My Bullet Journal: One planner does it all (almost)!

I, like you, wear many hats in a day.  I am a wife, a mother (of a teen and a tween), a teacher, a union discussion representative, a blogger, and a teacherprenuer!  Phew!  Seeing it all written out like (and the list isn’t totally complete) makes me tired.  I have to keep up with it all somehow!  That is why the word teacher is in quotes.  This is about my bullet journal. It helps me Keep it All together in one spot!  Before I go on, I have to caveat a little…I do NOT lesson plan in my bullet journal. It’s just for keeping up with everything else!  I am going to share some of my bullet journal setup, spreads,  and examples.

My Teacher bullet journal post!  I am showing you how I keep it all together!  I will show you my layout, my weekly spreads, my collections, and how I use it to organize my whole life!  I don't lesson plan in my bullet journal.  This post also contains a calendar freebie for you to download and print! #bulletjournal #teachers #planner #primaryplanet

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I LOVE planners.  I have always loved planners.  It makes me feel like I have my life together.  That being said, I have pretty much tried every kind of planner out there!  Life Planner, Happy Planner, Panda Planner, and Filofax.  I have NOT done a Traveler’s Notebook, but I really want to try bullet journaling in one someday!

What is a bullet journal?

If you do not know what a bullet journal is, this is where you should start.  It is “The Analog System for a digital age”.  It is Ryder Carroll’s brain child and is (IMHO) brilliant!  Now, I don’t do mine the same way as Ryder Carroll on account of I am not Ryder Carroll, but for me, that is the beauty of the Bullet Journal!  It is what you make of it!

My Bullet Journal Notebook

My Teacher bullet journal post!  I am showing you how I keep it all together!  I will show you my layout, my weekly spreads, my collections, and how I use it to organize my whole life!  I don't lesson plan in my bullet journal.  This post also contains a calendar freebie for you to download and print! #bulletjournal #teachers #planner #primaryplanet
This will be my third year using a bullet journal.  For my first journal, I bought the “Official” Bullet Journal. (I am NOT affiliated with Bullet Journal or Ryder Carroll, I just LOVE it!)  I really liked it.  I love the dot matrix set up and the paper and the 3 ribbon bookmarks.  The only thing that I didn’t particularly like about it was that it is black.  I am a color lover.  I needed a colorful journal!
My second journal (which I still love) was a Leuchtturm 1917 notebook.  This one in fact (Amazon Affiliate Link):

This year I decided to try a new notebook!  I chose the Scribbles that Matter notebook after so many people in the FB group (yup, there are several Bullet Journaling Facebook Groups) recommended it.  This isn’t my exact notebook (you’ll see that here in a sec…) This is an Amazon Affiliate link:

What’s In the Bullet Journal?

Like I said, the beauty of the bullet journal is that you set it up with what you need.  So, in the very front of mine, I have our school district calendar:
My Teacher bullet journal post!  I am showing you how I keep it all together!  I will show you my layout, my weekly spreads, my collections, and how I use it to organize my whole life!  I don't lesson plan in my bullet journal.  This post also contains a calendar freebie for you to download and print! #bulletjournal #teachers #planner #primaryplanet
Then, I have monthly calendars.  Now, I print them in fun colors (yeah!) and I have 2 for each month.  One for personal and school, and one for my blog and for my business.  
My Teacher bullet journal post!  I am showing you how I keep it all together!  I will show you my layout, my weekly spreads, my collections, and how I use it to organize my whole life!  I don't lesson plan in my bullet journal.  This post also contains a calendar freebie for you to download and print! #bulletjournal #teachers #planner #primaryplanet

My Teacher bullet journal post!  I am showing you how I keep it all together!  I will show you my layout, my weekly spreads, my collections, and how I use it to organize my whole life!  I don't lesson plan in my bullet journal.  This post also contains a calendar freebie for you to download and print! #bulletjournal #teachers #planner #primaryplanet
I glue down the second one and tape the first one on top.  I do have to trim them to fit.  You can find these calendars (undated) for free HERE!  I also keep sticky notes here about important things that go on with my students and parent contact notes.  
Then, I do my weekly spreads.  I like to have my thoughts organized by day.  But, I don’t do daily spreads.  The one thing that has really helped me keep my sanity is a habit I started a few years ago.  Before I leave school for the evening, I make sure that my desk is clean and I make a list in my bullet journal of the things that I know I need to do the next day.  When I come in in the morning, I put my stuff way, get out my Bullet Journal and start on the list that is there.  This has helped me keep my act together and helps me make sure that I am not forgetting anything!
My Teacher bullet journal post!  I am showing you how I keep it all together!  I will show you my layout, my weekly spreads, my collections, and how I use it to organize my whole life!  I don't lesson plan in my bullet journal.  This post also contains a calendar freebie for you to download and print! #bulletjournal #teachers #planner #primaryplanet
Herein lies the rub.  You have to draw all of your spreads, etc. yourself. Now, I LOVE doing this.  I choose very simple spreads that are easy to draw that I can make look pretty with minimal effort (I use fun markers and occasionally stickers).  I like my printing and handwriting, so I think that makes my pages pretty.  Some people go all out and decorate to the max!  I like to keep it simple.  I am going to be doing a weekly post on Instagram that shows my spread for the week if you are interested you can join me HERE #ppteacherbulletjournal.
I also keep my notes for school,  and for my online life (I turn my notebook upside down and backward and start from the back for these notes, lists, etc…) and I also have a GROK page.  This is kind of my collection of things I like, brain dump etc… I also keep a running list of books that I am reading, and funny things that my students say.  
My Teacher bullet journal post!  I am showing you how I keep it all together!  I will show you my layout, my weekly spreads, my collections, and how I use it to organize my whole life!  I don't lesson plan in my bullet journal.  This post also contains a calendar freebie for you to download and print! #bulletjournal #teachers #planner #primaryplanet

My Teacher bullet journal post!  I am showing you how I keep it all together!  I will show you my layout, my weekly spreads, my collections, and how I use it to organize my whole life!  I don't lesson plan in my bullet journal.  This post also contains a calendar freebie for you to download and print! #bulletjournal #teachers #planner #primaryplanet
That is it.  This is what keeps me sane and together. It has become a habit of mind that I could not live without at this point.  Don’t forget to grab your freebie calendars HERE or pin the image below to save for later (sharing is caring!).
My Teacher bullet journal post!  I am showing you how I keep it all together!  I will show you my layout, my weekly spreads, my collections, and how I use it to organize my whole life!  I don't lesson plan in my bullet journal.  This post also contains a calendar freebie for you to download and print! #bulletjournal #teachers #planner #primaryplanet
Thanks so much for stopping by!  Don’t forget to check out my weekly spread pics on Instagram #ppteacherbulletjournal!
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