Who can learn to write a lesson plan?

The truth is anyone can write an effective lesson plan if they are given the tools. A lesson plan is a blueprint of a successful lesson. Whether you are homeschooling, teaching at a private or public school knowing how to write an effective lesson plan is very important. A successful lesson plan is very important whether you are teaching adults or children.

As a result once you learn how to write a lesson plan you can use your gifts and talents to teach others a subject or a skill! Join me and learn how to write an effective lesson today!

Benjamin Franklin said: “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”

In today’s blog post I would like to share with you all the aspects that I think of while preparing a practical lesson. Who can learn or should learn to write a lesson plan?  

 Planning is serious business, and if you work developing others, you should know how to write a lesson plan. The process of writing a lesson plan is a complex one but don’t be intimidated by the process. 

First of all when writing a practical lesson the first thing is to determine the standard that will be taught. If you are aiming at nothing, consequently you will hit no targets at all.

Understanding goals and objectives is very important. Most industries have standards. Teachers have standards (yes, when I plan professional development for teachers I make sure I am teaching them skills that will help them grow and be successful, standards are there for a reason); when I am planning classroom lessons I use standards. In the United States right now (most but not all) states are using the Common Core Standards. These standards are what students should know by the end of a grade level. You can read the standards here.
It is essential for students, and when I say, students, I mean ANYONE WHO IS LEARNING, to know precisely what they will be learning during lesson. As a result they will devote all their efforts towards it! 

As an adult, I would not invest my hard working money unless I understood exactly what the outcome would be. In education it is the same thing, if students do not know where they are going, most likely they won’t participate (engage) in the ride with you. As an educator, your goal is to be very clear about the purpose of a lesson and the objectives of the lesson.

How to write a lesson plan:

Basics of a lesson plan- start with the end in mind. 

A lesson needs to be objective. Students should know exactly what they are learning and exactly what they should be able to do at the end of the lesson. If you have a rubric for the lesson, this is a great time to introduce it! Allow students to start with the end in mind.

Understanding where to begin:

When planning a lesson plan, it is critical to have a basic understanding of Bloom’s Taxonomy .
Bloom’s Taxonomy is the process of learning through the cognitive abilities. There are six categories, knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.

Within Blooms Taxonomy there are active verbs that will help you plan lessons that move from recall, to skill/concept, to strategic thinking, and to extending reasoning.
When you are writing a lesson plan, it is essential to decide which cognitive category you are going to hit during the lesson. Some lessons you may hit more than one cognitive category and when you select those targets write very specific objectives for each. For example, students will be able to recall numbers 1-10. Simple and effective. Hopefully these verbs will inspire you to visualize each  level and to inspire you to create hands- on activities that are fun, practical and objective. 

Is your lesson engaging?

Another important aspect of writing an effective lesson is to plan a strong hook. A hook is simply a fun, engaging introduction to the subject. This is your chance to share the excitement of the subject with your students. If you get excited, chances are they will get it too. Planing ahead gives you time to do your research. Maybe you will decide to do an icebreaker, or you may show a youtube video. The hook will be different for each lesson, but the purpose is to engage your learners in the learning adventure.

Next part of planning is deciding what material will need to be taught directly to students. You will need to create materials for presentation of skill, for guided practice and independent practice. Decide which type of activities your students will need to practice the skills. Worksheets work, but if you an opportunity to create a practice that is meaningful your students will be so much more successful. Try to use a hands-on activity, a song that will help your students remember the skill though. Use some small group work, and some independent work as well.

Here are a few ideas to help you get started.

How to end a successful lesson?

After the lesson is written make sure that you wrap it up. Summarize lesson for students and assess to make sure students have retained the material. Use the data  (yes, scores from tests) to make your decisions. Will you re- teach? Will you practice longer? Will you move forward? 

Teaching is a journey; learning is a journey. Some students may learn right away, others might need more practice, and others will take their time when learning. It is a journey not all will develop the skills together. Be patient. Allow your students to grow at their own pace. 

Not all students learn the same way. It is important to have a plan in place to ensure scaffolding for students who are struggling and enrichment activities for those who have already mastered the skill.
For English Language Learners and students with disabilities, it is important to provide accommodations for each of the activities to ensure they can complete the tasks and learn as well. 

Is self- reflection important?

After the lesson is completed, it is time to reflect on the day’s lesson. Trust me self- reflection is one of the most effective tools a teacher can use in their practice. When an educator takes time to reflect, they have time to improve.
Remember learning is a journey both for the student and for the educator as well. There is always room for growth, for everyone.

The truth is that in anything in life there will be days of highly effective moments, yet another of ineffectiveness. Do not be dismayed; it is part of the process.
One thing to remember, it is not the end. Regroup, read, learn, improve, this is the key to success.

Freebie just for you!

I hope this Effective Lesson Plan Template  PDF may serve as a tool for you to create strong lessons for your students.
A super cool thing that I have learned about education is that the skills translate to other sections of the corporate world.
If you can plan effective lessons, if you can deliver a strong lesson, most likely you can succeed in different industries as well.

Remember, Sophia James Education exists to promote the love of learning. We hope that through inspirational messages, through well-planned lessons, through workshops, and classes, we may inspire you and promote literacy throughout the world. We stop living when we stop learning. Therefore we keep moving forward, one day at a time.

If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends on social media and make sure you share our site www.sophiajameseducation.com

May you be inspired today and may you never stop learning.

Much love,

Raquel