Lesson planning = a must. Lesson plans (in a specific format, nicely written out) = stealing time from other, more important things like giving feedback, building relationships, or just plain planning instruction! #sunchat
Really, Aubrey? No written or on-line document is required for you? Wow - talk about the freedom to actually have time to teach!!! Love that! #sunchat@Ms_A_Yeh
Ahh Lesson Plans....
We are required to write them. We have a new school format that is mostly just listing standards, Enduring Understanding & Essential Questions, Not hard. Not sure how useful. But makes me have a plan...
#sunchat
Even though I haven’t had much experience with lesson plans, the few lessons I have taught, I didn’t seem to follow the formal plan I made at all #sunchat#cep416
Since we're a "no textbook" school, lesson plans are crucial. Our Ts can't do a good job unless they've thought it through. But on the positive side, they have complete creative freedom #sunchat
Morning, #sunchat. I'm Brian. I teach MS students English in CO. These days, my lesson planning involves (still) scribbling in a paper plan book along w/public-facing slide https://t.co/4N91ktbX31
I'm Ethan, first year social studies teacher from IL. Lesson plans not required during my formals but I type them up with central focuses, objectives, standards, procedures, and next steps. Not sure if my eval looks at them. Does this help/hurt me? #sunchat
One of my personal goals is to visit as many countries around the world as I can. My words have beat me to most of them already. I will use @SkypeClassroom to virtually travel & take my S’s w/ me @zelfstudie#TigerStrong#sunchat#ecet2 Mark Twain said it best. #tlap#edchat
A1: Lesson Plans for me, are a must! It helps keep me on task and organized. I know what am I doing that day and If I want to add on to that lesson, I can, but it helps me organize my lessons better. #sunchat
Being a slight bad guy: I get everyone’s point but you need to have a plan. How do you really achieve your plan if nothing is written down. Check out https://t.co/VYl6RJrjuV#sunchat
Most of our Ts use slides too. I find so helpful - they can put them on Google classroom for Ss who are absent, & if they're sick a sub knows exactly what to do #sunchat
In our district the formal plan is required each week. The format reflects the state’s model, which includes many categories. Many of my teachers do not love it. One possibility being explored is the unit plan vs the daily plan. #sunchat
GM from NYC! Middle school ELA teacher! Lesson plans are important. But more importantly, they are for me to follow - the components are necessary, just not the format. #sunchat
Lesson plans are required weekly at our high school. But there is flexibility in how they are written. Some Dept use the same format. I found that the more detailed my plans were the better prepared I was. However...every teacher is different! 😀😀😀#sunchat
I'm thankful I don't have to submit formal lesson plans, in 24 years have never had to. I know the standards, I have a pretty good idea of what is happening in the classrooms and I KNOW my student and how to help. #sunchat
We have a format that they use, but they're welcome to change it. There are certain things they need to include - learning targets, resources, class agenda. #sunchat
I'm wondering, as you reflect on your current lesson-planning practice: How might *you* answer that last question, Ethan, about its relative helpfulness or hurtfulness? #sunchat
If nothing that goes on in our classroom is like it was when I began teaching years ago, why must my lesson plans follow the same format as they did years ago ?? #sunchat
Welcome Madison! So happy to see so many newbies joining us! Feel free to follow some of the amazing teachers on here! Jump into our conversation! #sunchat
In our district the formal plan is required each week. The format reflects the state’s model, which includes many categories. Many of my teachers do not love it. One possibility being explored is the unit plan vs the daily plan. #sunchat
I have seen plans that are over 5 pages long. I believe you need to know the answer to these 4 questions: 1. What do you want them to know? 2. How will you know they know it? 3. What will you do with those who don’t. 4. What will you do about those who already do #sunchat
I tried changing the format of lesson plans so they were more reflective of a student-centered, standards based classroom. Some are open to the new designs, some want me to go back to the 1960 ( or earlier?) format #sunchat
I have course calendars that show our path for each day/week, our goal, and these are posted on our class site for Ss and parents to see; to me that’s a plan #sunchat
