Richmond, Utah TESOL Online & Teaching English Jobs

This unit talked on the lesson planning. It discussed the several aspects of the lesson planning and a lesson plan including the pros and cons of having a lesson plan, what should be put down to the lesson plan, how a lesson plan should look and what purposes it should serve. The pros and the cons of having a lesson plan: There is no doubt that a lesson plan is good to have regardless whether it is a very simple one or relatively with more structures. A lesson plan can serve as a reminder to instructors on what should be accomplished and what should be brought to classroom, especially when there are quite a few supplies needed or procedures needed to be done. When equipment is needed, a lesson plan can remind the instructor to make sure in advance that the equipment is functioning. The lesson plan can also serve as a record to show what were done or not done, so the undone works can be carried out in the subsequent classes. A lesson plan is also a reference document for class evaluation and for future improvement. When the class needs a coverage by another instructor, the lesson plan can serve as a message or direction to inform the substituting instructor what needs to be covered and how. However, a lesson plan has also cons. It could set limitations on the flexibility for instructors as it lists in the viewers’ eyes the things to be done in the class time frame. If instructor wants to expand some activities, the lesson plan may not permit if the plan was created to be very rigid. If the planned procedures were not fulfilled, the class session may not seem to be well organized. What should be written down to a lesson plan? A lesson plan should be written in a customized fashion in detailing based on the contents to be covered, the activities to be arranged and the instructor’s teaching experience. It may or may not include the date, time, location, number of students attending or students’ names, but it should include the major parts of the lesson. It could list the in-class activities, phases, timing, supplies or equipment needed and whether the equipment needs to be preset or warmed up. If the instructor is new to the course, the lesson plan may need to be in more details than just a few outlines. An experienced instructor may just need to write down a few notes or even just picture in mind the things to be brought and the activities to be administered for the lesson and still reach the aimed goals. How should a lesson plan appear? The lesson plan is an arrangement of the lesson rather than a script. Therefore, it should be simple and clear rather than loaded with details. It should also bear some flexibility, such as “Watch a video when time allows” or allow instructor to be adaptive such as in the case “Presentation can be done individually or in a group” depending on the instant situation. When a lesson plan contains all these features, the session can be progressed in a relaxed and well suited way. Both the instructor and the students can get ideas on how the class is to be styled, what needs to be accomplished, what can possibly be extended and what likely has to be carried out in the next session. So the students would most likely believe that the session is designed for its best way to fit a productive learning. The purposes a lesson plan should serve: As stated above, a lesson plan is a reminder, a guideline, a message and a record. It is also a document that can be referred to for class evaluation or improvement. Therefore, a lesson plan should serve the purposes it is designed to and match the nature of what it is. Among all the values it offers, the most important one is that it presents the objectives that both instructor and students would need to achieve through the class session. In conclusion, having a physical lesson plan is truly necessary, yet not mandatory or must-to-have. A specific lesson plan should allow flexibility, adaptation and fun. It should be individually constructed to well meet the needs of instructor, students and class.