Lesson Plan Writing 101: The Basics
Creating a lesson plan for your classes is simple if you know the steps. The first step is to list your objectives for a particular class. Here are a few questions to ask yourself when planning how you will meet those objectives.
Determining Your Main Objective
What is the essential information your students need from the class or subject?
Is the purpose of this class to prepare this group of students for a specific test like the MEAP or the SAT?
Are there any items that your school district requires you to include when teaching this subject?
After you have determined your basic objectives and included them at the beginning of your lesson plan, the next thing to include is how you will convey this information to the students. Will you be using an overhead projector or an informational video? If you are teaching in a typical school building, ensure that you write yourself a reminder to contact the appropriate person so that the equipment you need will be there when the class starts.
A List of Supplies Needed
Don’t forget to list all the supplies you will need. Perhaps you are teaching an elementary age class at a campground. Necessary supplies may not be available there. In this case, having your supply list on your lesson plan is a must! It would be awful if you didn’t have essential items written down and you forgot something. If a number of supporting items are used in your teaching method, list all of them. This way nothing will be missing that you absolutely must have in order to teach this class.
For instance, if you are teaching small children how to draw pictures, cut them out, and then paste them on construction paper, you would have a real problem if you forgot to bring along glue or scissors. If you are going to be passing out pages of information, tests, or homework assignments, make sure that any copying is done well in advance of the class. On your lesson plan, write down a complete list of all the things that need to be done prior to the class.
Preparation Is the Key
Preparing well the day before the class will ensure that you have less stress when teaching. Your students will even notice that you are more pleasant to be around. Are you going to use several different methods in teaching this class? Include these methods in your lesson plan. Which technique will you be using: lecture, group discussion, or independent reading?
What Details Should the Plan Include?
Your lesson plan should include details of your schedule of activities and how many minutes each segment should last. Without this, you could end up with extra time on your hands or insufficient time to cover everything you had planned. Be sure to allow time at the end of the class for handing out homework. Keep in mind that the more organized and complete your lesson plan is, the more productive your class will be. A comprehensive lesson plan will make teaching easier and less stressful.