The Minimalist Educator Podcast Episode 096: Planning Less, Teaching Happier with Judith and Lorena
Ever wish planning felt lighter, clearer, and actually energizing? We sit down with Judith Roca Bastardes and Lorena Roca Bastardes, the educators behind Roma Planners, to unpack how a simple PYP-focused planner grew from a personal survival tool into a global pilot and a living community of practice. Their story starts with a familiar challenge—too many frameworks to juggle and no single place to make sense of them—and lands on a planner that turns priorities into visible action while reducing the daily mental load.
We dig into the anatomy of their system: the inquiry cycle embedded into weekly planning, targeted focus on the learner profile and approaches to learning, and two-page student profiles that make evidence easy to find when it’s time to report or differentiate. They share how design choices keep the tool minimalist yet powerful, helping teachers track what matters and spot patterns in engagement across science, social studies, and beyond. The message is clear: structure creates space for creativity, and flexibility—yes, write in pencil—keeps plans responsive to students.
Beyond the tool, we explore the human side: balancing full-time teaching with a growing venture, dividing roles by strengths, and embracing iteration through LinkedIn-driven feedback. Their advice for teacher entrepreneurs is candid and practical—ship your idea, learn in public, and, if you can, find a trusted partner to share the load. We also talk about the future: expanding into other IB programs and building a customizable template library so any teacher can assemble the planner that fits their context, from unit pages to checklists.
The conversation lands on a resonant truth: structure is a form of self-care. In a profession full of variables you can’t control, a clear planning routine restores focus, protects energy, and helps you teach happier. If you’re ready to pare down the noise and amplify what matters, this one’s for you. If the episode helped you rethink or simplify your practice, share it with a colleague, subscribe for new episodes, and leave a review so more educators can find it.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorena-m-b022a1161/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/judithrocabastardes/
This episode is sponsored by Plan Z Education Services.
Find our book The Minimalist Teacher and Your School Leadership Edit: A Minimalist Approach to Rethinking Your School's Ecosystem at the links!
Follow on Instagram @PlanZEducation and @minimalist_ed_podcast.
The Minimalist Educator Podcast is a Plan Z Education Services adventure.