"I think both short term and long term plans are equally important and necessary. I start long-term planning over the summer months to really think through what I want my students to have learned after the course of a year. For long-term planning, I think broadly about concepts and ideas I want students to gain. I formulate units in various subjects around those big ideas. I get much more specific for short-term planning and consider which skills I want students to master within a unit or even within one lesson. I backwards plan my short-term plans to ensure that my assessment at the end of a week or a unit aligns with my daily lessons and objectives. I enjoy planning with a team because of the value of added contributions."