The Routines and Systems That Make My English Language Arts Classroom Work

I've had a lot more free time these days and it's because I worked my butt off early on the create strong systems that make my classroom flow smoothly.

This post will help you get your systems in place to have a smooth school year!

The Planning

If you're starting a new grade level or a new school, obviously you will have to plan a bit to prepare, but it doesn't need to be all-consuming.

The first thing you'll want to do is come up with pacing guides...what does your ENTIRE school year look like? Plan it by UNITS, not day-to-day.

CURRICULUM: Why My E.L.A. Curriculum is Built on Units: 4 Reasons Why I Don't Focus on Standards When Planning

I've got all of those for you already:

PACING GUIDE (6th GRADE): My 6th Grade ELA Pacing Guide and What I Do Everyday

PACING GUIDE (7th GRADE): My First Year in 7th Grade: How it Went, What I Did, and What Will Change 

Once you know your ENTIRE school year, the basics, you will want to plan each unit. Generally, you may have about 10 units, so you will have 10 unit plans. Just do these a few weeks before you do the unit; you don't have to do it all ahead of the school year. With my system, it doesn't take long at all.

Get this TEMPLATE for FREE!

LESSON PLANNING MADE EASY: Lesson Planning Made Easy: Plan Entire Units QUICKLY exclusive blog freebies here 

The Routines

Routines are essential to keep your daily life in the classroom running. If you know me, I do reading and writing workshop. They are very structured and organized. Getting those routines up and running will make your life so much easier.

These posts go into that heavily:

READING WORKSHOP: Reading Workshop in Middle School: 6 Reasons Why I Use It 

DAILY ROUTINE: My Schedule in Middle School ELA & What my 60 Minute Blocks Look Like

READING ENGAGEMENT: How NOT to Get Middle Schoolers to Read

40 BOOK CHALLENGE: The 40 Book Challenge in my Classroom

CONFERENCING: Student Conferencing in Middle School English Language Arts

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Now, if you also know me, I am very much digital. If you want to have more free time in your life, you have to accept that tech will increase productivity for you AND the kids a TON. Once you start using Google Slides and Forms, you'll get so much more done.

GOOGLE SLIDES: Making the Most of Google Slides in E.L.A.: Organization, Productivity, and More

GOOGLE FORMS: All the Ways to Use Google Forms in Middle School Language Arts

Grading

This is where so many of us struggle. I've streamlined it SO much, especially when using tech. And honestly, with ChatGPT now, USE IT. I've put in entire essays in ChatGPT and had it help me. IT'S OKAY. It just frees up more time for you to plan great lessons!

I also have these posts that dive into making grading easier below:

MAKING GRADING EASIER: Grading Made Easy: How to Make Assessing Writing More Manageable

ASSESSMENT: Assessment in Reading Workshop: 9 Ways to Hold Students Accountable for Independent Reading

Managing Classroom Behaviors

Middle schoolers are ROUGH. If you can't manage them, then everything else is useless. Yes, it's got a lot worse over the years. Yes, we need admin support. But there are some things you can do.

These two posts dive into it more and let me tell you, it's been working for me for years:

BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT: Behavior Management in Middle School: 6 Components for a Peaceful Classroom

NO TANGIBLE REWARDS: Why I Don't Do Tangible Rewards or Points-Based Classroom Management 

Establishing Boundaries

This blog post gets into how I've also managed not to take any work home anymore.

ESTABLISHING BOUNDARIES: Establishing Boundaries: 6 Reasons I am Able to Not Take Any Work Home

Bottom Line:

Systems are so crucial in being sure you save your sanity. I've been teaching a long time, so use my tips to help!

Here's a freebie for you!

This is one of my favorite forms that my students fill out. Any time they submit something late, they complete this form. I have it all in one Google Sheet and I can keep track. Click the picture below to get it!

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