Making an effective lesson plan is the basic preparation that teachers do before class. These plans are basically the method through which teachers plan to introduce the topic to the class. Mostly making a good lesson plan is like creating a story line. The more creative you get with your story plan the better it is for the students to understand. However, there are certain points to keep in mind before you start with your lesson plans. Below discussed are a few –
Remember to start with the end –
This is mostly known as backward mapping in the educational field. The end is mostly where you want to lead your students to i.e. the topic you were explaining. Hence, it seems like the most likely place to start from. When you have the goal clear in your mind it is easy for you to set the path. Unless you know what your students should deduce after the lesson you cannot make a perfect lesson plan; also you may not be able to assess their learning capabilities.
Start your plan with a goal to reach and make sure the path you choose to explain helps the students to come to your desired conclusion. For example, if you are teaching them about the oceans in the world, by the end of the class they should be able to list the oceans based on their size. This accomplishes the goal of your lesson plan.
Know your audience –
This rule is not just applicable to marketing but to teaching as well. While making your lesson plans remember the grade level you will be applying it on. Ensure the matter and the presentation of the matter suits their liking and is powerful enough to get their attention. Asses your plan to see the time length; check if the plan is interactive and engaging enough for the grade you have to present it to. Also make sure to segregate the content and the manner of delivery as per the requirement of different students in the class.
Use creative methods –
Using out of the box creative methods to explain a concept to the class is the best way to get the interest of the students. A few ideas that you can implement include dividing the class in groups and playing a quiz, asking them to research on a topic and throwing questions at them in the next class, asking them to a make a presentation, preparing a skit with a group of students etc. These unconventional methods can get you great results.
Reflect and retouch –
After you are done teaching the lesson to the class as per your lesson plan, reflect on the entire session. Ask questions like was the plan successful? Did it solve the purpose? Was it too lengthy? Did the students understand the purpose? Tweak your plan for the next class after assessing it. This will make it even more successful than before.
Many schools today support teachers with lesson plans provided by education service providers. They provide well-researched plans for every concept and provide learning objectives with resource guidelines to help teachers conduct the class in a better way.