The resources to make lesson plans extend far beyond the internet. You can see more clearly what to use when you know the structure of your lesson. In this podcast, I talk about three “framework” tools to help you develop powerful lessons.
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Dry-erase markers and white boards are great substitutes for paper and pencil when delivering powerful effective lessons. Lesson planning takes on a new excitement when using these methods to check for understanding. From guided practice to closure, these white boards can enhance any lesson. Students will love the interaction and quick feedback in assessment. You will love not having to kill trees making copies.
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I’ll be talking about presentation techniques that really work. Check back after Friday.
In your lesson plans, have you considered presentation and proximity as important? Take this idea for example: say you have delivered guided practice to your class on a math topic for nearly 2 hours and you still do not see 80% accuracy in the kids. You might be tempted to blame them or even still yourself for not getting the lesson out in an effective manner. Quick, simple question:
“Where do you stand?”
Could it be possible the kids couldn’t see your numbers as you wrote them on the board? Could it be possible your glorious “steps” you created and taught were hidden from the students because the screen turns snow-blind at a given angle? Perhaps you should take the time to test and measure the proximity and presentation of your lesson before you begin. Listen to this episode as I expand the topic.
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As teachers we must revise and renew our strategies in the classroom. This covers all aspects of our day: the lesson plans, the classroom management, you name it. The effective teacher is flexible and reflective. When something’s broken, you fix it. That’s the topic of this episode.
More on Revising Your Teaching Strategy at my Dynamite Lesson Plan blog.
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This is one where the kids can really open up and relax in the lesson. It only involves exploring that which they already know. It is very important to make bridges to the abstract new from the concrete known. This is how the human mind works best. If you seek to make those connections to prior knowledge, you will be far more successful as a teacher.
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Explicit Direct Instruction (EDI) is a teaching method created by Data Works that uses proven scientific data to teach kids. EDI is a part of my dynamite lesson plan for teaching every day. EDI has been used at my school in teacher training with student achievement as a result. Here are some sample lessons. [Episode continues in audio]
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One intervention for student behavior my colleagues and I have started is “Friday Soccer.” I take cones and a soccer ball out to the field at end of the day and the good kids, those without any detentions in the week, get to do something they love. We are working on alternate rewards for students on Fridays like doing a craft for the more artistic ones. This is a lot of work but since I committed to it, I imagine I have something to reward them with when I see good behavior. The kids’ faces light up when they know they are being rewarded for learning. [Episode continues in audio]
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First words of the episode: I started teaching and writing lesson plans at age 27. I thought I was old and wise then. Now, at 40, I still don’t think I am old and wise yet but I’m getting there. I remember back when I started it was so rare that I took a weekend to reflect on my teaching. I was thinking of new ideas faster than I could implement them and at times, especially just before Christmas, I was burned out.
Now when I teach I am learning more and more to be patient when challenges arise. When a class is having issues be them behavior or academic, I try to not pass judgment on the situation until I can really just sit down and reflect on the issue. Reflection is my strongest teaching resource. [podcast continues in audio]
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As teachers, we must be open to rethinking our approach to lesson plans and other challenges. This can hurt our egos sometimes when something we invented or thought of doesn’t have the desired effect. We need to do it for our students anyway. Currently in my grade level, we are struggling with classroom management and some parts of our instruction. The three teachers have been back to the drawing board and after October break, we plan to hit the ground running with “rethought” approaches. I think this idea can really make or break a teacher. See what you think.
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