Teacher Calendar Tips (parents will like this)

Parents, believe it or not, this one is going to be great for you—but teachers, this one is especially for you. Parents, you’ll want to watch this because you can:
A) send it to teachers, and
B) learn some tips that will actually help you support your child.

Teachers, what’s up? Let me give you a calendar tip today. My name is Seth Perler. I’m an executive function coach, and I help struggling students navigate education so they can have a great life.

Calendars are a crazy nightmare.

I want to tell you about my experiences. Teachers and parents, you’ll be able to validate these experiences and confirm that this is true. Here’s what happens: I work with students from middle school, high school, and college—and sometimes even elementary school. We’re trying to figure out what needs to happen, and if you don’t already know this, the amount of information parents and kids have to sift through is insane.

Teachers, I know you’re in the classroom because you love kids and want to serve them. But the mass of information students and parents must navigate—different portals, different teachers, different systems—is overwhelming.

They have to figure out:
– what the grades are
– what the homework is
– which teachers post homework on which days
– which teachers post grades on which days
– how often they’re supposed to check things

It’s completely inconsistent. It’s chaotic.

And we all want the same thing: we want kids to have a manageable workload and to focus on learning—not on navigating a confusing system just to figure out what’s due.

Especially for students with executive function challenges, this is incredibly difficult and unfair.

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So let’s take a look at a solution.

What I’m going to show you is an example of how I use calendaring with my students. This is a real event I host. In Google Calendar, I create a specific calendar for the students I’m working with.

When I open an event, you’ll see detailed information inside. I include:
– the goal for the session
– notes
– actions they need to take
– links

For example:
– scheduling links
– time zone converter
– Zoom link
– course login
– supporting resources

Everything they need is in one place.

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Now, here’s the key question:

How do you set up an executive-function-friendly homework calendar?

The goal is simple:
Students and parents should NOT have to contact you because everything is clear and simple.

You’re not overcomplicating things—you’re making them extremely clear and concise.

You’ll know you’re doing this right when you get fewer emails from parents asking, “What’s going on?”

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### What NOT to do

Do not be contemptuous or sarcastic.

Even small negative comments can feel painful to students. It sends the message that they won’t do the work—when in reality, with executive function challenges, it’s often that they can’t.

Avoid phrases like:
– “You should have been paying attention.”
– “I already told you.”
– “You need to try harder.”

These invalidate real struggles.

Also:
– Don’t give busy work
– Don’t assume kids are mind readers
– Don’t dismiss legitimate processing challenges

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### What SHOULD you do?

On every calendar item, email, or assignment, include:

– All relevant links
– FAQ
– Teacher homepage
– Where to check grades
– Where to find homework

Make everything easy to access.

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### Example of a clear assignment

Let’s say there’s an assignment at 9:00 AM: a language arts narrative draft.

Here’s what it should include:

1. Objective (Why this matters):
Explain what they are learning and why.

2. Due date:
Be specific.

3. Time estimate:
Example: “30–45 minutes.”

4. Work expectations:
– How many words?
– How often should they work on it?

5. What if scenarios:
– What if I’m not done?
– What if it takes longer?

6. Help instructions:
– Who to contact
– Expected response time

7. Accommodations (if applicable)

8. Optional challenge/bonus

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### Use tools like Loom

You can record a quick 60-second video explaining the assignment.

Example:
“Hey students, here’s your assignment. Here’s what to do, how long it should take…”

This saves time and answers tons of questions.

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### Be explicit about actions

Spell it out clearly:

– Read the rubric
– Open the link
– Outline for 5 minutes
– Write for 30 minutes
– Click submit

Yes—you must say “click submit.” Many students forget.

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### Add essential links

Include things like:

– FAQ
– Syllabus
– Grade portal
– Homework platform
– Password help
– Contact instructions
– Late work policy

Make it all accessible in one place.

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### The big takeaway

On every calendar item or communication:

Make it linear and clear:

– What’s due
– When it’s due
– Why it matters
– How long it takes
– What to do if stuck
– How to get help

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### Final thoughts

Less is more.

Don’t overload students with unnecessary work. Focus on meaningful learning.

As a teacher, trust your gut. Not everything the system suggests is effective.

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Teachers—what would YOU add to make this even easier?

Parents—what do you wish teachers understood?

Share your thoughts.

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Most important of all:

Turn this video off, go connect with your kid, laugh, smile, and build that relationship.

Take care. I’ll see you soon.