I am the same way, being a long term substitute, I have had to make lesson plans, especially if I am in a position for more than 60 days, but when I do the lesson plans, I feel like I do not follow them all the time. Then I feel lost half the time though. 😑 #sunchat
P2 I have worked on these four questions with my colleagues for over 5 yrs. Changed my practice and can’t do it with it not being written down somewhere somehow. #sunchat
I have seen plans that are over 5 pages long. I believe you need to know the answer to these 4 questions: 1. What do you want them to know? 2. How will you know they know it? 3. What will you do with those who don’t. 4. What will you do about those who already do #sunchat
As a new/preservice teacher, I thought lesson plans were helpful in making sure I thought of all of the important points. In my principal internship, I saw the value of lesson plans for teachers who struggled with keeping organized. #sunchat
We had a huge flu epidemic in Nov & half the school was away at any given moment. Most kids missed at least a week. Without those slides it would have been a nightmare for Ts #sunchat
In our district is a site based decision. My admin doesn't require them to be turned in. We are a tech focused school so I keep mine digitally and collab w/other Ts digitally on them. I love the flexibility that allots me. #sunchat
Oneika, I agree - I like having a daily plan, but the format the district requires seems to not be in the format that best helps me map out my day. I would love a more personalized option. #sunchat Seems like I now do double the work as a result.
GM from NYC! Middle school ELA teacher! Lesson plans are important. But more importantly, they are for me to follow - the components are necessary, just not the format. #sunchat
In my district, we are required twice a year to turn in a complete lesson plan for observations. If teachers are struggling they may be required to show evidence of planning from day to day #sunchat
I think this is a great point, classrooms have transformed, yet even the same formal lesson plan format is still what is taught to future teachers #sunchat#cep416
I agree with this. I have also found that I feel disconnected and more like a robot when I try and follow the formal plan. I feel more confident in teaching a lesson when I just have an outline. #sunchat#cep416
A1: LP are not a requirement to turn in. But Many of us use Slides to outline our goals and activties. This is shared with Kids, Parents, support staff. Detailed plans and access to files saves so much effort and Time! @Robertsjess_1@A_Dalton13@AllenGrable#sunchat
What it comes down to for me is 1) How much time is the lesson plan taking? 2) Is that the thing that will be the most "bang for the buck" for that time? and 3) Can we be smart about this and use things like slides to connect plans w/students & parents?
#sunchat
I completely agree! What works for one T or classroom won't work in another, but ensuring your time has purpose and focus. along w/responsiveness is what matters. #sunchat
I am wondering if we are mixing lesson plans with what activities we want kids to do or what we actually want them to learn. To me a lesson plan is about what I am wanting them to learn. Don’t need to change what they are supposed to learn #sunchat
Not a bad guy! I’m with everyone on the need for planning, love the idea of building your class around essential questions, just not sure you have to pull out a big formal plan for every day #sunchat
Check out this resource from @alicekeeler that has a fabulous collaborative lesson planning template. It can be used as is or as a jumping off point! I found that it allows for important conversations around planning and collaborating. https://t.co/wQ18bq14A2#sunchat
I currently have a preservice teacher working with me so I am working to do a more formalized lesson plan to help her understand how to think about and create lessons. There is so much to keep in mind. #sunchat
I did, I showed a format that seemed to be more useful and reflective ( I'm sure there is even a better way of I could collaborate with others ). Some are okay with it, others not so much #sunchat
No specific format required of lesson plans here. But planning beyond page numbers and to do lists is required. What is it you want students to know and be able to do and how are you getting them there? #sunchat
It sounds like that would give a great idea about what the impt focus of the class or lesson is without taking away the flexibility that is needed to meet S needs. I post objs for parents on my site, have more detailed two page (weekly) plans for me and fellow teachers #sunchat
I have course calendars that show our path for each day/week, our goal, and these are posted on our class site for Ss and parents to see; to me that’s a plan #sunchat
