Lesson Planning
Sara Mills
Embedded Files
"Failing to plan... is planning to fail"
"Failing to plan... is planning to fail"
- Benjamin Franklin
Imagine... You are a 1st year teacher excited to teach your first lesson on alphabet recognition. You think to yourself "I know the alphabet", "That's easy!", "Nothing needed to plan for that!". You arrive to class the next day to begin instruction on the letter "A". You write it confidently on the board and begin instruction; however, students aren't getting it, they are asking questions even you were not prepared for. Other student's are not engaged at all. Panic hits and your mind goes blank! The "easy" lesson on the letter "A" just kicked your butt and your students are at a loss-- some even more confused and some, you've completely lost their attention. Lesson plans are a crucial tool for students' and teachers' success in the classroom. By structuring your lesson, teachers can plan ahead activities to guide the learning process, prepare themselves for areas of confusion, focus on harder areas by knowing their students, and create an adaptable lesson plan that allows for flexibility within their learning. Creating lesson plans should not be daunting, this lesson is aimed at providing future educators with easy to understand and use methods to empower teachers and their lesson planning.
Learning Targets
Learning Targets
Identify key features of an effective lesson plan
List at least 3 strategies experienced teachers used and recommend to guide effective instruction
Explain the importance of planning, re-examining, adapting
“What makes an effective lesson plan?”
“What makes an effective lesson plan?”
Effective lesson plans are crucial for successful instruction, without planning students can become "passive", showing signs of disengagement (Iqbal et al., 2021). As a teacher you will create a series of lesson plans for your students in order to meet curriculum, learning targets and ensure your students are successful learners. According to Jamali et al., lesson planning is defined as “written description of materials, method, time, and place of education…” (Hatch et al., 2021). Additionally, an effective lesson plan is one that is prepared for all types of interruptions including, behavioral needs, absences, or learning paces. As stated by Miville et al., an effective lesson plan establishes detailed and organized schedules for teaching material in addition to scheduling time for repeated instruction or additional material outside of curriculum, if time allows (2022).
Effective lesson plans are crucial for successful instruction, without planning students can become "passive", showing signs of disengagement (Iqbal et al., 2021). As a teacher you will create a series of lesson plans for your students in order to meet curriculum, learning targets and ensure your students are successful learners. According to Jamali et al., lesson planning is defined as “written description of materials, method, time, and place of education…” (Hatch et al., 2021). Additionally, an effective lesson plan is one that is prepared for all types of interruptions including, behavioral needs, absences, or learning paces. As stated by Miville et al., an effective lesson plan establishes detailed and organized schedules for teaching material in addition to scheduling time for repeated instruction or additional material outside of curriculum, if time allows (2022).
Spot The Difference
Spot The Difference
Lesson Plan #1
Lesson Plan #1
Learning Targets are specific and measurable
carefully thought out materials to ensure activities are ready
Thorough and though out intro to engage children and introduce them to the topic
Lesson plan has suggested times, but still flexible
Lesson structure is thorough, ensuring students have guided instruction, independent practice, and time to reflect/assess
Lesson plan is detailed and thoroughly thought out, while still remaining flexbile
time
different student needs
returning to instruction if needed
Lesson Plan #2
Lesson Plan #2
Learning Targets are not specific and measurable
"Understand" is not measurable
No materials listed to ensure learning/activities can be done successfully
Lack of time management (no times listed to keep learning on track or incorporate extra time for additional instruction if needed)
Guided instruction is not structured to ensure students are set up for success when learning the new lesson
Students are expected to be assessment ready without proper teaching or practice
No incorporation of flexibility or accommodations
“How do tools help us instruct?”
“How do tools help us instruct?”
There are many strategies these sources address as beneficial tools to incorporate when lesson planning. Key strategies addressed from these sources include deconstructing yearly lesson plans, team collaboration, and using a proactive approach. Miville et al., encourages the long, medium, and short term method. Here, educators are encouraged to think broadly about lesson planning in regards to curriculum; usually done before the start of the next year, teachers break down lessons to encapsulate the school year. Next, medium term planning encourages teachers to fine tune their original planning to meet the needs of their students and encourages collaboration with their grade level team. Finally, short term planning specifies specific needs, now that teachers know their students; allowing time for more in-depth lessons and choosing instructional material that aligns with their students’ interests (2022). Nagro et al., suggest a proactive approach as implementing specific strategies ahead of time better prepare the teacher for classroom management and staying on task with instruction. Strategies include whole-group response systems, movement integration, visual supports, and student choice (2019). Understanding your students interests and needs allows for teachers to create instructional plans that best support their classroom community.
There are many strategies these sources address as beneficial tools to incorporate when lesson planning. Key strategies addressed from these sources include deconstructing yearly lesson plans, team collaboration, and using a proactive approach. Miville et al., encourages the long, medium, and short term method. Here, educators are encouraged to think broadly about lesson planning in regards to curriculum; usually done before the start of the next year, teachers break down lessons to encapsulate the school year. Next, medium term planning encourages teachers to fine tune their original planning to meet the needs of their students and encourages collaboration with their grade level team. Finally, short term planning specifies specific needs, now that teachers know their students; allowing time for more in-depth lessons and choosing instructional material that aligns with their students’ interests (2022). Nagro et al., suggest a proactive approach as implementing specific strategies ahead of time better prepare the teacher for classroom management and staying on task with instruction. Strategies include whole-group response systems, movement integration, visual supports, and student choice (2019). Understanding your students interests and needs allows for teachers to create instructional plans that best support their classroom community.
