6.12 | Lesson Planning
"Proper preparation prevents poor performance."
-Unknown
So far in this course, you have learned about the framework for good instruction, the instructional cycle including teaching strategies, promoting literacy across the curriculum, and how digital tools are integrated into instruction . Then you spent some time thinking about how you will prepare for the start of the school year and the importance of establishing relationships with students and families. It is now time to put all of that to use and start planning your lessons.
What is a lesson plan?
A lesson plan is a blueprint for the instructional learning experiences that are planned and aligned to the standards.
Key Planning Components
Let's look at which components are needed to provide a balanced learning experience for students.
| Component | Planning Considerations |
|---|---|
| Standard | Do you know what your students need to learn? Are you using the standards to identify concepts and skills that are crucial in their progression of learning? |
| Learning Target | The target should be based on the standards and written using student friendly language. It should make clear the topic of the day's lesson. Learning targets may follow the sentence frame "Today we are learning about _____." |
| Success Criteria | Did you include "I can" statements to guide students toward mastery of the content? Does the success criteria align to the learning target and standard? Success criteria may follow the sentence frame "I will know I have learned this when I can_____." |
| Focused Instruction Links to an external site. or Mini-Lesson | How will you capture the interest of the learners? What type of direct instruction will be used to model the thinking process? How will you activate prior knowledge? (I DO) |
| Real World Connections | Are real world connections referenced throughout the lesson? |
| Guided Instruction Links to an external site. | What opportunities will you provide for students to practice the skill and verbalize their thoughts? What activities will you plan to make thinking visible through writing? How will you differentiate the learning as you watch and listen to students practice? Do the learning opportunities provide for students to engage in authentic learning tasks? (WE DO TOGETHER) |
| Progress Checks/Data Reference | What are the individual needs of the students? Is the lesson plan based on the pre/post assessment data analysis? Are periodic checks built in to monitor the level of understanding and the students' progress toward the learning goal? Are groups and pairs created based on data sources? |
| Collaborative Learning Links to an external site./Discussion | Have you planned for collaboration opportunities (student-student, teacher-student, small group) throughout the lesson? How will you scaffold supports for students? (YOU DO COLLABORATIVELY) |
| Text /Writing Connection | Are students provided opportunities to read and respond to texts (written and verbally)? |
| Independent Learning Links to an external site. | How will students demonstrate understanding independently? Have you planned opportunities to conference with students and provide feedback or reteaching as needed? Are students monitoring and assessing their own work? (YOU DO INDEPENDENTLY) |
| Extension | Have you designed activities to allow students to further their learning? |
| Technology Integration | Have you planned for technology integration to support instruction? Which technology tools did you use? How will those tools promote Active, Collaborative, Constructive, Authentic, or Goal-Directed Learning? For more specific ideas about technology you can integrate into your lessons, refer to our comprehensive Digital Learning Guide. |
| Wrap Up/Closing Activity | Did you provide a wrap activity to allow students to process the information and make connections with the next instructional lesson? |
Reminder: These components are embedded within your content-specific courses. Be sure to export your content-specific course from Canvas to begin your instructional planning. As you have learned, lesson planning involves a number of instructional decisions. The type of lesson plan template you use may vary depending on your purpose. Check with your school administrator to see if there is a specific template for your school.
Click here to view the accessible version of this interactive content Links to an external site.
Reflection/Processing Activity: Beginning with the End in Mind
Watch the video below to hear one teacher's journey to student-centered instruction. How will you develop the attributes described in the Profile of a Graduate to prepare your students for life beyond the classroom? Which strategies will you use to design instructional learning plans that promote student voice within the classroom?
Additional Resources
If you would like to learn more about the characteristics of a good lesson plan, refer to the resources below.
- Lesson Planning article from Center for Teaching Excellence Links to an external site.
- 5 Tips to Improve Your Lesson Plans Links to an external site.
- How to Plan Effective Lessons Links to an external site.
- 5E Lesson Plan Links to an external site.
- The 5E Model: 5 Steps to Motivate Student Learning Links to an external site.
References
Caldwell, K. (n.d.). Studnets need to lead the classroom, not teachers. You Tube. https://youtu.be/FfNv1HaxItI
The 5E Instructional Model Explained: A Framework for Inquiry-Based Learning. (2023, February 13). Retrieved May 18, 2023, from https://www.hmhco.com/blog/5e-instructional-model Links to an external site.