Instructors and learners benefit from thoughtful lesson planning

It provides a framework for instruction, and it guides implementation of standards-based education.

Lesson planning establishes a road map for instructors of what has been taught and what needs to be taught

It allows them to focus on one objective at a time and communicate to learners what they will learn in each lesson

Because lessons incorporate ongoing assessments that determine how well learners understand concepts and skills, instructors are able to make mid-course changes in instructional procedures or provide additional support to learners.

 a planned lesson is just better

Not all planned lessons are fabulous and not all unplanned lessons are a disaster, but even a bad lesson will be less bad planned, and even a great lesson can be greater with a plan. If you are good at teaching unplanned lessons, you will be even better at teaching with a plan.

There are several reasons why a planned lesson is better.

One of them is that having a lesson plan helps you maintain focus

With a classroom full of children, with their short attention spans and their natural desire to disrupt anything and everything, it is very easy for a lesson to be sidetracked or derailed completely, and the best way for you, the teacher, to steer the lesson back on course is if you happened to have brought your map along with you.

Kids also notice when a teacher doesn’t really know what to do. If you show one sign of weakness, they will pounce

A primary school lesson is a battle of wills, and if you blink you lose. A lesson plan is your best weapon in that battle. Kids respond extraordinarily well to structure and regularity, and planning out your lessons gives them that structure.

Lesson plans let you show off what you’ve taught

they’re great for showing other teachers, your director

But perhaps even more important than showing off to others is showing off to yourself.

A lesson plan from a lesson that went really well is like a personal award certificate.

“can increase your motivation, your productivity, and your work engagement and satisfaction“

not just the doing, but the documentation – are surprisingly powerful motivators.

Plan your lessons. It will do wonders for your students, and it will do wonders for you – both in and out of the classroom.

Why should I bother with lesson planning?

Some experienced teachers appear to have an ability to improvise and think on their feet, which

leads them to believe that they do not need to think about lesson planning.DON’T FOLLOW

THEIR LEAD!

Most good teachers are acutely aware of the importance of lesson planning and keep on

planning their lessons throughout their English teaching career.

A plan shows your students that you (their teacher) has devoted time to thinking about

them and their needs.

Lesson planning shows professionalism and commitment.

Lesson planning helps you to think about where you’re going.

Lesson planning helps you to think out ideas for the future.

Lesson planning helps you remember what you intend to do.

Lesson planning makes you structure your lesson so that it flows coherently and covers

the tasks towards the objective.

Lesson planning gives students confidence that you have thought about the lesson and

know what you are doing.

A lesson plan gives your lessons shape and a framework.

Is lesson planning a 100% sure thing?

Like all things in life that involve a group of human beings, 100% success is almost impossible.

Improvising due to unforeseen circumstances is a skill a teacher needs but it is NOT a valid

excuse for not planning your lessons.

You may find your lesson plan needs to be adjusted during the class. It is your call whether you

let it happen or not.

If you really have to improvise and adjust the lesson plan, try to get back to the plan as soon as

you can.

It is rare but not unheard of that you’ll need to modify your plan “on-the-fly” and sometimes need

to ditch it completely, so don’t panic if you need to do either of these. The usual circumstance for

this happening is when you teach your first lesson to a brand new class. If it happens to a class

that you’ve taught before, did you plan properly?

In the extreme case of you needing to change or ditch the lesson plan in the classroom, take a

mental note of why, and adjust other lesson plans accordingly. Don’t ignore the experience. Do

act on it to prevent something similar happening again.

The hidden benefit of lesson planning

As you write and execute your plans in the classroom, you will see their effectiveness and where

they need tuning up. If you keep your lesson plans, you will quickly build up a portfolio of lessons

that you know will work. The beauty of this is that if you need to teach a new class, chances are

that a lesson you have taught before will work. You may need to tune up the plan for the new

class, but at least you’ll have an excellent idea about what you are going to do.

Don’t waste your lesson plans, they are future time-savers!

Reasons for lesson plansTo have some hints on the importance of lesson plans on the

teaching process, consider these reasons:

Clarity

Lesson plans help to be clear about what you want to

teach.teachers need to make wise decisions about the strategies

and methods they will employ to help students move

systematically toward learner goals.

Unpredictable Events

Lesson plans may also include a room for unpredictable events.

This helps teachers to be ready to cope with whatever happens.

Framework

Lesson plans give your teaching a framework, an overall shape.

Reminder

Lesson plans may also play the role of a reminder for teachers

when they get distracted.

Commitment

It suggests a level of professionalism and real commitment .

In addition to the above reasons, it is worthwhile mentioning that lesson plans

will have positive impact on both the teacher and the learner.

For the teacher

They don’t have to think on their feet.They don’t lose

face in front of their learners.

They are clear on the procedure to follow.

They build on previous teaching and prepare for

coming lessons

For the learner

They realize that the teacher cares for their learning.

They attend a structured lesson: easier to assimilate

They appreciate their teacher’s work as a model of

well-organized work to imitate.