Lesson Planning for the High School Teacher In 5 Easy Steps
As high school teachers, the art of lesson planning is central to our workdays and enables us to create meaningful, engaging experiences for our students.
A well-structured lesson not only engages students but also allows US, the teacher, feel confident, prepared, and reduces stress.
Sounds great and all, but where do we start?
This may not always be the easiest task on our plates — it’s undoubtedly one of the most time consuming, but having a set guide, “standards of operations” if you will, in place will help to take the guesswork out of lesson planning. Chunk the large and daunting task for yourselves the same way you do for your students!
Let’s take a look at my five-step guide to help streamline the lesson planning process while creating impactful classroom experiences and saving our valuable time.
Before we get into it, download my LESSON PLANNING PAGES.
Identify Learning Objectives
Begin planning by focussing on the end-goal or desired outcome(s). Ask yourself: What do I want my students to know, understand, or be able to do by the end of this lesson? Learning objectives provide a roadmap for your lesson to help guide both your teaching strategies and assessment methods.
Action Steps:
Clearly list and describe measurable learning objectives; know, understand, and do.
Align objectives with curriculum standards and broader learning goals; district and state levels.
Design Engaging Activities
Literally make a list of resources you have or ideas and see what fits. Cut the fluff and stay focussed on the learning objectives from the previous step. If it doesn’t foster the learning objective, then don’t include it in your plans. actively engage your students and reinforce the targeted skills or knowledge. Consider incorporating a mix of instructional methods, such as group discussions, hands-on activities, multimedia presentations, or collaborative projects.
Action Steps:
Choose activities that cater to a variety of learning styles.
Ensure activities are aligned with the learning objectives; stay focused.
Sequence Content Effectively
The sequencing of content plays a major role in maintaining the flow of your lesson. Put yourself in your students’ shoes; does the sequence make sense if you were the student? Structure your lesson in a logical progression, building from foundational concepts to more complex ideas. We’re chunking content here! I love the Gradual Release Method! This is a very natural teaching structure and sequence in which “I do” where you the teacher explains and demonstrates, then “we do” by working together with students and guiding them along, to “you do” where the students are able to work independently and apply the lesson content.
Action Steps:
Create a detailed outline of the lesson structure; remember gradual release.
Introduce and scaffold concepts in a logical sequence.
Incorporate Formative Assessment
Integrate formative assessment strategies to gauge student understanding throughout the lesson. Formative assessments are small checkpoints that focus on specific smaller concepts, ideas, and learning objectives. These can be quick quizzes, class discussions, or other informal checks for understanding, such as bellringers and exit tickets. Formative assessments not only help you monitor student progress but also allows for timely adjustments to your teaching approach.
Action Steps:
Plan checkpoints for formative assessments throughout the lesson.
Use student responses to inform instructional decisions; you may need to reteach a concept.
Reflect and Refine
After delivering the lesson, take time to reflect on its effectiveness. Consider what worked well, what could be improved, and any unexpected challenges that arose. I like to jot down some of these points on sticky-notes and add them to my lessons. This way I can reflect in upcoming years and make adjustments. Use this reflection to refine future lessons, making adjustments based on student engagement, comprehension, and feedback.
Action Steps:
Journal your reflections after each lesson.
Survey colleagues or participate in professional learning communities to gain multiple perspectives.
Effective lesson planning is a process that evolves with each classroom experience. What worked well for you one year, may not work as well the next. Lord knows I’ve looked back and thought, “whoa…what the heck was that?!”
By following this five-step guide you can enhance the quality of your lessons while creating a positive and impactful learning environment for your students. But let’s be real, most importantly, you can save yourself the headache, time, and take out the guesswork that’s typically associated with writing lesson plans.
Let me know if this helps. Leave a comment below and happy planning!
