Is a digital teacher calendar right for you?

I can still remember what my desk used to look like: Piles of loose papers, worksheets for class, classwork, and tests. And my school bag had the same problem: Every day, it was full to the brim with heavy folders and notebooks that I lugged back and forth! 🫣 No matter how hard I tried, keeping things organized only worked for a short time... Because then the stress of teaching usually caught up with me, and the loose papers landed back on my desk without any structure. 🫡

I often thought to myself, "There has to be an easier way!" And with the digital teacher calendar, I found the perfect solution for me. It not only made my desk tidier, but also made my entire teaching day much more organized! 🤩 Even though I no longer work in a school, I can say with conviction: The digital teacher calendar was an absolute game changer for my organization and my daily work routine! 🙌🏼

But which digital teacher calendar is right for you? What's the easiest way to make the switch? And what are the specific benefits of digital planning? 🤔 Find out in this post! 👇🏼

What is a digital teacher calendar?

A digital teacher's calendar helps you – just like a paper calendar – to better organize yourself and plan your school day. Unlike the analog version, however, you use the digital calendar on your iPad or tablet (Android or Windows) and can use it with a stylus for handwritten notes. Hyperlinks allow you to navigate to the desired page with just one click and always keep track of everything.

💡 Advantages compared to the paper calendar:

✔ Handwritten notes are still possible with a digital pen
✔ The structure is similar to classic paper planners for familiar use
✔ Practical functions facilitate organization and lesson preparation

Choosing the right note-taking app is crucial for your use. Depending on your operating system, there are different recommendations:

🌟 iOS: Goodnotes 6
🌟 Android: Penly
🌟 Windows: Drawboard PDF

Note: Some apps offer basic features for free but may incur additional costs.

How to switch from analogue to digital

Switching to a digital teacher calendar is easier than you think! Our customers' experiences show that, depending on your previous knowledge, the training takes only a few hours to a maximum of a few weeks. 😍

If you're just getting started with digital planning, it can seem overwhelming at first. So start with small habits and gradually integrate them into your daily routine. Here are my top tips for making the switch from paper to digital.

✅ Tips for a successful transition:

• Start with small digital notes (e.g. shopping lists, recipes)

• Try different note-taking apps and find your favorite

• Get actively involved with the functions – practice makes perfect!

• If you're working on an iPad, check out our blog post on the best Goodnotes hacks for teachers - you can find it here!

💡 Motivation is key:

From my own experience, I can say: The most important thing when switching to digital planning is to be open to new things. I was totally motivated to finally stop lugging a heavy bag to school and try out all the new features. So I deliberately took my time to familiarize myself with the digital tools – but without any pressure. Instead of switching everything over at once, I started with small habits and gradually adapted my planning process. Today, I can't imagine my everyday life without digital planning!

Advantages of a digital teacher calendar

1. Sustainable & environmentally friendly – ​​No more paper consumption 🌱

2. Light & compact – no more heavy bags full of notebooks 👜

3. Fast navigation – jump to the right page immediately thanks to hyperlinks 💨

4. Cross-device use – access from tablet, smartphone & laptop ☁️

5. No more messy notes – search function instead of lost notes 👋

6. Customize – add colors, stickers & your own pages 🎨

7. More motivation & fun – Modern planning increases the joy of lesson preparation

8. Automatic backups – No data loss thanks to backup copies ⚡

Common Concerns & Solutions

❓ “What if my data is lost?”

Solution: Regular backups (cloud or external storage) protect against data loss. Learn how to configure backups here.

❓ “May I store personal data?”

Solution: Check with your school administration to see if you are allowed to manage student data digitally. Goodnotes stores data locally unless iCloud syncing is enabled.

❓ “Can the teacher calendar set reminders?”

Solution: Digital planners don't offer a built-in reminder function, but you can use calendar apps as a supplement. To do so, select the option with Apple Calendar or Google Calendar functionality when selecting your teacher calendar.

Conclusion: More order, less stress – a digital teacher calendar makes the difference

Whether digital planning is for you is something you can only find out for yourself. But I can tell you one thing: It has definitely made my teaching life easier and even made lesson planning fun again! 😊

Digital planners are a great option if you want to take advantage of the flexibility of digital tools without giving up handwriting. If you're open to new ideas and want to make your everyday life a little smarter, then just give it a try! 🙌🏼

My tip for you: Download my free test planner and try out a suitable note-taking app. You can also find detailed instructions for the digital teacher calendar on YouTube – this will give you a firsthand impression of how easy and intuitive digital planning can be! 🎉

💬 What are your experiences?

Have you already switched to digital planning or are you still considering it? Share your thoughts in the comments!

➡ Read more: Here you can find the next blog post about the teacher calendar!