What Is a Teacher Favorites List?
A Teacher Favorites List is a curated collection of the most effective and engaging resources, lesson plans, tools, and activities that an educator has discovered over time. It serves as a personal “cheat sheet” for quick reference during lesson planning and classroom execution, and it can also be shared with colleagues to spread best practices.
Why Every Teacher Needs One
- Time Saver – Quickly locate proven materials without starting from scratch.
- Quality Assurance – Keeps only resources that have been tested and proven effective.
- Collaboration Catalyst – Sharing a favorites list can spark discussion and improve overall instruction.
- Professional Development – Reflecting on what works best helps teachers grow and adapt.
Building Your List: Step‑by‑Step Guide
Below is a practical framework for creating a dynamic Teacher Favorites List that evolves with your teaching journey.
1. Define Your Categories
Start by grouping resources into clear categories that match your curriculum needs. Common categories include:
- Lesson Plans & Worksheets
- Digital Tools & Apps
- Books & Reading Lists
- Classroom Management Strategies
- Professional Development Resources
2. Collect & Organize
Gather resources from a variety of sources:
- TeacherPayTeachers – Free and paid downloadable items.
- Skillshare or Udemy courses for skill building.
- Peer‑shared Google Drive folders.
- Personal notes and reflections.
Store everything in a digital folder or spreadsheet. Use tags or color‑coding to make retrieval effortless.
3. Test & Refine
Implement a resource in a lesson and observe student engagement and learning outcomes. Add a quick “rating” or comment next to each item to capture its effectiveness.
4. Share with Your Community
Consider creating a simple PDF or Google Doc and sharing it on your school’s internal platform or a public channel. If you run a YouTube or TikTok channel, you can announce the list in a video:
“Hey beautiful! Thanks for checking us out. If you haven’t already joined our family, do us all a solid and tap that SUBSCRIBE button. Today’s video is all about BACK TO SCHOOL, and I’m excited to share my Teacher Favorites List with you!”