Absolutely, and I do that with my calendar. Maybe the answer here isn’t getting away from having a plan (duh), but in allowing choice in how it’s done. #sunchat
I think that is the part of a plan that should no longer be there. Actual day to day looks is not possible if you are paying attention to students. Learning targets and possible learning strategies are essential to know and have in a plan #sunchat
I am a super organized person so I like the idea of lesson plans but having every little detail (down to the questions you ask) doesn’t seem natural in my opinion #sunchat#cep416
Reading all of these tweets about not having to submit plans makes me wonder if the requirement varies more by state or by individual district 🤔 even when I first started (1997) veteran teachers were supposed to write plans and have them available when asked #sunchat
Sounds like your approach serves useful purpose, then. I recall my own tendency to over-plan & over-document in my early years teaching, which has since become more streamlined w/experience. As time passes, remember to revisit habits, changing when you identify need. #sunchat
What works for me in having a calendar rather than a formal plan is being able to look ahead and move what needs to be moved to accommodate extra time, schedule interruptions, etc #sunchat
That's been a big issue - do I want to spend hours creating a formal lesson plan I won't use because it's a requirement - or do I want to use that time actually creating a valuable lesson or giving students feedback #sunchat
I think SOME kind of plan is necessary because there are multiple people involved in the teaching and learning of Ss. It’s like a sports team- T is the coach, but how can the “plays” be effectively shared with Co-teachers, parents, admin, and Ss themselves? #sunchat
The real benefit I have found in some type of written plan is the ability to be even better at responding in the moment in the classroom. I have already taken a few hours to think about all of the things I may need to do based upon what they do. #sunchat
I haven't had much experience creating lessons plans yet since I am still a student, but I prefer lesson outlines. In some plans I have had to include everything I was going to say. This was unnecessary and made me feel like a robot. #sunchat#cep416
Absolutely, and I do that with my calendar. Maybe the answer here isn’t getting away from having a plan (duh), but in allowing choice in how it’s done. #sunchat
Hi #sunchat! I’m a former ELA/SS teacher from NC, now an AP. While lesson plans have value in our district, common unit plans are much more important to student successes. Lesson plans in my opinion shouldn’t be required to follow any specific format; teachers need more autonomy!
When teachers adapt for student needs there have not been any concerns. In fact, one of the categories that are filled out is how they will differentiate. I think the time requirement of the plan is more an issue that feeling “locked into” it #sunchat
I agree! I work at a district where it is required and have to be in by a certain time. Its usually Friday by the end of the day, and its mandatory. #sunchat It really could be the district and state. Not sure.
I definitely do more detailed plans when I have more people involved (the years I teach inclusion or ESL for example so that we are all on the same page. #sunchat
agreed! We have flexible seating, differentiated instruction..... how about flexible and differentiated plans? Let each T find what works best for their own classroom! #sunchat
In reply to
@mrclinefhs, @carlameyrink, @MarthaRiveraSU
Rigid as in when I have to list activities with times- but in my classroom each student can be on a different activity and the time can be different. The traditional format doesn't let me reflect that. Plus students assess on different days #sunchat
I'm only a year removed from typing 7-9 page plans that included literally everything I was going to say or do, but as an Ed. student they made me consider all the different elements of a good lesson, and they prepared me to rock the edTPA. #sunchat
I am currently learning how to create formal lesson plans in my literacy class at MSU. I find that formal lesson plans help me to stay on track, where just having an outline seems intimidating! #sunchat#cep416
✨A1: I write simple lesson plans on a Google Calendar so I can share them with students and staff that need them. I post my calendar on my class website. They are very basic, but easily understood for those involved. 📆 #sunchat
This is my school’s lesson plan designed by us to be at a unit level. No need to turn in every week but each unit. I made it highly specific because I am featured in a new book by BIE and they needed more specifics for filming purposes: https://t.co/qNvo9vxE8o#sunchat
