Lesson planning – again, that’s what we teachers do and something I have been giving a great deal of thought to recently.
I wrote not long ago on the subject and since then have tried Ross Morrison McGill’s 5 minute lesson plan and decided I was right to like his idea! Using the template places a real emphasis on what the students are learning, how they will learn it and how will they progress from here.
.
As I said in that post I wanted to adapt the template a little for my own use and have done so. Combining mostly Ross’s ideas with the Maths version I discovered (I originally found this on the Suffolk Maths site, I believe Emily Hughes is the author) and then tweaking a little for me I have my own version! I wanted a bigger box for Assessment for Learning, to include vocabulary and to have the option to complete the plan electronically. So I have modified the shapes and added text boxes to the various parts of the diagram to make it possible to use electronically.
.
Knowing that this subject is one I will return to, I have given this 5 minute plan its own page (as part of the I’m Looking For.. series) which I will keep updated as I use this method for planning.T
.
Thinking also about observing lessons I have been reading various articles and blogs and came across David Didau’s ‘Where Lesson Observations Go Wrong’. Many of David’s comments really struck a chord with me, particularly his comment ‘no one knows my kids in my classroom like I do‘. That is so true; I think we would all like to think that any observer coming into our lesson has that in mind. If I observe a lesson in any capacity I want the teacher to know that I appreciate how well they know their students.
.
I do like David’s suggested questions (reproduced below – thank you David) for observation feedback – questions like this make for a good conversation between the observer and class teacher. If I have planned my lesson properly, thinking about all the aspects mentioned in the five minute plan above then I should easily be able to answer these questions and in fact be glad to be asked them. The questions emphasize quite rightly that this is but one lesson in a sequence of lessons and only a tiny snapshot of my interaction with that class.
.
.
- Where does this lesson fit into your sequence of teaching?
- What have students had to learn in order to get to this point?
- What did they already know?
- How will you develop what students have done so far?
- How might the next lesson be adapted in light of what happened this lesson?
- How do you know if students are making progress?
- Why did you make the decision you made today?
- Is there anything you might do differently?.
These questions are useful for reflection – have an imaginary conversation with yourself even if you are not being observed. Actually come to think of it – isn’t that best of all – to get really good at observing ourselves?!
I do like to get a class working immediately, I have written on 
We decided it would be a good idea to have an independent homework sometimes, giving you the freedom to work on something of your own choice. This will enable you to demonstrate your independent learning skills. There are several suggestions here but you may choose any activity that will support your learning in Mathematics. Your activity should usually include trying some problems.
Note that the independent homework gives you the chance to respond to feedback; for example you might want to try to solve some equations and present your solutions very logically and show that you are checking your work. It may be a response to your ‘self-feedback’. When you reflect on something we study in class, sometimes you might think ‘I’d like to practise some more examples’. Your independent homework provides the chance. Remember you could choose any topic, your homework offers you the chance to revise work.
