The importance of lesson planning

Summary

Diane McKinley from Encompassing Education offers practical advice on lesson planning for teachers at any experience level. She emphasizes the importance of aligning lesson plans with state standards, ensuring that objectives are clear and activities purposeful. McKinley encourages teachers to focus on engaging students through hooks, mini-lessons, and gradual release strategies to foster deeper understanding. She advocates for continuous reflection and adjustment to lesson plans, urging teachers to innovate beyond repetitive methods. Ultimately, she highlights the need to energize lessons to better support student learning and success.

Takeaways

• 😀 Lesson planning is essential, and teachers should continuously reflect on and refine their methods to better meet students' needs.
• 😀 Experienced teachers should avoid becoming complacent and should strive for innovation in lesson planning.
• 😀 Lesson planning should focus on student learning and be more than just following a textbook or doing what has been done in the past.
• 😀 Teachers should always align their lesson plans with state standards, ensuring they understand the true meaning of those standards and how to assess them effectively.
• 😀 It's important to map out standards across the school year to ensure they are introduced and revisited, helping students reinforce and apply their knowledge.
• 😀 Effective lesson plans require clear objectives that align with the end goal, not just random activities.
• 😀 A strong lesson should include a hook—something engaging that sparks students' curiosity and connects them to the material.
• 😀 Mini-lessons, typically lasting 5-10 minutes, should be used to introduce concepts, followed by modeling and guided practice with the class.
• 😀 Gradual release of responsibility is a key strategy, where the teacher moves from 'I do' (direct instruction) to 'We do' (modeling with students) to 'You do' (independent practice).
• 😀 Teachers must always include a check for understanding at the end of the lesson, like an exit ticket or quiz, to gauge student comprehension and adjust future lessons accordingly.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the speaker's message in the transcript?

The speaker is emphasizing the importance of effective lesson planning for teachers and encouraging them to refresh and improve their lesson planning methods to enhance student learning.

Why does the speaker suggest rethinking lesson planning, even for experienced teachers?

The speaker suggests rethinking lesson planning because, over time, teachers may fall into the habit of relying on the same methods and materials without evaluating their effectiveness in fostering student learning.

What does the speaker mean by 'hook' in lesson planning?

The 'hook' refers to an engaging activity or introduction that grabs students' attention and motivates them to learn. It could be a question, a visual prop, or a short video that makes the lesson relevant and interesting.

How does the speaker explain the gradual release model of teaching?

The speaker describes the gradual release model as a method where the teacher first demonstrates the concept (I do), then the students practice with guidance (We do), and finally, the students practice independently (You do), with the teacher offering support as needed.

What are some common pitfalls in lesson planning that the speaker mentions?

A common pitfall is planning lessons with brief notes and page numbers instead of focusing on key components like objectives, standards, and engaging activities that truly support student learning.

What is the significance of standards in lesson planning according to the speaker?

Standards guide the direction of lesson planning, ensuring that the lessons align with the required learning objectives. Teachers should unpack the standards and use them to plan meaningful lessons that help students succeed on assessments.

What is the speaker's view on simply teaching from a textbook?

The speaker suggests that simply teaching from a textbook is insufficient. Teachers should be creative and professional in delivering lessons that engage students and foster deeper learning, rather than sticking to repetitive textbook-based methods.

Why is it important for teachers to map out their standards across the school year?

Mapping out standards across the school year ensures that the content is introduced at the right time and revisited as needed. It allows teachers to effectively reinforce learning and provide students with a coherent educational experience.

What role does curiosity play in student learning, as mentioned by the speaker?

Curiosity plays a crucial role in student learning. When students are curious about the topic, they are more likely to engage, pay attention, and retain the information being taught.

What does the speaker suggest as an essential part of lesson closure?

The speaker suggests incorporating a check for understanding at the end of the lesson, such as an exit ticket or a quick quiz, to assess if students have grasped the material and to inform future teaching decisions.