Planning and Preparation

Effective planning is creating and preparing lessons that appropriately address the needs of students, that consider the direction of the class in terms of material and discussion, and that leave space for flexibility and adaptation. It is crucial that lessons and units are prepared in advance of each class so that we can ensure that standards are met, goals are established, and student objectives are clear. Without planning, it is difficult to design and execute effective learning and growth in the classroom. Effective planning also acknowledges that adaptation and adjustment are almost always necessary. Planning begins before class does, but it continues throughout the act of teaching and working with students.

In this section of my portfolio, I reflect on my experiences planning lessons and units throughout my time as a student teacher and discuss the ways in which I have adapted and strengthened my planning and preparation skills. Although I began my student teaching with limited experience in planning lessons, I gradually grew in comfort and knowledge of effective and flexible lesson plans. I utilized Tomlinson and McTighe's UbD format for my lesson plans to plan each week of instruction. By creating student objectives and standards for each week and providing a detailed daily outline for each class, I was successful in executing lessons and meeting my goals as an educator.