Looking for simple tech tools to help you stay organized as a teacher or curriculum writer? These 5 tech tips and hacks help with planning, focus, wellness, and productivity — and they actually work.

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👋 Why These Tools Work (Especially for Teachers)

Whether you’re still in the classroom or working behind the scenes as a curriculum writer, chances are you’re juggling a million things. I’ve been a teacher, I write computer science curriculum now, and I also try to live a semi-healthy life with meal prep, walking, and a lot of Zoom meetings.

These are my go-to tech tools for teachers and busy humans in general — they help me stay organized, focused, and less overwhelmed, both personally and professionally.

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1. 📝 Google Keep – The Best Free Note-Taking App for Teachers

If your brain runs on sticky notes, Google Keep is going to feel like magic.

I use this tool to:

• Collect content ideas for Instagram or my blog

• Save links, recipes, and lesson brainstorms

• Jot down quick reminders during curriculum calls or planning blocks

Why it works:
✅ Color-coded notes
✅ Checkbox options for to-do lists
✅ Syncs across phone and desktop

💡 Bonus teacher tip: Create labels like “Sub Plans,” “Meal Prep,” or “Parent Notes” to stay organized.

📝Want some FREE Keep headers? Grab the template here!

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2. 📅 Canva Weekly Planner – My Visual Sunday Reset System

Planning in a digital notebook is great — but sometimes I need something visual and calming. That’s why I created my own Canva weekly planner template.

Each week, I plug in:

• My top 3 priorities

• What I’m eating (I meal prep!)

• Movement or wellness goals

• One line for mindset or intention

I use this weekly planner on my iPad, or I print it out and keep it on my desk. It’s perfect for visual learners and burned-out teachers alike.

👉 Want the template? CLICK HERE

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3. 💧 Waterllama App – Stay Hydrated (and Motivated)

As a teacher or curriculum writer, it’s way too easy to go all day without drinking enough water. Waterllama is a hydration tracking app that helps you stay consistent — and the design is actually fun.

It tracks:

• Water

• Tea

• Smoothies

• Electrolytes or wellness drinks (like my MAKE Wellness peptides)

The streaks, friendly reminders, and hydration goals make it way more fun to stay on track — even during back-to-back Zooms.

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4. 🤖 ChatGPT – A Time-Saving Tool for Teachers and Creators

This is probably the most powerful teacher productivity tool I’ve added to my routine.

Ways I use ChatGPT:

• “Create a warm-up for 5th grade science on weather patterns”

• “Write a caption for a reel about meal prepping”

• “Make a grocery list for 3 simple anti-inflammatory meals”

It’s like having a brainstorming partner that doesn’t get tired.

💡 Reminder: Don’t copy-paste — edit the output to make it sound like you.

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5. ⏱️ Focus Timer App – My Burnout Prevention Hack

You don’t need fancy productivity tools. You just need a timer.

I use a Pomodoro-style timer (25 minutes focus, 5 minutes break) with apps like Focus Keeper or Forest. This helps me:

• Write more efficiently

• Avoid digital fatigue

• Take intentional breaks (sometimes on my walking pad!)

💡 Pair with peptides + hydration = energy boost that actually lasts

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🙌 Final Thoughts: Tech Tools That Help You Do Less, Better

You don’t need 50 apps and 12 planners. You just need a few tools that match your brain and make your routine feel smoother.

These are my everyday teacher tech essentials — and I use them to support my wellness, prep my meals, and manage my work-from-home life as a curriculum writer and teacher supporter.

📥 Want my free Sunday Reset Kit? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow me on Instagram @techandteachability to be the first when I send it out!

💬 What tool helps you feel more organized? Drop a comment or connect with me on Instagram!

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Jessica

If you’ve ever wasted precious planning time clicking through your Google Drive just to open a new Doc... this post is going to save your sanity.

As a curriculum writer (and former teacher), I live inside Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets. And I’m always looking for ways to simplify tech for teachers — especially those little tricks that make life just a bit easier.

This one? Pure gold.

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💻 Just Type .new and GO

Next time you need to open a new file fast, try this:

• docs.new → instantly opens a blank Google Doc

• slides.new → opens a new Google Slides deck

• sheets.new → opens a new Google Sheet

• forms.new → opens a blank Google Form

• keep.new → opens a new Google Keep note

• cal.new or meeting.new → creates a new Google Calendar event. 

That’s it. Type it in your browser bar like a website. No clicks, no waiting.

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✨ Why This Shortcut Is a Game-Changer

✅ Saves time — no more digging through Drive or clicking “+ New”
✅ Works anywhere — as long as you’re logged into your Google account
✅ Perfect for on-the-fly ideas — lesson brainstorms, quick trackers, sub plans, etc.

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🧑‍🏫 Real-Life Uses for Teachers

• Jotting down a last-minute sub plan

• Starting a new lesson outline

• Creating quick checklists or bell ringers

• Tracking behavior or notes in Sheets

• Drafting a parent communication email

• Creating an emergency quiz in Google Forms

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💬 Want More Time-Saving Tech Tips?

I share simple, doable tips like this every week over on Instagram → @techandteachability

You can also check out my free Sunday Reset Kit (coming soon!) for planners, wellness tools, and teacher-tested favorites.

Read more »

Jessica

 

Meal prep doesn’t have to be extreme. No color-coded containers. No full Sundays lost to chopping.

As a curriculum writer and former teacher, I still work long hours on Zoom and need to eat well — but I also want it to be easy, repeatable, and realistic. After years of trial and error (and burnout), I’ve landed on a simple system that keeps me fed, saves time, and actually works.

Here’s exactly what I do each week — plus the tools that make it 10x easier.

*This post contains Amazon Affiliate Links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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🛒 Step 1: Plan 2 Proteins + 2 Meal Combos

I don’t cook 7 different meals. I repeat on purpose.

Each week I choose: (examples in parentheses)

• 2 main proteins (like ground turkey + baked chicken)

• 2 meal combos that can be remixed across 4–6 meals

For example:

• 🥗 Taco bowls (ground turkey, beans, rice, salsa, greens)

• 🌶️ Turkey Chili (ground turkey, canned tomatoes, black beans, chopped onions)

• 🍽  Sheet pan chicken with roasted veggies + sweet potatoes

• 🥗 Chicken Pasta Salad (chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, broccoli, cheese, mushrooms) 

Why it works: I’m not stuck eating the same exact meal over and over, but I’m also not cooking every day.

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🧹 Step 2: Clean + Prep the Kitchen First

I start with a clear counter and empty dishwasher/sink. This step sounds boring but saves so much frustration mid-prep.

Tool I use:
🧽🫧🧻 Basic cleaning supplies like countertop sprays and paper towels

I love Dawn Powerwash Spray! It's so versatile and gets EVERYTHING clean! I also like using reusable paper towels, Blueland dishwashing tablets, and dish soap brush and bar. 

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🔪 Step 3: Keep the Counters Clear as I Go

Instead of letting veggie scraps, packaging, and mess pile up while I prep, I keep my cutting board with a side container right on the counter. I use a big bowl nearby as a "scrap bucket" to collect trash, peels, or compost — and it keeps the space clean and my brain calm.

By the time I’m done chopping, I can dump the bowl and wipe down once instead of stopping five times to clean up. It makes a huge difference.

Tools I use:

🧺 This cutting board with a side container — makes scrap cleanup a breeze
🥣 Giant mixing bowl — I dump scraps as a I go, then rinse it all at once!

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Jessica