Lesson plans have always been an Achilles heel for me. I have taught for so-o-o long, that how to teach the lesson as well as knowing the content is not an issue. I always have a Plan B, C, and D ready - just in case. I now teach on the college level where no one checks my plans; however, I still write an outline for the day so I know that I have covered the important points.
My first job, when I retired from our local school system, was teaching math at a private school. Mind you, I had been teaching math for over twenty years; yet, the administrator wanted me to do detailed plans which had to be turned in every Friday. I grudgingly did them, but would add little comments in the comment section. That space became my way of quietly venting; so, I would write such things as:
"So many lesson plans; so little time. Writing detailed plans is not time well spent. To plan or to grade, that is the question. I am aging quickly; so, I need to make succinct plans."
My supervisor finally relented and allowed me to do an outline form of plans. However, he visited often to observe my teaching, which I didn't mind. At least he knew what was happening in my classroom. I have learned from teaching and observing student teachers that anyone can come up with dynamite plans, but the question is:
"Do the plans match what the teacher is doing in the classroom?" Remember Madelyn Hunter? Oh, how my student teachers hated her lesson plan design, but they did learn how to make a good plan. To this day, I still do many of the items such as a focus activity and a lesson reflection at the end.
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| My Husband's Lesson Plans for a Week in October |
As many of you know, my husband is a middle school science teacher. He is the "Sci" part of my name. Anyway, he is in his 43rd year of teaching, and he still does lesson plans - not the detailed ones we did our first couple of years of teaching, but plans he does have. He divides one of his white boards into sections using colored electrical tape as seen in the illustration on the left. He then writes what each class is doing for the week in a designated square. In this way, the principal, parents, and students know the content that will be covered. Even the substitute (he is rarely sick) has a general idea of the day's activities. If plans change, he simply erases and makes the necessary corrections.
So what kind of plans are you required to do? Maybe there are no requirements for you, but do you still write plans? Are they in outline form or just brief notes to yourself? I am interested in knowing what you do; so, please participate in the this conversation by leaving a comment.
By the way, do you need a lesson plan that is easy to use, and yet is acceptable to turn into your supervisor or principal?
Check out my three
lesson plan templates. One is a generic lesson plan; whereas, the other two are specifically designed for mathematics (elementary or secondary) and reading.
Checklists are featured on all three plans; hence, there is little writing for you to do. These lists include Bloom’s Taxonomy, multiple intelligences, lesson types, objectives, and cooperative learning structures. Just click under the resource cover.
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