All of this lesson plan talk just makes me think about @simonsinek's "Start With WHY". What is the "why" behind lesson plans? Are we meeting it in the most effective/efficient way? Are there other ways we could meet it?#sunchat
I agree. I usually like to send a copy of what is being taught in my classroom to parents on a weekly basis. I like my parents to know what their children are learning, that way, if my students get stuck, my parents are aware of that lesson and are able to help them. #sunchat
Rhetorical Q: If education's trending towards individual agency, collaboration, creativity in effort to stoke intrinsic motivation & learning momentum, isn't continuing to demand from teachers 1-size-fits-all lesson plans misguided? #sunchat
It sounds like the best thing is to ensure Ts have the same ability to differentiate their own work (creating lessons) as we give Ss. Some prefer more detailed layouts while others prefer outlines. As long as Objs, learning outcomes, and assess all align give Ts choice #sunchat
After several years, my "lesson plans" looked like a weekly calendar I would fill in with shorthand notes/objectives/goals for the week. And then turned into slides like these to post on my website: https://t.co/Qy8cFgcRJR#sunchat
I’ve been teaching long enough that I have many different ways to teach each objective. Everything I need is ready to go, then I decide how to teach/deliver it at that moment. Like how a quarterback doesn’t call the play until the defense shows its cards. #sunchat#earthscience
Can you list all activity options for a certain time? If you can't adjust it to your needs, maybe you should talk to admin about the limitations & see if they'll change. When Ts come to me with these kinds of problems it helps the school grow. #sunchat
So true. That is one of the reasons why a few years ago we changed our lesson plan template. We needed to include evaluation elements but also flexibility, needed to understand Ts with multiple preps and something that wouldn’t take hours. Ours takes 30 minutes or less #sunchat
Welcome to #HackLearning 101:
1. Collect all standardized tests on campus.
2. Put them in cardboard boxes.
3. Take boxes outside.
4. Pour gas on boxes.
5. Burn.
6. Begin teaching.
I just posted something similar. We often teach Ts in a way that goes directly against best learning practice, but expect them to teach Ss in flexible ways to meet learning needs. Sounds like we are doing the same w/LP requirements #sunchat
Make these small communication adjustments for the rest of this school year and then plan to make these bigger ones next school year ~ for improved communication https://t.co/7aK9hjJwsW#edchat#sunchat
I’ve been teaching long enough that I have many different ways to teach each objective. Everything I need is ready to go, then I decide how to teach/deliver it at that moment. Like how a quarterback doesn’t call the play until the defense shows its cards. #sunchat#earthscience
A2: Yes, I would for self keeping. I like to follow a plan, some teachers don't, but for me, it helps me to be an effective teacher. I like to touch on all bases of a lesson. How about yourself @MrEugenePark#sunchat
In reply to
@MrEugenePark, @TraceyRaimondo, @MrEugenePark
Anytime! It worked well for me, traveling to different buildings, to have it all digital, and students/parents used it when they were absent to know what they missed. Win-win! #sunchat
Love it! Responsive teaching at its best! Each class is so different that it makes no sense to be locked into lessons you've done before. Finding what works best for your group, in the moment is best. #sunchat
I did not realize my geometry lesson plan would be liked so much :). I wrote a Precalculus plan that was filmed by BIE as well. Here is that plan. Feel free to share with other math Ts trying to do PBL: https://t.co/qNvo9vxE8o#sunchat
All of this lesson plan talk just makes me think about @simonsinek's "Start With WHY". What is the "why" behind lesson plans? Are we meeting it in the most effective/efficient way? Are there other ways we could meet it?#sunchat
Yes! I am currently a student studying elementary education. As we began to learn how to construct lesson plans I found them comforting. I think that if I didn't have a formal lesson plan I would be overwhelmed. #sunchat#cep416
Yes I've already done that a ways back and showed them one that was more reflective. I try to not complain unless I can produce a possible solution ! #sunchat
Lots of hypothetical contingencies to work out, but today's #sunchat has me thinking: If my classes had Twitter or other SM presence via hashtags, what if Ss & I posted daily tweet-sized lesson plan or report?
