EFFECTIVE LESSON PLANNING:
THE TOOL TO SUCCEED
Presentedby : PoojaChawla
Definition of Lesson Plan
A detailed description of the individual
lessons that a teacher plans to teach on a
given day. A lesson plan is developed by a
teacher to guide instruction throughout the
day. It is a method of planning and
preparation. A lesson plan traditionally
includes the name of the lesson, the date of
the lesson, the objective, the lesson focuses
on, the materials that will be used, and a
summary of all the activities that will be used.
Lesson plans are a terrific set of guidelines
It helps the teacher in both planning and executing the
lesson. And it helps the students, unbeknownst to them, by
ensuring that they receive an actual lesson with a
beginning, a middle and an end, that aims to help them
learn some specific thing that they didn't know at the
beginning of the lesson (or practice and make progress in
that specific thing).
To summarize, and in very basic terms: a lesson plan is the
teacher's guide for running a particular lesson, and it
includes the goal (what the students are supposed to
learn), how the goal will be reached (the method,
procedure) and a way of measuring how well the goal was
reached (test, worksheet, homework etc).
A lesson plan must correlate with the text book the class uses. The
school usually selects the text books or provides teachers with a
limited text book choice for a particular unit. The teacher must take
great care and select the most appropriate book for the students.
Types of Assignments
The instructor must decide whether class assignments are whole-
class, small groups, workshops, independent work, peer learning,
Whole-class—the teacher lectures to the class as a whole and
has the class collectively participate in classroom discussions.
Small groups—students work on assignments in groups of
three or four.
Selecting lesson plan material
Workshops— students perform various tasks
simultaneously. Workshop activities must be tailored to the
Independent work- students complete assignments
Peer learning—students work together, face to face, so
they can learn from one another.
Contractual work—teacher and student establish an
agreement that the student must perform a certain amount
of work by a deadline.
Developing a lesson plan:
While there are many formats for a lesson plan, most lesson plans
contain some or all of these elements, typically in this order:
Title of the lesson
Time required to complete the lesson
List of required materials
List of objectives, which may be behavioral objectives (what
the student can do at lesson completion) or knowledge
objectives (what the student knows at lesson completion)
The set (bridge-in) that focuses students on the lesson's skills
or concepts—these include showing pictures or models, asking
leading questions, or reviewing previous lessons
An instructional component that describes the sequence of
events that make up the lesson, including the teacher's
instructional input and guided practice the students use to try new
skills or work with new ideas
Independent practice that allows students to extend skills or
knowledge on their own
A summary, where the teacher wraps up the discussion and
An evaluation component, a test for mastery of the instructed
skills or concepts—such as a set of questions to answer or a set of
instructions to follow
Lesson Plan Phases:
Phase 1: Introduction
oSet a purpose- Describe the overarching reason for this lesson.
oIntroduce the key concepts, topic, main idea- Get students on the
right track. This step may be a note on the board, a diagram, or a
probing question of the day's lesson focus.
oPull students into the excitement of learning- Seize students'
attention with items like an amazing fact, a funny quirk, a challenge, or
other mind tickler.
oMake the learning relevant- Explain how this lesson extends past
learning and leads to future learning—that is, the significance of the
concepts, skills, and focus of the lesson
Phase 2: Foundation
oCheck on previous knowledge- Verify what students already know.
oClarify key points- Double-check on learning from the past.
oFocus on specific standards, objectives, goals- Link the lesson to
the standards, and let students know exactly what they will know and be
able to do as a result of this lesson
oCheck for correctness and add to background knowledge Add
extra information for the day's learning and beyond—just enough to
launch into the main lesson.
oIntroduce key vocabulary- See it; say it; read it; write it.
Phase 3: Brain Activation
oAsk questions to clarify ideas and to add knowledge. Engage students in
the learning and build background with probing questions.
oBrainstorm main ideas. Fill students' heads with ideas, concepts, possibilities;
allow them to expand and clarify their thinking.
oClarify and correct misconceptions. Engage students in activities that will
inform you as to whether students are confused or have incorrect ideas so
corrections can be made before the misconceptions become worse or
detrimental to learning.
Phase 4: Body of New Information
Provide teacher input. Lecture, add key points and new information, read the
text or articles, and solve problems. Present the body of the lesson. This may be
a whole-class lecture, a small-group activity with teacher supervision, or a
partner activity with teacher supervision. The learning is active
Phase 5: Clarification
Check for understanding with sample problems, situations,
questions-Have students practice with the information just taught. Guide
Phase 6: Practice and Review
Provide time for practice and review- Allow students time to practice
under your supervision. You and the students work together.
Phase 7: Independent Practice
Supervise students' independent practice-Select additional strategies
for small groups of students who still do not "get it." Other students may
begin to work independently, with the final goal being that all students
can work on their own. This practice prepares students for successful
homework, and it prepares them for future learning.
Phase 8: Closure
Bring the lesson to closure- Link the lesson phases and information
together. Summarize the learning of the day, and discuss how it fits
into the big vision for learning. Have students demonstrate what they
know and can do by writing a brief note to hand in as they leave; the
note may include questions, problems, or ideas on the learning.
Alternatively, they may write in their journals or explain their
understanding to a partner.
After the Lesson
After each lesson, consider what went well and what needs to be adjusted. This is
easily done with a post lesson appraisal, Great teachers always reflect on their
lessons. An appraisal form can also be completed by paraprofessionals,
volunteers, or substitute teachers who have worked with your students to provide
feedback on their instruction and student learning.
What went well? Why?
What needs work? What will I do to improve the lesson?
What do I need to do in tomorrow's lesson? How will I get it done?
What special considerations are there, and how should I handle them?
In addition to your own lessons and lesson plans, ask students to give you
feedback on the lesson quality, organization, clarity, and goals reached. This
feedback is especially beneficial when students analyze a unit of study that may
have caused them to struggle with time management.
Seven Things Teachers Can Do to Help
Fostering Student Success
Have High Expectations
Create Effective Classroom Procedures to Keep Disruptions to a
Continually Grow in Your Profession
Vary Your Instructional Techniques
Apply Effective Classroom Management Skills
Be Transparent With Students About How to Succeed
Truly Believe in Your Students and Want Them to Succeed
EFFECTIVE LESSON PLANNING
A teacher who is attempting to teach without inspiring the pupil with a desire to
learn is hammering on a cold iron. Horace Mann
•Know the content
•Understand the development of the student
•Value the diversity of the students within the class
•Plan strategic lessons using research-based practices
•Use multiple assessments to evaluate progress
•Create a suitable learning environment
•Keeps the teacher and students on track
•Achieves the objectives
•Helps teachers to avoid “unpleasant” surprises
•Provides the roadmap and visuals in a logical sequence
•Provides direction to a substitute
•Encourages reflection, refinement, and improvement
•Enhances student achievement
•Frustration for the teacher and the student
•No connections to prior learnings
•Lack of needed materials
•A waste of time