Tomorrow is the first student contact day for the school year. I’m sitting at my desk and wondering what I’m going to do with all of the eager energy that’s about to walk through the door. I wonder, “What do I usually do?” Good question. Then I wonder, “Why do I have to ask that question?” I should have it written down somewhere. But I always turn my planning book in to the office each spring and never bothered to keep a copy of it.

Well, that’s about to change. I decided to use the wiki I set up last spring as a lesson planner as well as a project documentation tool like I originally intended. But I feel a little bit exposed. I’m not used to publishing this side of my work-life. I’m surprised I feel that way since I’m also blogging about it, but I guess my planning has always been kind of a personal thing. I use an abbreviated-personal note style of writing when I plan that may be rather cryptic to other people, and it feels a bit strange to think that strangers might read my notes. I don’t want to have to spend a bunch of time revising them for publication. I hope to get over feeling self-conscious because I think the benefits will outweigh the “risks.”

What’s so great about this:

  • Other teachers that I collaborate with, like the special ed teachers, will know what I’m doing each week so we can coordinate our planning (and might resolve some communication problems);
  • Parents can check in and see what the class is up to.
  • Parents might also learn something about education from reading other content on the site.
  • I can upload files that I need for each lesson. Now, no more searching around for the test, focus questions, graphic organizer…
  • Kids who are absent can check the plans from home.
  • Absent students will be able to download the assignments.
  • I will have a record of my planning from this year that will be available to me next year.
  • I can leave notes about how particular lessons went for future reference.
  • I might think about doing a better job of planning knowing other people might be looking over my shoulder.
  • Impromptu plans for substitutes when I have an unplanned absence will be simple.

Possible downsides: Frequently I don’t actually implement all of the plans that I do in a week and they get recycled into the next week. That might be confusing to parents. In most cases, though, dialog is healthy so I’m not going to let that bother me. If need be I can set the Access Controls to permit only certain people to view individual pages. But right now I’m publishing my life. Transparent teaching is how I’d describe it.