“We don’t need that type of rhetoric on either side,” @Sen_JoeManchin says of @NancyPelosi saying @POTUS immigration framework is “make America white again” @CNNSotu
Lots of hypothetical contingencies to work out, but today's #sunchat has me thinking: If my classes had Twitter or other SM presence via hashtags, what if Ss & I posted daily tweet-sized lesson plan or report?
It is always great when the lesson plans are liked by the students ! It makes the learning process better and students are able to engage and participate #sunchat
Imagine the depth of learning that would need to take place to synthesize information gleaned from the class into bite-sized tweets. I love this idea! Do you already have a class hashtag? #sunchat
Alright Twitter educators, hook me up. What are the BEST 4th-5th grade level novels you have read that would be appropriate for 3rd graders? Give me your best of the best please! #edchat#booklovers#4thchat#5thchat#library
A3: I would like to think that when writing my lesson plans, I am answering all the "WHYs". I just feel that lesson plans are an effective way to stay on task. Lesson plans help me to make sure that I am teaching and they are learning as much as possible on that subject.#sunchat
Yes! I am still a student, but if it wasn't required by my professors I would still do it. I would not write what I was going to say or word for word, but I would still create a plan or at least an outline. #sunchat#cep416
Ooooh I love going Rogue! Doing what's best for Ss with no fear of central office! Bwahaha! Luckily I work in a district that is very forward-thinking and encourages social-media use by Ts and Ss. #sunchat
As a student, I always enjoyed it when the professor would ask us questions and get us involved. The professor uses an outline as a guide but my participation would help me with the material. #sunchat
I am always of the opinion that if it is helping you achieve your goals/purpose, it is probably worthwhile! It's when it becomes a requirement that doesn't fit your purpose that there is a disconnect. #sunchat
A1. I teach title math K-5. I would be lost without my lesson plans. I’m very grateful that I work with co-teachers that will plan, share and reflect with me. Finding the time can be tricky which is why I write notes on my lesson plans! #sunchat
I agree with you. That is why I always try and add along the way. Maybe some fun games that have to do with the lesson that is being taught that day. My students love free fun time and they not even realize they are learning at the same time. #sunchat
It’s goes back to doing what works for you. I’ve been at a district where I had to do detailed plans, too detailed. They were consuming precious time that I could’ve been investing in making my plans more engaging! Now I use a Google Cal, takes a fraction of the time! #sunchat
I agree! That is how I see it. I want to be prepared and they can actually see and know when a teacher is prepared. I feel it keeps them on task also. #sunchat#teacherlife
Wow I think that this is a great idea! I think (especially as a student right now) that a tweet notifying the students on what they are going to learn is unique and very helpful. It lets the students know what is expected! Awesome idea #sunchat#cep416
Goodbye #sunchat have a good week. I'm off to cook bacon. If you
If you're feeling up to it, check out board games in the classroom.
https://t.co/H829gbemYe
I'd appreciate the View, Share, and Feedback :)
Agree. We're very clear that Ts don't need to cover the entire curriculum, as long as learning going on. We want to help Ss become life-long learners, which means depth not superficial coverage. #sunchat
It goes back to doing what works for you. I’ve been at a district where I had to do detailed plans, too detailed. They were consuming precious time that I could’ve been investing in making my plans more engaging! Now I use a Google Cal, takes a fraction of the time! #sunchat
I agree, could even say the reflection on the lesson is as important or maybe more important than the initial plan. Because plans stray...but the reflection on why, what worked, or what could be better is so crucial. #sunchat
I agree, could even say the reflection on the lesson is as important or maybe more important than the initial plan. Because plans stray...but the reflection on why, what worked, or what could be better is so crucial. #sunchat
