Lesson+Planning+Institute

This page is for the Lesson Planning Institute 2012.

Introduction
A __Lesson Plan__ is __not__ a schedule of events or an agenda to follow. It is a plan for student __learning__, that answers these key questions:
 * **What** will students learn?
 * **To what degree** will they learn? To what depth and breadth?
 * How will they **acquire** this learning?
 * How will they **demonstrate** this __learning__?

Writing Aims & Objectives
Instructional Objectives - statements of what the students will know and be able to do at the end of a lesson/unit. Aim - the goal/objective of the lesson, written for students, in the form of a question.

__Start__ with the STANDARDS you must cover in your curriculum, organized around big ideas/essential questions. It may help to take apart learning standards to separate the verbs from nouns (content). This should directly relate to your Objectives. Think of activities (tasks) to achieve Objectives. Objectives must be set before tasks; otherwise, we focus on the activity and may not really know if it is really valuable as a learning objective.

__Verbs to use for Objectives:__ //List, Identify, Rephrase, Tell, Define, Explain, Draw, Solve, Describe, Compare, Contrast, Create, Summarize, Diagram, Design, Evaluate//

__Characteristics of Good Objectives:__
 * They are clear & specific
 * They focus on thinking
 * Their mastery can be demonstrated
 * They are measurable
 * They are aligned with standards

__Curriculum/Big Ideas & Essential Questions__ - __Resources Links__: New Jersey Standards page Pennsylvania Curriculum page

Questioning
PBS Resources for Questions & More (by content).

__Guidelines for Wording of Questions:__
 * “Set the Stage” with questions of known, related content
 * Keep recall questions in introductory stage
 * Define content vocabulary terms & practice its use in questioning
 * Build an argument or exploration; track toward a conclusion
 * Relate these terms to big ideas, common experiences, or general usage

__Questioning & Engagement__ (of the entire class):
 * Prepare a chain of student contribution, responses, reactions, alternatives, divergence, etc.
 * Randomize or shake-up questioning procedures
 * Make small group exercises modeled on questioning & exploration
 * Give space to introverts by allowing for alternative or varied responses

__Sharing the Learning__:
 * Try to create a non-judgmental environment
 * Keep a conversational tone, but use ‘theatrics’ to emphasize key ideas
 * Model __Active__ Listening (summarizing a student response in your own words)
 * Invite students to recap a fellow student’s response (__Active__ Listening)
 * Relate the learning to Big Ideas or Essential Questions