| Lesson planning can be an art form, if done properly. | | | | reading time, weekly assessments, daily read alouds, |
| For too many teachers, lesson planning can be the | | | | morning work, etcetera. Now, when you look at your |
| black hole of a week - taking several hours out of | | | | plans, you should have only chunks to fill in. Immediately, |
| planning time. Or leaving no planning time, so the | | | | you have created only pieces in which to fill in, and you |
| lessons, teacher editions, materials, etc. are toted home | | | | have only been working for ten minutes! |
| to be done in front of Thursday night primetime | | | | Finally, the last step in your planning is to quickly review |
| television. For seasoned teachers, the lessons may not | | | | materials, websites, resources, and old lessons from |
| take as long, but they are stale. These lessons need | | | | each chapter or section of the subject area you will |
| some serious updating. For all teachers, new and | | | | be covering that week. From there, you should have a |
| veteran, I encourage a plan of action to envision | | | | pretty good idea of how to cover the material. You |
| interesting lessons that benefit the students, but are not | | | | may need to review your basal and look for new |
| time consumers to create. | | | | ideas that have not been tried yet. Or, you may look |
| Make sure to start each plan with the same lesson | | | | for a new interactive whiteboard lesson that is already |
| plan template. Many free templates can be found | | | | created for the concept you will be teaching. Attempt |
| online. Purchasing a lesson plan book is also an option. | | | | to position in at least one new idea from previous |
| Or creating your own template in a word processing | | | | years' lessons for a little variety for yourself and for |
| program could also be done. Whichever way you | | | | the students. Each subject area should only take 10 |
| decide, make sure to stick to that template each and | | | | minutes or so to create if you are quickly staying on |
| every time to create a few shortcuts each week. | | | | task, and not getting bogged down in scouring every |
| After deciding upon the template, make sure you have | | | | website on the internet. In total, your plans should take |
| all the necessary teacher editions, materials, and | | | | no longer than 30-45 minutes to complete. If you are |
| resources in one spot to create the plans. If you are | | | | spending more time than that, you are not using time |
| constantly moving from location to location to pick up | | | | effectively, or are not keeping good files of materials |
| and return materials and books, you are wasting | | | | previously used. If the lessons are taking considerably |
| valuable work time. | | | | less time, maybe they need to be a little more creative |
| When you are ready to begin planning, use a master | | | | or interactive. You want to be excited to teach them! |
| calendar to input any major events or changes to the | | | | Lesson planning should not be a chore that is dreaded |
| schedule for that week, such as student birthday | | | | each week, but rather an exciting opportunity to |
| celebrations or assemblies. Next, add in the specials | | | | create lessons that involve students. It should instill a |
| schedule. After that, place all weekly recurring events | | | | love for learning and teaching for all involved. Have fun |
| into your plans. This could be lunch (everyday), silent | | | | and get planning! |