How to Write a Lesson Plan
Teaching is an art that conglomerates various skills together. Along with the profound knowledge of the concerned subject, you ought to have the skills to impart your knowledge effectively. The importance and utility of teaching aids in the process of teaching cannot be undermined. It is not just enough to be a good teacher, as you also need certain teaching aids at your disposal. Lesson plan is one such important educational tool that allows the teachers to plan their lessons beforehand. Before we delve deeper into the nuances of writing a lesson plan, let us try to explore the purpose of lesson plan.
Purpose of a Lesson Plan
Lesson plan allows the teacher to plan and organize his lesson. Meticulously planned lessons are anytime better than spontaneous lectures, where the teacher himself is not aware of half the things. Planning the lesson beforehand allows the teacher to gather some insight on what the lesson is all about, what are the teaching aids at his disposal and what is the final outcome expected. This information can be of immense importance for a substitute teacher, if you have to avail a leave without prior notice.
How to Write a Lesson Plan
Set Your Goals
This is the first step while planning a lesson plan. You have to set certain objectives for your class to achieve. For instance, while planning a math lesson for basic arithmetic for elementary kids, set a goal that by the end of the lesson, your students should be able to perform simple additions. You should also set long term goals so that you can evaluate the progress of your students at the end of year. You should be able to tell if the goal can be accomplished or not.
Understand Your Class
While planning a lesson for your class, it is of utmost importance that you know your students well. Take into account various factors such as the subject, the age of the kids, their interest, their academic progress etc. This information will help you to plan your lesson wisely. Also, you'll be able to distribute your time according to the strength and weaknesses of your students. Certain sections in the lesson may require more time than the rest. This is particularly true when you are writing a lesson plan for elementary school children with diverse interests.
Prerequisites
Prerequisites can be in terms of material things or they could be conceptual. Analyze what are the concepts or skills that your class needs to possess before you proceed for a certain lesson. This will avoid any possible rift between what you impart and what your students gather. Also, make arrangements for the relevant teaching aids in advance. When writing a lesson plan for preschool kids, you need more of teaching aids and less of actual teaching. Thus, it is necessary to plan your educational aids beforehand. This will avoid any 11th hour hassle and also make things easier for your substitute teacher.
Lesson Procedure
Once you gather an insight upon what your prerequisites are, you may proceed to planning the actual lesson. Plan your opening section, then go on explaining the main lesson. Elaborate the activities that you would like your students to undertake for better understanding of the lesson. Lastly, think about how you want to conclude your lesson. Do not forget to summarize the lesson and emphasize on important aspects of the lesson. Also, plan a follow-up activity so that the information is retained in the minds of your students.
Evaluation of Goals
This needs to be done at the end of the lesson. You are required to gather evidence if you and your students have accomplished your corresponding goals and objectives. Evaluation will help you to plan your next lesson with more expertise.
Lesson plan is a great way of determining the course of your lesson, so that both the teacher as well as students are benefited. I hope, the tips given in this article help you in planning an effective lesson plan.
