Lesson planning is a crucial aspect of teaching, and it can often be a source of stress for educators. However, understanding some key facts about lesson planning can help to alleviate some of that stress and improve the quality of your lesson plans. Here are 7 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 that is 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 that are being 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 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, and it includes 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 are giving lesson “scripts” to educators, but you should still add you 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 an essential part of lesson planning, as it allows you to measure students’ progress and understanding. Your lesson plans should include both formative and summative assessment, which will help you to evaluate students’ progress over time and make adjustments as needed. This can be a quiz, an exit ticket, or 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 as needed based on the needs of your students or unforeseen obstacles. Being flexible with your lesson plans will help you to 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. By aligning your lesson plans with the curriculum, making them student-centered, and including assessment, you can ensure that your students are learning and making progress. 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 it is important for educators to understand the key facts about it. By aligning your lesson plans with the curriculum, making them student-centered, and including assessment, you can ensure that your students are learning and making progress. 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 the reason why Laddering Your Success developed our app to make lesson planning easier for teachers!
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.
