Back Pocket Prompt #12 · Unit planning

Only 13 teaching days before break? A pacing plan that fits them.

A prompt that turns your real teaching days into a trimmed calendar of what to keep, combine or cut.

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Slide 1 of 6. Photo background. Unit planning Only 13 teaching days before break? A pacing plan that fits them. AI does the math. You decide what gets cut.

Slide 2 of 6. The problem Assemblies, a half day, Thanksgiving week. Your unit plan assumed 20 days. You have 13. Every lesson feels essential, so nothing gets cut until the last week. AI lays out the options. You choose what matters most.

Slide 3 of 6. List your real teaching days and unit goals, then type: “I have [13] teaching days, [45]-minute periods, before [date]. Unit goals: [list]. Planned lessons: [list]. Build a day-by-day calendar. Mark each lesson keep, combine or cut, and say why.” No student data needed. Use your school-approved AI tool.

Slide 4 of 6. The human check Before you commit to the calendar: Did it cut a lesson the unit test depends on? Put it back.; Combined lessons: can kids really do both in one period?; Leave one flex day. AI plans every day as perfect.; Check it against your real calendar, not 'about 13 days'.

Slide 5 of 6. The payoff Where your minutes go Spend the time you save planning that flex day: a reteach table for kids who need one more pass. Re-planning alone: ~40 min, Shuffling lessons on paper With AI + check: ~15 min, Check included

Slide 6 of 6. Keep this one in your back pocket. Save it for your next short month. Send it to the teacher next door. Comment POCKET and we'll DM you all 10 back-pocket prompts, free. Back Pocket Prompts · built by a teacher / instructional coach and an AI engineer

The problem: Assemblies, a half day, Thanksgiving week.

Your unit plan assumed 20 days. You have 13. Every lesson feels essential, so nothing gets cut until the last week. AI lays out the options. You choose what matters most.

1. List your real teaching days and unit goals, then type:

Your back-pocket prompt

I have [13] teaching days, [45]-minute periods, before [date]. Unit goals: [list]. Planned lessons: [list]. Build a day-by-day calendar. Mark each lesson keep, combine or cut, and say why.

No student data needed. Use your school-approved AI tool.

2. The human check: Before you commit to the calendar:

Did it cut a lesson the unit test depends on? Put it back.
Combined lessons: can kids really do both in one period?
Leave one flex day. AI plans every day as perfect.
Check it against your real calendar, not 'about 13 days'.

Where your minutes go

Re-planning alone~40 minShuffling lessons on paper

With AI + check~15 minCheck included

Spend the time you save planning that flex day: a reteach table for kids who need one more pass.

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