In this video, Sofia shares 7 easy tips to remember when lesson planning. Her tips remind us that it does get easier, as noted in Miville et al., returning educators have the luxury of taking what worked/didn't work from previous years into the new one; however, this is only beneficial when teachers reflect. Reflecting upon areas where things could have gone smoother or what activities were successful allows for more effective lesson planning. New teachers should also reflect, as a new day brings new topics, new disruptions, different behaviors, etc. Sofia details the benefits of thinking backwards (stating objectives → adjusting plans to meet her students → planning actives or extra instruction) as well as setting aside time to "tweak" her methods/approaches.
“Why is planning, re-examining, and adapting so important?”
“Why is planning, re-examining, and adapting so important?”
Regardless of experience in teaching, educators receive a new class of students every year– meaning adjustments are constantly required in lesson planning. Reflecting on your own teaching methods and students' learning, proves crucial to effective instruction. Adjusting your mindset from “what to teach” to “how to teach” readjusts educators' mindsets to meet their students where they are (Miville et al., 2022). Similarly, remaining flexible allows teachers to adapt to the ever-changing needs of their students. Mary, an expert teacher, details her quick thinking by adding a visual aid to her lesson at the last minute as one of her students responds better to concepts he can interact with better than the original material Mary had planned (Hatch et al., 2021). Re-examining your prepped plan, while also allowing plans to change, prepares educators for all that the elementary classroom can bring– behaviors, absences, varied learning paces.
Regardless of experience in teaching, educators receive a new class of students every year– meaning adjustments are constantly required in lesson planning. Reflecting on your own teaching methods and students' learning, proves crucial to effective instruction. Adjusting your mindset from “what to teach” to “how to teach” readjusts educators' mindsets to meet their students where they are (Miville et al., 2022). Similarly, remaining flexible allows teachers to adapt to the ever-changing needs of their students. Mary, an expert teacher, details her quick thinking by adding a visual aid to her lesson at the last minute as one of her students responds better to concepts he can interact with better than the original material Mary had planned (Hatch et al., 2021). Re-examining your prepped plan, while also allowing plans to change, prepares educators for all that the elementary classroom can bring– behaviors, absences, varied learning paces.
Test Your Knowledge!
Test Your Knowledge!
Answers:
Answers:
a
b
c
b
c
c
a
Reflection & Conclusion
Reflection & Conclusion
My goal through this lesson is to ease future educators' concerns about lesson planning by providing scientific data to reinforce experienced/expert teachers' shared knowledge and wisdom. While future educators do not have the “repertoire of lesson plans” as these participants do, this material provides beginner strategies to implement as a first time teacher (Miville et al., 2022). Teachers are tasked with the challenging responsibility of meeting pre established educational goals, determined by the state/school, while having to adapt to the varying needs of their students. Incorporating proactive strategies enhances students' learning while also decreasing unwanted behaviors (Nagro et al., 2019). I hope to share effective lesson planning strategies meant for adjusting, that encourage collaboration amongst teachers– as we all can learn from one another, whether we have years of experience or just starting.
My goal through this lesson is to ease future educators' concerns about lesson planning by providing scientific data to reinforce experienced/expert teachers' shared knowledge and wisdom. While future educators do not have the “repertoire of lesson plans” as these participants do, this material provides beginner strategies to implement as a first time teacher (Miville et al., 2022). Teachers are tasked with the challenging responsibility of meeting pre established educational goals, determined by the state/school, while having to adapt to the varying needs of their students. Incorporating proactive strategies enhances students' learning while also decreasing unwanted behaviors (Nagro et al., 2019). I hope to share effective lesson planning strategies meant for adjusting, that encourage collaboration amongst teachers– as we all can learn from one another, whether we have years of experience or just starting.
How I Used AI
How I Used AI
Mybib
Create my reference page
ChatGBT
Brainstorm & create multiple choice questions
Create an example lesson plan for my spot the difference activity
Confirm APA format was done correctly
Canva
Image generator for chaotic classroom without lesson plan
AI was an extremely helpful tool to help me brainstorm. I had my creative vision and was able to use AI do help me create aspects of my own idea to incorporate into my interactive lesson.
References
References
Broken Chalk. (2020, August 29). How to lesson plan effectively: Tips of how to structure and plan your lessons | teacher advice |. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B67U_GRWGN4
Hatch, L., & Clark, S. K. (2021). A study of the instructional decisions and lesson planning strategies of highly effective rural elementary school teachers. Teaching and Teacher Education, 108, 103505. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2021.103505
Iqbal, Md. H., Siddiqie, S. A., & Mazid, Md. A. (2021). Rethinking theories of lesson plan for effective teaching and learning. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 4(1), 100172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2021.100172
Miville, A.-M., Viau-Guay, A., & Hamel, C. (2022). Planning at the elementary level: Analysis of teachers’ life course. Cogent Education, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186x.2021.2023082
Nagro, S. A., Fraser, D. W., & Hooks, S. D. (2019). Lesson planning with engagement in mind: Proactive classroom management strategies for curriculum instruction. Intervention in School and Clinic, 54(3), 131–140. https://doi.org/10.1177/1053451218767905
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