Lesson Design

Plan a learning progression for students to track their own progress towards the learning target.

• Learning Progression Template Option 1
• Learning Progression Template Option 2
• Learning Progression Template Puzzle Option 3
• Learning Progression Table
• Learning Progression Google Sheet
• Link to Templates

Share lesson goals with students each day and check on progress towards those goals at the end and throughout of the lesson.

Incorporate opportunities for student movement into lessons.

• Check out these brain breaks.
• Provide for some mindful moments.

Design lessons with 10-2 or chunk/chew in mind.

• Research reinforces the importance of allowing at least two minutes of student processing time with every ten minutes of teacher lecture. It is the two minutes that supports comprehensible output, negotiating meaning, and a risk-free environment to try new vocabulary and concepts with someone the student understands — another student.

Provide opportunities for choice within assignment and assessment.

• Format student practice in the form of learning menus.
• Provide options for multiple means of expression. See link for strategies.
• Incorporate use of technology for assessment including Plickers, Google Forms, Quizlet, and Socrative.

Provide for multiple grouping structures.

• See link for description of cooperative learning structures.
• See link for videos of different grouping structures.
• See series of videos on how two teachers make use of collaborative structures.
• See video for an example of teaching using Jigsaw to prepare for literature circles.
• See video for three strategies to support student collaboration.

Check for understanding frequently.

• See link for strategies for checking for understanding.
• See visible thinking routines for strategies to promote student engagement and understanding.