Angela, and Other Teachers -- Organization of Lesson Plan Ideas and Info?

I taught elementary, but what I did to organize each subject is I used a lot of file folders. For example, for language arts we had a story each week with certain key skills that were taught for spelling, grammar, writing prompts, vocabulary, tests, transparencies, etc. I just pulled all of my materials and resources and put them in an individual file folder. As I collected activities for each story or skill I would keep them in this folder. It made it very easy year after year to go directly to my resources/notes and build from there. I kept it all in my file cabinet with each drawer labeled for each subject.
I hope this answers your question. It was a really very simple method to keep track of things.
HTH,
A.

Color code as much as you can. You can use an expand a file but if you know a certain topic is on blue paper, and another is on yellow for example you can reach in and grab what you need without having to read it over.

Make files on your computer. It saves space and you can always revise lessons that didn't quite work.

I keep most things electronically, and use sugarsync.com to backup my files.

I do like to keep a notebook for each course that I teach, though. I get a large binder, and put my calendar for each six weeks in the front. I use a calendar format on the computer for lesson plans, and then print it out and put it in the binder. Then I print a single copy of each assignment to put in the binder as I work through the year. I also print an answer key, and a copy of all of my notes. I use small sticky notes as tabs so that I can easily find whatever I need. Then the next year I update it as I change up my lessons. I like it better than files because everything I need is neatly in one binder for each class. I just grab the binder, and I'm ready to teach anything.

I hope this helps. :)