The Planning Process
If you have really engaging lessons, behavior and learning will fall into place." - M. Tillander, 2008 |
Planning is a process and there are two key questions I ask myself at the start of planning a lesson or unit:
What do students absolutely HAVE to know, understand, or be able to do at the end of this particular unit/lesson? and How will I inspire students to be fully engaged throughout the entirety of the unit? |
I examine any curricular materials I have been given. This could be a prescribed curricula such as Reading Street, for example, or a curriculum map, or it might be nothing except a Big Idea.
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I consult with state and national standards, and district performance indicators to determine what students NEED to know, understand, and be able to do by the end of the unit.
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I research, learn, and peruse through multiple resources online and in print. If applicable, I'll look into local resources such as museums, public/community service organizations, or parents.
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Then I get creative!
I think about what students are learning (or will be learning) at the same time in other disciplines. I check the calendar for timing of special events, seasons, and holidays.
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I keep a keen eye and ear open as I look through my resources for possible connections to other disciplines, or connections to the specific interests of my students.
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I think about Instructional Strategies that would best suit the type of material being taught and the students in my class.
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I let myself be inspired by the resources and parameters I have.
I pull a reading from 'here', a video from 'there'. Oh, and from this class I was in once, the teacher did 'this' and it worked really well so I'll try it. I created a formative assessment (based on something I found online) and modified it to be just right for what I want students to learn.
When I have more than enough resources pulled together, then I write out the plan.
I pull a reading from 'here', a video from 'there'. Oh, and from this class I was in once, the teacher did 'this' and it worked really well so I'll try it. I created a formative assessment (based on something I found online) and modified it to be just right for what I want students to learn.
When I have more than enough resources pulled together, then I write out the plan.