If you’ve been following my blog for a while you may recall a review and a few weekly spreads I’ve done with the Whistle and Birch Planner. It’s ended up being one of my favorite planners this year. So let’s see what’s new in the 2020 version.

Disclaimer: Stephanie, the creator of the Whistle and Birch planners, sent me a copy of this planner for free in exchange for this review. As always, all opinions are my own. 

See my review of last year’s version in this post.

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The Weekly Layouts

There’s a weekly layout for just about everyone!

Study Layout

Starting with my favorite is the study planner layout. See how I tried it out in this post. Why do I love this layout so much? Lined writing space plus so much list space, the proportions are great and there’s some dot grid if you like to do weekly habit tracking, doodles etc.

Whistle and Birch weekly planner spread using the study layout

I prefer the updated layout as Saturday and Sunday have a larger space (4 lines instead of 2 in last years).

Teacher Layout

While this is labelled as a teacher planner, I’m not a teacher and I’ve used this for weekly planning:

Whistle and Birch Rainbow Weekly Spread using the Zebra Mildliners

Horizontal Layout

Lined writing space and checkboxes <3

Vertical Scheduling

The schedule runs from 5am to 12am with lined notes underneath each day.

Vertical Family

While this planner is intended for a family, you could use the different boxes for different areas of your life e.g. meal planning, cleaning, eat that frog, bills etc.

Vertical

Goals

Even though this layout is labelled as a goal planner I’m going to use it for weekly planning. Monday to Friday on the left page and lists and notes on the right page.

If you don’t like weekly spreads there is a day to a page option too.

And now for the rest of the planner! If you saw my review of the 2019 version, the monthly planning, dividers etc. are much the same.

Quick Facts

• Size: 7.75″ wide x 9″ high (inside pages are approx 7″ wide x 9″ high)
• Coil binding
• Glossy cardstock cover (personalisation optional) with clear frosted cover
• This belongs to page in case your planner is lost
• Dates at a glance
• Neutral & colorful inside pages
• 2 page monthly planning spread
• 2 Page monthly calendar (starts on Monday)
• 2 page weekly spread (starts on Monday) – various layouts to choose from
• Lined notes page for each month
• Double sided cardstock pocket folder
• 2 clear storage sleeves
• Lined notes / list pages
• Monthly dividers & tabs
• Australian made
• 12 Month duration

Approx 0.75″ thick (12 month duration)

Weekends are together on the monthly calendar and the start date is consistent (weekly + monthly spreads both start on Monday).

Add on Pages

The planner was already custom last year (choose your cover and weekly spread layout, personalise the cover with your choice of text), but this year there is even more customisation with optional add ons:

• Australian public holidays page
• Monthly expenses
• Dot grid, graph or lined pages
• Daily planning
• Student timetable
• Teacher grades / attendance tracker
• Option to replace the monthly dashboard or notes pages with add on pages
• Replace lined notes pages at the back with pre-designed pages e.g. graph, goals, teacher planning

If you don’t need a day to a page layout every day of the year but would like a detailed schedule occasionally, these pages have 3 days per page with a schedule from 8am to 7pm.

Dot grid pages and the paper is bright white! <3

Large laminated tabs with the month printed on both side.

There’s a paper double sided pocket folder at the back along with 2 clear plastic sleeves for stickers etc.

Pen Testing

The paper is the same as last year’s planner (110GSM) , so here is the results of that pen test:

I tried various ballpoint, gel, fine tip and marker tip pens. There was some ghosting on the back side of the page – especially the marker pens.

Highlighters and the MAMBI stamps also had heavy ghosting.

The paper is bright white and feels smooth to write on.

Note: if you contact the shop owner you can request to pay a little extra for thicker paper.

PROS OF THE PLANNER

• Frosted cover to protect front and back
• Multiple cover designs to choose from
• Free cover personalisation
• Functional weekly layouts
• Plenty of weekly layouts to choose from
• Monthly calendar and weekly spreads start on Monday (consistent)
• The monthly calendars restart numbering on the top row
• 3 monthly planning pages
• Sturdy tabs (and printed double sided)
• Pocket folder
• 2 clear plastic pockets
• Coil has room if you like to add stickers to your weekly spreads
• Bright white paper

CONS OF THE PLANNER

• Color printing is only on the divider pages (so half the monthly planning is in color and the other page is in grey)
• The pocket folder feels like thin cardstock
• Pens had ghosting on the back side of the page

WOULD I USE THIS PLANNER?

Yes. I’ve used the Whistle and Birch planner before and will be using it again!

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