Porch Planning: Big Wins in Small Moments

Porch Planning: Big Wins in Small Moments

Some of my best moments as an educator didn’t happen in a formal meeting or a scheduled PLC. They happened in the hallway, during those few minutes when students were changing classes.

I remember walking up to a colleague after fumbling a lesson. I admitted, frustrated and a little embarrassed, “I totally messed that up. The kids were staring at me like I’d grown two heads. I didn’t even know what went wrong.”

Without missing a beat, she shared what had worked for her: “Try this… and if that doesn’t work, do this. And if that still doesn’t work, ask this.”

Within six minutes, the length of a class transition, I felt lighter, clearer, and ready to try again. By the next period, I had embedded her advice into my lesson. And you know what? It worked.

That’s Porch Planning. Teachers do it all the time without realizing it has a name.

What Is Porch Planning?

In simple terms, Porch Planning happens when two or more teachers, often of the same grade or subject, swap ideas in passing: during transitions, in the hallway, or over lunch. These aren’t formal planning sessions. They’re short, unstructured exchanges about what worked, what didn’t, or what could be tweaked.

The beauty is in the immediacy. Teachers walk away with fresh ideas they can apply that same day.

And it doesn’t have to be about lessons. Sometimes it’s as simple as sharing a simple classroom management technique. A colleague offers a quick idea, and suddenly you’ve got a new approach to try.

Why It Matters

My hallway chats with that colleague eventually turned into a routine. We were right across from each other, so it became normal to step out, flag one another down, even in the middle of class with doors open for a two-minute check-in. Boom. Porch Planning. Quick. Fast. Effective.

These micro-conversations don’t just boost instruction; they build trust, clarity, and a sense of we’re in this together.

A Resource for You
This week’s Seeds of Success freebie is all about Porch Planning. It’s a simple guide you can use to launch a Porch Planning practice with your team or share with teachers so they can start on their own.

You’ll find it under the Seeds of Success tab, titled Porch Planning.

Because sometimes, the best professional development happens in the hallway.