Lesson planning is a crucial aspect of teaching and can often be a source of stress for educators. However, understanding some critical facts about lesson planning can help to alleviate some of that stress and improve the quality of your lesson plans. Here are seven facts about lesson planning that you should know:
Lesson planning is required by law.
In the United States, most states have laws that require teachers to plan their lessons. This is usually done through a curriculum aligned with state standards, such as the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) in Texas. This means that every lesson you plan should be directly related to the standards taught in your class. Another factor to consider is if you have students on IEP’s, 504, or BIP’s. Which can have additional legal requirements. If you’re having problems implementing TEKS to your lesson plans, the LYS app can help you do so easily!
Lesson planning should be aligned with the curriculum.
Your lesson plans should be aligned with the curriculum that is being taught in your school and district. The curriculum is the overall plan for what will be taught in a class, including the standards and objectives that must be met. Your lesson plans should be designed to help students meet those standards and objectives. Some schools and districts give educators lesson ” scripts, ” but you should still add your own touch to these. More on this in the next point.
Lesson planning should be student-centered.
Lesson planning should be student-centered, meaning that it should be tailored to the needs and abilities of your students. This includes considering their learning styles, levels of understanding, and any special needs they may have. By making your lesson plans student-centered, you can ensure that all students have the opportunity to learn and succeed.
Lesson planning should include assessment.
Assessment is essential to lesson planning, as it allows you to measure students’ progress and understanding. Your lesson plans should include formative and summative assessments, which will help you evaluate students’ progress over time and make adjustments as needed. This can be a quiz, an exit ticket, or a check on learning.
Lesson planning should be flexible.
Lesson plans should be flexible, as they are a guide and not a script. You should be prepared to make adjustments based on your students’ needs or unforeseen obstacles. Flexibility with your lesson plans will help you be more responsive to your students’ needs and make your teaching more effective.
Lesson planning should be collaborative.
Collaboration is important in lesson planning, as it allows you to share ideas, resources, and strategies with other educators. This can be done through a professional learning community (PLC) or by working with other teachers in your school or district. Collaboration can help to improve the quality of your lesson plans and make teaching more enjoyable.
Lesson planning impacts student achievement.
Effective lesson planning is essential for student achievement. You can ensure that your students are learning and progressing by aligning your lesson plans with the curriculum, making them student-centered, and including assessments. Additionally, by being flexible and collaborating with other educators, you can improve the quality of your lesson plans and ultimately impact student achievement.
Lesson planning is a critical aspect of teaching, and educators must understand its key facts. You can ensure that your students are learning and progressing by aligning your lesson plans with the curriculum, making them student-centered, and including assessments. By being flexible and collaborating with other educators, you can improve the quality of your lesson plans and ultimately impact student achievement. Additionally, Laddering Your Success’ Being-Knowing-Doing methodology empowers the students in the classroom to take charge of their learning to create life-long learners ready to take on the world.
All great teachers also need help; implementing all aspects of teaching in your plans can be tedious and time-consuming. This is why Laddering Your Success developed our app to make lesson planning easier for teachers! (Bonus tip: we crossed out all facts in the list!) Check it out by clicking here!
Keep these facts in mind as you plan your lessons, and you’ll be on your way to creating effective and engaging lessons for your students.
