I was very excited to learn two new ways to build lesson plans! It’s not that I don’t like our long form. It is a great way to script what I am going to say and helps get all my thoughts out and in order. But, these new ways cut right to the chase. It doesn’t take as long to complete and it is more realistic – there isn’t the “students will do this” section.
The first one has four main parts; each asking a question. (1) What do they know? In this part I have to ask where they are coming from, what we are doing now and where they are headed. (2) What do you want them to know? Aka: Objectives. (3) How am I getting them there? (4) Did they get there? This is the assessment part. The second is the 5 E Template: Engage, explore explain, elaborate and evaluate. Most important to these is: have a plan b!
I think that by using these shorter versions, it will affect my classroom, my teaching and my sanity. These shorter versions will give me more time to dedicate to setting up the lesson (preparing worksheets/flip chart notes/getting and practicing with manipulatives).
The questions I have for this week are: how do you know how long the different parts of the lesson are going to take? How do you ensure that you get everything you need to in a lesson? Should you always over plan for a lesson? Do you have extra activities planned, sitting on your desk, just in case you end early? How do you add a plan b when you aren’t sure of the other ways to approach the content?
how do you know how long the different parts of the lesson are going to take? ESTIMATION AND EXPERIENCE
ReplyDeleteHow do you ensure that you get everything you need to in a lesson? EXPERIENCE AND PRACTICE. SOMETIMES YOU WILL NOT BE SUCCESSFUL
Should you always over plan for a lesson? YES
Do you have extra activities planned, sitting on your desk, just in case you end early? YES
How do you add a plan b when you aren’t sure of the other ways to approach the content? BY OVERPLANNING AND HAVING EXTRA ACTIVITIES ALWAYS READY. AND BY EXPERIENCE AND PRACTICE
You have posed some great questions about lessons. That is one of the things I'm really focusing on. My first observed math lesson went way too long, and I should have cut it short. My second observation, a health lesson was too short. Even though it went faster than I thought it would, I had plenty of teaching to put in, and found that none of it was "filler." I agree with what Robin says that you overplan and have extra activities. I am working on being able to estimate how long each section will take, but I'm finding it depends a lot on the students.
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