Creating lesson plans

Planning a lesson in advance plays a crucial role in the success of teaching and learning. At Vinschool, lesson planning is a mandatory practice and criteria related to planning and preparation are clearly presented in the classroom observation rubrics.

What is a lesson plan? According to the Vinschool’s regulations on lesson plan management released in 2022, a lesson plan is a term used refer to the plan to teach a single period or consecutive periods (same day) of a subject for a class, in which learning outcomes, success criteria, and learning activities for each period are clearly presented. It is the teacher’s road map which outlines learning outcomes, means to accomplish them and strategies to draw out insight into student learning. Key components to be integrated in a lesson plan (as required in the Vinschool’s regulations on lesson plan management) include: lesson objectives success criteria learning activities Various templates can be used for lesson plans. A basic sample can be found here.

Importance of lesson planning Lesson planning is by no means exhaustive. Though not being a fixed script for your teaching, planning a lesson prior to teaching is an indispensable step. The benefits of lesson planning are obvious and legion. Lesson planning ensures goal-oriented/ outcomes-based teaching. The lesson plan translates the curriculum into clear daily goals. It includes a description of the learning objectives and measures for students to achieve them. All the activities that are going to take place in class need to be planned in such a way that guarantees the alignment with the learning objectives. Assessments are also developed upon the predetermined objectives to collect data about student achievement. While fitting the learning activities and assessment to the particular outcomes, teachers are still granted flexibility to select what best suits their students and their classroom environment. Lesson planning improves learner success. A well-designed lesson plan will help not only teachers but also students understand the objectives of the instructional module. Being well-aware of what and why they are learning, students will be more able to take active roles in their own learning and increase their own chances of success. While planning a lesson, a teacher needs to take the student profiles and class profile into consideration, which means the lesson design is tailored to students’ interests, preferences and needs. Such a student-focused approach will facilitate the desirable state and generate intended learning outcomes. Improved learning efficiency is also achievable thanks to increased learner engagement. Lesson planning contributes to teacher success and well-being. Having a skillfully-planned lesson means that a teacher is well-prepared of what to teach and how to teach before they enter the classroom. Teachers’ confidence will, therefore, be boosted and chances of having meaningful learning experiences with students will be maximized. With a prepared script in mind, they can comfortably focus more on interaction with students rather than thinking of what is supposed to do next. This leads to the fact that the act of teaching becomes more pleasurable; in a broader sense, teachers’ job satisfaction is increased. In addition, lesson plans are documented evidence for teacher’s evaluation. They are frequently reviewed and assessed by department administrators and school managers. Cultivating good habits of creating and reflecting on your own lesson plans will undeniably further your professional growth.

Regulations on lesson plan management at Vinschool Teachers are required to complete their lesson plan for the following week (n+1) and upload it to the storage area created by Vinschool IT Support Department no later than the Saturday of that week (n). At the beginning of the school year, each teacher will be provided with a link to access their own lesson plan storage folder. All the lesson plans must be checked and approved by Heads of Department before being uploaded to the storage folder. School Managers and Heads of Departments/Grades take responsibility for the quality of the lesson plans prepared by the teachers under their management.

How to create a lesson plan? Listed below are 6 steps to make a lesson plan. STEP 1: Determine lesson objectives and write success criteria STEP 2: Plan learning activities STEP 3: Plan to assess student understanding STEP 4: Plan to sequence the lesson in an engaging and meaningful manner STEP 5: Create a realistic timeline STEP 6: Plan for a lesson closure