The problem with the trial subscription, however, is that it doesn't have full functionality. So I can only put in one class. I can't download the course materials (like worksheets and things) that they say are downloadable in this online lesson planner. If it is the case, then it's an all-in-one application that I can use to plan and teach and would save me a LOT of time! I've watched some of the video tutorials, and it shows how a fully functional online lesson planner works. Makes me want it! Trouble is, I can't find pricing information anywhere. I remember having a conference call about it a couple years ago, and it was probably something too expensive to consider at the time. However, this time around, i might try to make a case for using this--especially if I can get all my lessons planned out through the end of the year! I've been thinking that I need this kind of organization in order to more effectively teach students in such a short time block (25 minutes) and for such a short time (1 semester)--and also to be realistic about how much material and what I can teach in this limited span of time.
One of the other things you can specify is the number of minutes you want to spend teaching each lesson/chapter. That's where I actually got my reality check. I've never really calculated my lessons based on number of minutes, but I've always taught it to the point that I feel most students have gained some proficiency, before moving on. Anyhow, I had the online lesson planner populate the calendar for a Kindergarten class for an entire semester, with the parameters of 30 minutes (that's the lowest amount of time they have set on the calendar), twice a week, for 1 semester. Once the calendar was populated, I saw the overview of what one would realistically be able to cover in one semester. It actually matched up almost exactly to where I am now with my class! I was bemoaning how little I felt that I have been able to teach my students, but apparently the result is on par with the expectations of the book publisher! In one semester, at 200 minutes a lesson, a teacher should be able to expect to teach up through the 5th chapter in the series "My First Chinese Words" which is the book "The Balloons Flew Away." In fact, I'm just finishing up this chapter with my Pre-K, Kindergarten and 1st grade classes--just about at the end of the semester.
It is reassuring that what I've taught this semester is on par with what Better Chinese expects teachers to be able to cover. Getting a reality check from the Online Lesson Planner boosts my confidence a bit (it was faltering as I was concerned about whether my students were actually learning anything). Fortunately, the students are where they should be given the limitations on classroom time this semester. I hope I'll have a chance to use the Online Lesson Planner next semester (the full version, not the sample version). With it, I know I'd be able to plan lessons for the whole year (and have it all planned out from Day 1).