How to Write a Lesson Plan: What Every Lesson Planner Must Consider

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Writing a lesson plan is essential for excellent delivery and easy understanding of a topic. Many teachers in the world still make the mistake of taking classes without a plan. Due to the impact of lesson plan on knowledge delivery, it requires consideration of some factors before writing, when writing and after writing the lesson plan.

Before writing a lesson plan

To achieve anything in life, there must be a preparatory aspect. Before writing a lesson plan, it is essential that the lesson planner do the following.

Possess good mastery of the lesson topic

A good understanding of what you want to teach will not only help you to flow when teaching, it will also help you to be confident and engage your students in knowledge delivery.

Know the lesson target group

An idea of the age group of the students will help every lesson planner to decide how the lesson will be introduced, what instructional materials to use and the technique to use for knowledge delivery.

Decide how to maintain students focus

Teaching is more than standing in front of your students and speaking. It has more to do with how you can gain students attention throughout the entire lesson time so that knowledge can be passed to them. I tell you, gaining students focus throughout an entire lesson period can be challenging but with a designed and targeted knowledge delivery method students can be engaged throughout the lesson period. Work on your delivery skills.

Decide which instructional material best fits the topic

Instructional materials must be easy to use and must also be engaging. The intention of using instructional materials during a class activity is to ensure that students understand the topic easily. It helps the students to work towards the objectives of the lesson.

When writing the lesson plan

A good lesson planner must consider the following:

Consider the objectives of the lesson

Every lesson must have a stated objective and these objectives must be realizable at the end of the class or lesson. The objective of a lesson can influence the teaching procedure. Teaching procedures and knowledge delivery should be centered on realizing the objectives of the lesson. At the end of every class, students should be able to show that these objectives have been attained. Therefore, it is essential that lessons are planned in such a way that the objectives are realized by the students.

Consider how to introduce the lesson

Introduction is the first step in selling the idea or nature of the topic of any lesson to the students. As a teacher or lesson planner, it is an avenue to engage the students in the topic being taught. In introducing a topic (in science), simple or daily life experiences that relates to the topic could be used. It could be a common event that occurs in their lives. Introduction has the power not only to engage students, but to make the students interested in listening to the teacher. Never forget it is a time to bond the topic to the student.

Consider how to engage the students

Motivation is key to maintaining an interactive or engaging classroom environment. Motivation could come from the students or from the teacher because a classroom setting is like a family setting. The teacher as the head of the class must seek ways to motivate the students because in motivating the students, the teacher is also motivating himself. This motivation, when teaching, could be in form of a smile on the face, or a clap from students to encourage their colleague. It could also take the form of an engaging classroom activity. In engaging students throughout the teaching period, an excellent teaching procedure is required coupled with engaging instructional materials.

Consider how to review/conclude the lesson

This part has to do with summarizing what has been learnt during the classroom activity. Points that students need to know could be collated. Reviewing a lesson assists students to learn in-line with the objectives of the lesson. It is also an avenue for the instructor to clear any misunderstanding they have concerning the topic. Lesson planners must consider how to conclude their lesson. A lesson should be concluded only after the objectives of that lesson have been achieved.

Consider how to assess/ evaluate the students

Assessment can be within the lesson period or outside the lesson period; but it is advisable that assessment should take place within the lesson period except when there is no time. Assessing students, even if it’s a simple one, will help the teacher to know where the students’ stand in terms of understanding of the lesson objectives. This could also serve an avenue to know areas of the topic that is well understood and/or areas that are misunderstood by the students providing the teacher with an opportunity to correct their misconceptions.

Executing the lesson plan

Executing a lesson plan is key to ensuring that the set goals and objective of a lesson is achieved. To do these, the following must be put to action.

Consider how to manage your time

It is better to finish a lesson before the given time than to get stopped half way. As a teacher, it is expected that you know how to manage your time. Each aspect of the topic should be given a time quota for delivery. This will help ensure that the lesson delivery is well coordinated and maximum knowledge is passed on to the students before the end of the class.

Know how best to manage your resources

This has to do with the instructional materials and other resources needed to execute a lesson plan and achieve the set goals and objectives of a lesson. In situations where there is shortage of resources, students should be divided into groups. Whatever situation that arises, the teacher must be able to bring out the best from the available resources.

Decide how to carry along the different learning groups

Every class is composed of students with individual differences. While some may be fast learners, others may be average or slow learners. It is the duty of every lesson planner, after understanding of the targeted lesson population, to present his lesson in a way that will cater for the needs of the different learning groups in the class.

Decide on the best instructional method to use

Instructional methods to a great extent should depend on the nature of the topic, instructional objectives of the lesson and the lesson target group. Knowing this will help you decide the suitable instructional method(s) to use.

Study and understand the reaction of the students

It is advisable that when teaching, the teacher should maintain high contact with his/her students. It is also needed of the teacher to be able to tell if the students are following the teaching or otherwise. Being able to study and understand the feelings of the students will help the teacher to know the quality of his /her knowledge delivery.

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