my teaching portfolio
PLANNING FOR Instruction
Prior to planning a lesson, there are a few key factors that I take into consideration.
I feel that it is important to follow a sequence of steps to ensure a well-thought out lesson plan that appeals to both the diverse learners inside the classroom, but is also in accordance to the curriculum.
The Planning Process
Planning requires a lot of pre-planning and reflection. I was inspired after learning about the "backwards planning" model also known as Understanding by Design. Below are the six steps I take when creating a lesson plan.
Step 1: Establishing Goals
-Review the QEP's Broad areas of learning,
cross curricular competencies, and subject area
competenies to be targeted by the lesson.
Ask yourself the following:
-What will the students know?
-What will the students understand?
-What will the students be able to do?
Step 2: How will I engage students?
-Brainstorm and develop an introduction that will engage students
from the get go ("the hook").
It is important to keep in mind of the diversity of the class.
Does the lesson address the following:
-Different learning styles
-Interests of the students
-Special needs
-Prior knowledge
-Resources available at my disposal
Step 3: Targeted Lesson
-Develop an engaging lesson for students that targets the QEP competencies and the learning objectives.
It is important to differentiate the lesson to cater to all types of learners.
Ask yourself, can Gardner's Multiple Intelligences be incorporated in any way?
Step 4: Conclusion
-Develop a closure to the lesson that reinforces the learning goals and adds meaning to what was discovered throughout the class time.
- What did students' learn in the lesson?
- Were the objectives of the lesson met?
- Were students' active participants in their own learning?
Step 5: Resources/logistics
-What resources are available?
- What materials are needed for the lesson?
- Will there be any technology involved?
Step 6: Evaluation
-Develop a way to evaluate students' learning. This can be done formatively or summatively.
Reflect on the outcome of the lesson.
- What worked well?
- What could you have changed?
- Were the learning objectives met?
PLC
- Every week there is a PLC meeting, where the cycle discusses certain issues that have come to the surface, along with any academic concerns.
- As a result of students having trouble with mathematical word problems, we decided as a cycle to use the "CUBES" chart below.
"CUBES" chart
Click here to view my lesson plans on my blog page.