How does this relate to our teaching? A VISION OF TEACHING Connect the dots in the puzzle using only four straight lines without lifting your pen/pencil off of the paper. How does this relate to our teaching?

Genius?

EFFECTIVE LESSON PLANNING

GOALS To get you to think about your lesson To describe the value of effective planning To discuss and utilize various components of effective lesson plans To provide templates for lesson plans To give guidance for substitute plans

EFFECTIVE TEACHERS… 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 Adapt and modify instruction Use effective communication Collaborate with all members of the learning community Engage in sustained professional growth experiences

INSTRUCTIONAL PLANNING AND STRATEGIES Plans are developed to provide students with meaningful learning experiences Plans connect to related learning opportunities Teaching is based instructional strategies that focus on best practice and research Teaching is supported by strategies that foster interest and progress

GOOD PLANNING 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 ACTIVITY: Brainstorm a list of benefits of well-planned lessons and pitfalls of poorly planned lessons

POOR PLANNING Frustration for the teacher and the student Aimless wandering Unmet objectives No connections to prior learnings Disorganization Lack of needed materials A waste of time Poor management

A GOOD LESSON INCLUDES: Objective – expected student behavior Warm –up and introduction Procedure Materials – worksheets, film, text, etc. Presentation Practice Application Closure Evaluation – test, assignment, teacher observation, etc. Teacher reflection Maximize Instructional Time Integrate Diverse Teaching Strategies Have All Students On Task

LET’S BEGIN… The format of a lesson should.. Go one step at a time Have a picture for every step Have a minimal reliance on words Example: division problem (visual) compare divide multiply subtract compare bring down Compare this to the directions for making a model airplane (marketers have it right) An effective lesson plan is a set of plans for building something – it “constructs” the learning.

Harry Wong, The First Days of Teaching The greater the structure of a lesson and the more precise the directions on what is to be accomplished, the higher the achievement rate. Harry Wong, The First Days of Teaching

OBJECTIVES A description of what the student will be able to do at the end of the lesson Action Words: Use behavioral verbs to describe the expected outcomes (ACTION) No-no’s: appreciate, enjoy, understand, love, etc. Let the students know your objectives, why they need to know it , and how they will use the learning. Good objective: Students will be able to illustrate clouds that signal unsettled weather. Poor objective: Students will understand that some clouds signal the approach of poor weather conditions. ACTIVITY: Have groups (2-3) write a behavioral objective for …………….

WARM-UP AND INTRODUCTION Grab the attention of the students PROVIDES THE INTEREST/MOTIVATION factor Set the tone for the lesson connected to the objective A question A story A saying An activity A discussion starter BE CREATIVE

PRE-ASSESSMENT What are the characteristics of the learners in the class? What do the students already know and understand? How do my students learn best? What modifications in instruction might I need to make? Teachers make 1500 decisions a day… this is where it begins Previous teacher comments and test data Cum folders Classroom observation

MATERIALS Plan! Prepare! Have on hand! Envision your needs. Murphy’s Law Envision your needs. List all resources. Have enough manipulatives (when needed) for groups or individuals.

PROCEDURES AND PRESENTATION Sets up a step-by-step plan Provides a quick review of previous learning Provides specific activities to assist students in developing the new knowledge Provides modeling of a new skill A picture is worth a thousand words. I hear, I see………..I do!

LEARNING ACTIVITIES Graphic organizers Creative play Peer presenting Performances Role playing Debates Game making Projects Cooperative groups Inquiry learning Direct instruction Differentiation Direct Instruction

PRACTICE APPLYING WHAT IS LEARNED Provide multiple learning activities Guided practice (teacher controlled) Use a variety of questioning strategies to determine the level of understanding Journaling, conferencing Independent practice Practice may be differentiated BUILD ON SUCCESS

CLOSURE Lesson Wrap-up: Leave students with an imprint of what the lesson covered. Students summarize the major concepts Displays internalized student knowledge Teacher recaps the main points Teacher sets the stage for the next phase of learning

EVALUATION Assess the learning-Rubric Teacher made test In-class or homework assignment Project to apply the learning in real-life situation Recitations and summaries Performance assessments Use of rubrics Portfolios Journals Informal assessment

REFLECTION What went well in the lesson? What problems did I experience? Are there things I could have done differently? How can I build on this lesson to make future lessons successful?

THE SUBSTITUTE… NOW WHAT? The Key to substitute success – DETAILED LESSON PLANS Discipline routines Children with special needs Fire drill and emergency procedures Helpful students, helpful colleagues (phone #’s) Classroom schedule Names of administrators Expectations for the work Packet of extra activities

A teacher is one who brings us tools and enables us to use them. Jean Toomer

Lesson Plans: Review Reflection/Open Discussion: Main components of a lesson plan Critical thinking skills Characteristics of a good lesson Teacher responsibilities

Lesson Plans Bloom’s Taxonomy Use daily in questioning to develop higher order of thinking skills...critical thinking skills. KNOWLEDGE COMPREHENSION APPLICATION ANALYSIS SYNTHESIS EVALUATION

Lesson Plans Bloom’s Taxonomy KNOWLEDGE remembering; memorizing; recognizing; recalling identification and recall of information Who, what, when, where, how ...? Describe COMPREHENSION interpreting; translating from one medium to another; describing in one's own words; organization and selection of facts and ideas Retell... APPLICATION problem solving; applying information to produce some result; use of facts, rules and principles How is...an example of...? How is...related to...? Why is...significant?

Lesson Plans Bloom’s Taxonomy ANALYSIS subdividing something to show how it is put together; finding the underlying structure of a communication; identifying motives; separation of a whole into component parts What are the parts or features of...? Classify...according to... Outline/diagram... How does...compare/contrast with...? What evidence can you list for...? SYNTHESIS creating a unique, original product that may be in verbal form or may be a physical object; combination of ideas to form a new whole What would you predict/infer from...? What ideas can you add to...? How would you create/design a new...? What might happen if you combined...? What solutions would you suggest for...? EVALUATION making value decisions about issues; resolving controversies or differences of opinion; development of opinions, judgments or decisions Do you agree...? What do you think about...? What is the most important...? Place the following in order of priority... How would you decide about...? What criteria would you use to assess...?

GREAT TEACHING starts with GREAT PLANNING Characteristics of great lesson plans Clear instructions, explanations, timelines, expectations, and assessment Interactive; hands on activities Engaging and FUN! Allow students to feel a sense of shared exploration and discovery Give students choices

GREAT TEACHING starts with GREAT PLANNING Students engaged & motivated Break assignments into small chunks Hands-on manipulatives Ask open ended questions Make lesson relevant Allow students to develop own questions to research Integrate diverse teaching strategies Talk at appropriate level

Foundational Habits Be Explicit Model Reinforce

SET STUDENT GOALS They’re all about High Expectations Keys to great goal setting Regular Routine – “mini goals”- focus on small, immediate, action-oriented Very Specific Actions-what, when, how?? Level Appropriate Followed by reflection- students need to evaluate- leads to feeling of accomplishment and future goal setting

The 5 Most Important Things You Can Do For Your Students CARE SET HIGH EXPECTATIONS CREATE ORDERLY, STRUCTURED CLASSROOM EARN RESPECT- stay calm, exercise self control TREAT EACH STUDENT WITH COURTESY AND RESPECT

LESSON PLAN Preparation Summary: Optional/Preferred: Indicate… Homework Field learning experiences Guest presentations Highlight interdisciplinary activities Video-aided learning and follow up (reflective) activity