Productivity Tools

🚀 Productivity in the Primary Classroom: Testing Trello and Google Keep for Lesson Planning

As a 2nd grade teacher and grade level chair, I regularly juggle instructional planning, team communication, and classroom leadership. When preparing a week of lessons on sequencing—aligned to standard 2.AOR.1.1—I decided to test two cloud-based productivity tools to improve efficiency and reduce the time spent switching between documents. My goal was to find a solution that streamlined planning, helped me stay organized, and allowed for easy sharing. I tested Trello, a visual project management tool, and Google Keep, a simple, mobile-friendly note-taking app.

📘 The Planning Task: Sequencing Lessons for the Week

My lesson sequence included four daily read-alouds:

• Monday: Cactus Hotel

• Tuesday: The Barn Owls

• Wednesday: A Piñata Fiesta

• Thursday: The Blood Moon

For each day, I needed to identify the objective, plan the activity, align it to the standard, and design a quick formative assessment. Typically, I manage these in a Word document or Google Doc, which often leads to a cluttered workflow and repetitive formatting.

[Screenshot of planning without productivity tool.]

🛠️ Tool #1: Trello

I created a Trello board with columns for each day of the week and cards for objectives, activities, assessments, and materials. Trello’s drag-and-drop functionality made it easy to move plans around, and I used colored labels to identify card types. Trello is ideal for big-picture planning and collaborative projects. According to Kipps and Jones (2020), cloud-based platforms like Trello improve workflow visibility and support asynchronous collaboration.

🖼️ [Screenshot of Trello board with cards per day.] 

🛠️ Tool #2: Google Keep

Next, I used Google Keep to create quick, color-coded notes—one per day—with checklists for each task. I labeled notes with tags like “Sequencing” and “2nd Grade” and set reminders for prep time. Keep was incredibly simple to use and easy to access from any device. It worked especially well for day-of reminders and quick material lists. Martin et al. (2019) suggest that mobile-accessible tools can improve communication and reduce redundancy—Keep’s clean interface helped me act on my plans without opening multiple tabs or files.

🖼️ [Insert screenshot of Google Keep notes with checklists and colors.]

🔍 Comparing the Tools: Metrics & Experience

Metric	Manual	Trello	Google Keep
Time to Plan	2 hours	1 hr 15 min	1 hour
Keystrokes/Clicks	~600	~350	~300
Training Time	None	20 minutes	5 minutes
Output Quality	Basic doc	Visual, flexible	Clean, checklist

Trello offered a more structured overview, while Keep excelled in mobile accessibility and simplicity. Murrell (2022) notes that the best productivity tools align with the user’s workflow—Trello was better for designing and organizing the week, while Keep supported daily execution.

✅ My Recommendation

For comprehensive lesson planning and collaboration, Trello is my top pick. It allows teachers to structure plans visually and track progress easily. However, I highly recommend Google Keep as a companion tool for task reminders, checklists, and day-of preparation. Used together, they enhance both macro and micro levels of productivity.

📚 References

Kipps, K. L., & Jones, A. K. (2020). Things are looking up: Using cloud-based technology tools in collection management workflows. Serials Review, 46(3), 215–223. https://doi.org/10.1080/00987913.2020.1806646

Martin, G., Khajuria, A., Arora, S., King, D., Ashrafian, H., & Darzi, A. (2019). The impact of mobile technology on teamwork and communication in hospitals: A systematic review. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 26(4), 339–355.

Murrell, M. (2022). Essential technology to launch a solo or small law firm, part 2: Productivity software. GP Solo, 39(4), 44–49.

💡 Bonus Resources:

• Trello Template Board https://trello.com/b/p9qP7eGv/2nd-grade-sequencing-lesson-plan-template

• Google Keep – free for all Google users

  https://keep.google.com/