Characteristics of the lesson planning genre
Standards met: There is a list of required common core standards or state standards that would be met during the lesson.
List of Activities: This is what the class will actually be doing. Sometimes this is accompanied by the estimated time that these activities should take to complete.
List of Materials: This helps the teacher keep track of the tools and supplies they will need for the lesson.
Ways to Asses Learning: This can be informal or formal, but the teacher should have a way to see that students are engaged and learning.
Differences across lesson plan models and structures
Learning Delivery/Engagement: Sometimes lesson plans will list what types of learning styles the lesson accommodates.
Homework: Not every lesson is supplemented with homework, but sometimes homework is listed at the end of the lesson plan
Organizational Style: The way a lesson plan is formatted can very, some look like forms that one fills out, others look a note sheet hand typed. They also very in how specific or vague the lesson plan is.
Criteria for Excellence in Lesson Planning
Easy to Read: A good lesson plan should be easy to read and follow. It should allow the teacher to quickly find information on the lesson plan when asked/needed to do so.
Allow for Chance: In practice, a lesson may need to change based on the needs of the classroom. Creating a plan that is subject to change and provides a willing structure for that change will help in the planning process.
Proper Use of Class Time: Lesson plans provide multiple activities for students, they are not just listening to a lecture and taking notes. Different activities that allow students to think and engage different parts of their brains will help them not simply retain information but also understand what they are learning.
Unrealistic Expectations: The student objectives may be unrealistic. I don’t have a lot of experience working with different age groups and am not familiar with the skill levels often seen with them.
Using Required Formats: Some schools have required formats that teachers use while creating lesson plans. I am vary particular about how I organize and format things, and I might have to use a different style of organization that I am not used to.
Time management: I am good at know how quickly I can get through a task, however for other people it can be different. I don’t want to waste time going over the same things while not spending enough time on something else.
When creating lesson plans, how important is it to have a time frame for the activities? Students work at different paces, and I would like to accommodate students who work quickly and students who need more time.