1. They Start with the Big Picture

Before diving into weekly or daily to-dos, effective educators zoom out and look at the year as a whole. They identify key units, testing periods, holidays, and project deadlines well in advance. This helps them avoid the last-minute scramble and create a roadmap that actually makes sense.

Even if plans change, having a long-range view makes short-term decisions easier. You can adjust your pace, shift assignments, or build in buffer time for reviews and reteaching.

To make this easier, many teachers use the right planning tools that let them see all 12 months at once. One such platform growing in popularity is Big Ass Calendar, built specifically for long-term thinkers. Their products include door-sized and wall-sized undated calendars that allow educators to block out entire semesters, color-code units or deadlines, and visually track pacing.

Because it’s dry-erase and customizable, teachers can adapt it throughout the year as plans shift. And since it’s right there on your wall, it keeps your goals visible.

In short, having that year-at-a-glance helps you teach more proactively. That is a key difference between staying ahead and constantly playing catch-up.

2. They Batch Similar Tasks

Great planners know that multitasking is a myth. Instead of jumping between lesson planning, emails, and grading all day, they block time for similar tasks in focused chunks. This is called “batching,” and it’s a game-changer for productivity.

For example:

• Monday afternoons: plan next week’s lessons.

• Tuesday mornings: grade assignments in batches.

• Friday preps: copy worksheets, organize classroom materials.

This not only boosts efficiency but also reduces mental fatigue. This way, you will be able to work with momentum. It may feel rigid at first, but batching gives you more freedom in the long run by keeping your head clear and your workdays predictable.

3. They Prioritize Before the Day Begins

Walking into the classroom without a plan is like entering a maze blindfolded. That’s why high-functioning educators start their mornings (or wrap up the day before) by identifying their top priorities.

Instead of writing a never-ending to-do list, they choose key tasks that must get done. This could be the following:

• Finalizing a lesson,

• Returning parent emails, or

• Prepping for an observation.

This approach helps you avoid the guilt of “I didn’t get enough done,” because you focus on progress, not perfection. And on chaotic days (because those happen), at least your most important tasks won’t fall through the cracks.

4. They Leave Space for the Unexpected

Even the best-laid plans get derailed due to surprise fire drills, student meltdowns, tech issues, or you name it. Smart teachers plan for that, too. They leave a little breathing room in their schedules so one disruption doesn’t throw off the entire week.

Instead of packing every minute, try adding a 10-minute buffer between activities or setting aside a flex block each week. Use it to catch up, check in with students, or just take a breather.

This habit might sound simple, but it’s one of the most underrated planning tools. It gives you control in the chaos and helps prevent burnout by reducing that constant lag feeling.

To Sum It All Up!

Let’s be real, teaching is unpredictable. Even the most effective educators don’t get it all done every day. But the ones who consistently thrive aren’t flying blind. They’ve developed planning habits that bring order to the chaos and help them show up for their students with more calm, more clarity, and less stress. Start with one of the habits above. Maybe it’s blocking time for planning, setting just three priorities each morning, or finally getting a big wall calendar that lets you stop flipping through 12 tabs to see what’s coming next. Because in a job where everything’s urgent and everyone needs something from you, the best gift you can give yourself is a little more control — and a little more space to breathe.