goals for the day; and an afternoon one to report on your progress.

I have also benefited from the body doubling technique, where two people participate in each other's tasks, be it in-person or virtually. For example, my buddy and I could turn on our cameras and straighten our desks (yikes) for 15 minutes.

Hack #9: Reward Yourself

If you are anything like me you know how easy it is to glaze over both minor and major accomplishments in pursuit of the next thing. Unfortunately when we do that we never give our bodies and minds permission to truly relax.

Learning quick, achievable ways to reward yourself can help soothe your nervous system and keep your morale up. Breaking work into daily parts can help!

Hack #10: Reflect and Refine

When you schedule your day, week, or month, set aside a few minutes to objectively evaluate your progress. Do this as if you were talking to a good friend.

Depending on what your goal was, you will know better how to do so. Was your goal simply to plan more lessons? Or was it to specifically increase student engagement? How will you measure that?

There are a lot of considerations to take into account. Whatever you decide to focus on, remember to be kind to yourself.

FAQs

What if I struggle with procrastination?

This is where having an accountability partner can be super helpful. Once you make a commitment to someone else that you will do a certain activity on a specific day, time, and place, it is a whole lot easier to stick to your work routine.

If that is not helpful, you might want to seek out the support of a licensed therapist who specializes in neurodivergent brain differences. Consider the possibility of having other reasons for this besides not being “disciplined” enough. (I do not care for that phrase!)

Having ADHD, autism, depression, and anxiety for example, can all contribute to procrastinating; as can the perfectionism which often accompanies.

What if I have trouble sticking to a routine?

Again, working with an accountability partner or group can really help. Also if it's been a few weeks and you are tiring of doing things the same way, don't be afraid to switch it up.

You can change the order of your steps, for example. You could decide to work outside or in a different room. If you listen to background music, maybe try a new genre.

That way, the routine gets refreshed while you keep working towards completing your projects!

For more tips on managing daily challenges as a neurodivergent teacher, read the Key Neurodivergent Teachers' Guide to Managing Daily Challenges round-up!