Designing Lessons to Enhance Student Learning…

Why Plan?

PlanAhead

What is a lesson plan?

• Teacher’s guide

• Design for the learning of the student

• Series of student centered learning

• Focused on what the student needs to know and be able to do

• Covers one day or several days

• Allows for the teachable moment

Experienced Teacher Standards

1. Demonstrates Professional Leadership2. Demonstrates Knowledge of Content

3. Designs and Plans Instruction4. Creates and Maintains Learning Climate5. Implements/Manages Instruction6. Assesses and communicates Learning Results7. Collaborates with Colleagues/Parents/Others8. Engages in Professional Development

Performance Criteria for Designs and Plans Instruction

Standard 3

How much time does the average teacher spend planning?

• Elementary Teachers spend 8.3 minutes of planning time per lesson.

• Middle and High School Teachers spend 13.5 minutes of planning time per lesson.

Mayerson Academy, Cincinnati

Two Types of Assignments…• Ineffective Assignments:

– The teacher tells the class what is to be covered• Chapter 7; Moby Dick; long division; ecosystems

• Effective Assignments:– The teacher tells the students what they are to

have accomplished or mastered at the end of the lesson

– Teach with the end in mind

• To teach for learning, use words, especially verbs, that show learning has taken place.

• Bloom’s Taxonomy– Knowledge– Comprehension– Application– Analysis– Synthesis– evaluation

Effective Assignments…• Must have structure and be precise

• Structure– The assignment must have a consistent and familiar

format that the students can recognize as their assignment– The assignment must be posted daily in a consistent

location BEFORE students enter the room

• Preciseness– The assignment must state clearly and simply what the

students are to ACCOMPLISH

Thinking About Lesson Planning

Who Am I Planning For?

What Am I Supposed To Do?

The Correct Question…• DON’T ASK: “What am I going to cover

tomorrow?”

• DO ASK: “What are my students going to learn, achieve, and accomplish tomorrow?”

The role of the teacher is not to cover. The role of the teacher is to UNCOVER.

• Learning has nothing to do with what the teacher COVERS.

• Learning has to do with what the student ACCOMPLISHES.

Pre-Planning Strategies

1. Determine the learning styles of your students

2. Determine reading levels/skills of students

3. Inventory access to technology

4. Connect writing to what is being taught

5. Focus on academic expectations and core content

6. Establish a variety of instructional strategies

Essential Questions

• What do I want all students to know and be able to do at the end of this lesson?

• What will I do to cause this learning to happen?• What will students do to facilitate this learning?• How will I assess to find out if this learning

happened?• What will I do for those who show through

assessment that the learning did not take place?

Think-Pair-Share

“Best Practices” in Lesson Planning

Some Guiding Principles

Adapted From: 63 Ways of Teaching or Learning Anything by Gary Phillips and Maurice Gibbons

Thinking It Through…

• Lesson Content

• Learning Level

• Instructional Methods, Materials, Activities

• Student Activities

• Evaluation Tools, Strategies, Activities

The Lesson Plan Rubric

• Academic Focus

• Instructional Strategies

• Student Engagement

• Writing Strategy

• Reading Strategy

• Technology Strategy

• Assessment Strategy