The Main Reasons For Lesson Plans
Are lesson plans necessary?
Although lesson plans constitute a major part of being a teacher, they are dreaded and sometimes their importance underestimated by some teachers. Some teachers even advance the unpredictability of some events in the classroom to discredit any attempt to provide any strict planning of what occurs in the classroom. Although this might be true, it should be noted that a lesson plan is a project of a lesson. It’s not (and cannot) be a description of what will exactly happen during lesson delivery. It provides, however, a guide for managing the classroom environment and the learning process.
Reasons for lesson plans
To have some hints on the importance of lesson plans on the teaching process, consider these reasons:
- Clarity
Lesson plans help to be clear about what you want to teach. Teachers need to make wise decisions about the strategies and methods they will employ to help students move systematically toward learner goals. - Unpredictable Events
Lesson plans may also include a room for unpredictable events. This helps teachers to be ready to cope with whatever happens. - Framework
Lesson plans give your teaching a framework, an overall shape. - Reminder
Lesson plans may also play the role of a reminder for teachers when they get distracted. - Commitment
It suggests a level of professionalism and real commitment .
In addition to the above reasons, it is worthwhile mentioning that lesson plans will have positive impact on both the teacher and the learner.
- For the teacher
- They don’t have to think on their feet.They don’t lose face in front of their learners.
- They are clear on the procedure to follow.
- They build on previous teaching and prepare for coming lessons
- For the learner
- They realize that the teacher cares for their learning.
- They attend a structured lesson: easier to assimilate
- They appreciate their teacher’s work as a model of well-organized work to imitate.
I’ve had a love-hate relationship with lesson plans. I used to write my lesson plans as meeting agendas for my Business English students. I do see the value in writing & maintaining lesson plans, but I think lesson plans also narrow some teachers’ thinking — mine included.
@Neil Barker
I agree with you. A lesson plan is just a project of a lesson written down on a piece of paper. It doesn’t reall tell us how the lesson delivery will take place. A lot of improvisation and unpredictable events occur. So teachers will undoubtedly need to use their own imagination and creativity to teach in addition to the lesson plan they have at hand!
lesson plan is good as it enables the teacher to be systhematic,organised and intills confidence further it helps to identify the best teaching methods.
good reasons for the lesson plan and this have helped me so much to compile my assignment
i rely love planning before teaching, and this has helped me to be effective in my teaching. but my friends in the staffroom usually laugh at me when writing a lesson plan. they normally tease me saying are you on teaching practice? why writing a lesson every day? you have not gained experience in the eight years teaching the same things?
I need more reasons to justify the need of a lesson note
wow ,it was so enjoying reading your article and hope ll use your ideas whenever i prepare one
Am now joining the teaching proffession, I admire the issue of preparing lesson plan
what an important document
its really a good thing to do,it become easy for a teacher to deliver his/her lesson.
ls highly informative
I have really learnt a lot as a student teacher
this is really helping it has helped me alot as a student teacher. please keep up on that same spirit of teaching others
superb and Only brilliant reasons / Motivation for lesson planning.
A teacher with viby EQ plans for inner self satisfaction. the lesson planning is manifestation of more than organization and confidence in the classroom…. It reflects the vibrant energies and professionalism that inspires great Teachers and fabulous strategies in the classroom.
the lesson plan and it’s magical wand… Is a showcase of teacher zeal and capabilities… And more and more
Thank U
I have learned a lot as upcoming teacher. Thank you all
should lesson plan be used as restriction to teachers?