Well-Structured Lessons

Why is this essential?

Every student's ability to succeed in class depends on the quality of the lessons. A well-structured lesson is organized, practiced, and directly targets the learning outcomes. This third trait is achieved using the backward design approach: identify the desired results, then determine acceptable evidence of those results, and finally, design lessons which prepare students to produce the acceptable evidence. In these three stages, the desired student outcomes remain the focus at all times, and the lessons and assessments support and measure those goals. If instead a lesson is planned separately, it may provide students with outcomes that do not represent the targeted goals.

My Experience

From my perspective as a student, I can appreciate a well-structured lesson. As a teacher, I wanted to learn how to plan and deliver high-quality lessons, so I set my professional practice goal to produce thorough lesson plans for my geometry classes which include alternative plans to account for unexpected scheduling interruptions (see Adjustments to Practice) and are verified by my mentor teacher in advance. I proposed to meet the goal by week thirteen, and my lesson plans improved significantly until then, both in content and in fore-planning. Below is a sample lesson plan from week thirteen:

This lesson plan template follows the backward design approach. With strong lesson plans, I felt well-prepared and had more trust in myself to deliver the lessons successfully. I gained confidence and presented more comfortably. My slides were structured and organized, and my explanations were motivated by and catered toward the learning objectives. I am proud of the progress that I have made in lesson planning because of its effect on my confidence and self-assurance while I teach.