How do you plan?

Last year, my family and I went to Virginia Beach.  For two of my kids, it was the first time they had ever seen the ocean, and it had been decades since I had been there.

We spent months planning the trip, checking the route, places to eat, things to do, looking at the view from what would be our hotel balcony.  It bordered on obsessive.

When we got there, most of the trip went as planned, although we did leave some time for just exploring, just enjoying the beach at sunrise, watching the dolphins, and wandering through the shops. 

It would have been way more stressful for all of us had we not planned the trip.  In fact, the trip may not have happened at all.

It would not have been as enjoyable had we planned everything down to the last second.  In fact, planning to adjust made it more enjoyable.

For many teachers, summer break is already here.  If you're considering making drastic changes in your classroom next year (for example, moving toward personalized learning or toward discussion-based learning), the time to start planning the change is now.  Be almost obsessive about planning now, while leaving enough room to make slight adjustments along the way. 

It will be way more stressful for you if you do not plan the change well in advance.  In fact, without the planning, the change may not happen at all.

It will not be as enjoyable if you plan everything down to the last second.  In fact, planning to adjust will make it more enjoyable.