Lesson Plan Format
Educators, who are new to the field, may become overwhelmed by the amount of preparation required for the classroom on a daily basis. However, incorporating methods, such as creating a lesson plan format, will keep you more organized and make the classroom experience much more enjoyable. In most cases, the state or district will establish a structured method for classroom preparation. This ensures that a teacher from another school or a substitute can step into a classroom and know what to expect. A lesson plan format is the most critical part of this standardization. It allows teachers to maintain a more uniformed classroom method. In addition, a standard lesson plan format is easier to use when creating new material for your students. There are a variety of layouts available, but all will have variations of the same basic elements.
When creating the document you should include as much information as possible. This will be very helpful to a substitute when you are not present in the classroom. The lesson plan format should begin with a warm up or getting started section. This should be the activity or explanation of the material that gets the students interested and excited about what they will be learning. Next will be the review portion. This is the area that will focus on the previous day’s work. A vital part of teaching is repetition and reinforcement. By including a review section within the lesson plan format, your students will be more likely to retain the information they are learning.
At this point you will begin focusing on the daily work. The introduction will be the first portion of the lesson plan format that will focus on the activity of the day. The introduction should prepare the student for what they will be learning and explain the fundamental aspects of the lesson. You should then list all of the points and objectives of the subject to ensure they are incorporated within the daily activities. A section on materials should be included. This will help you stay organized and allow the students to get the most out of the classroom experience.
The next two sections will focus on the area of study for the day. They include a guide and independent practice. The teacher will walk the students through the material and offer suggestions, as well as solutions to the samples. Afterward, the students will be allowed to work independently to put what they have learned into practice. The teacher will be available to assist students with questions. When working with a lesson plan format, these two sections should be filled in with as much information as possible. This will prevent you from scrambling to prepare for class the night before. By spelling out all of the steps within the lesson plan format, you can focus your attention on educating the students.
The final step in the lesson plan format should be a closure to the day’s work and an explanation of the next day’s material. You will want to have a wrap up of the day’s events within this portion of the lesson plan format. This might include a question and answer period or simply a quick review of the material discussed. Finish the class with an overview of what will be covered during the next day. This allows students to prepare for the lesson. In addition, if a student is confused, this will give him or her the opportunity to clarify information. Following a lesson plan format will allow you to stay in control of the preparation process. You might be surprised to discover how easy it can be to create interesting material for your students to study when you establish a standardized lesson plan format.