So, why bother making lesson plans? Lesson plans are essential for any teacher and here’s why: -It gives you and the students structure and routine in class, therefore allowing students to engage more and for you to really educate the students. -There’s nothing worse than going into a class unprepared and thinking “right, what next?” -Students can pick up on even the slightest lack in self confidence and use this against you. -Planning gives you confidence. -You can also measure progress. -It allows you to enjoy teaching, which as we all know is the most important of all. When should I make my lesson plans? Well, before class preferably. Planning a class well takes time! So allow at least 2 days before your class to plan it. Ideally you want to stay 2 days ahead of class so that if you have any personal matters to attend to, that eat up all of your spare time; it doesn't affect your class. Most schools will give you time to plan and prep for class so use this time wisely and don’t waste it! I don't know to plan classes? Planning classes is very simple if we break it down into chunks or steps: |
Step 1 – Greetings
Take a few minutes at the beginning of class to welcome the students and generally talk to them about the weather, how they’re doing and anything that comes to mind. They have been out of the classroom for a while and might need to switch into English mode before starting.
Step 2 – Warm up
The idea of a ‘warm up’, as strange as that term is for anything outside of sports, is to give the students a small activity before class starts that is familiar and simple, yet gets them into English mode. Good examples of this are:
Singing
Dancing
Or even a short ABC game or something similar.
Take a few minutes at the beginning of class to welcome the students and generally talk to them about the weather, how they’re doing and anything that comes to mind. They have been out of the classroom for a while and might need to switch into English mode before starting.
Step 2 – Warm up
The idea of a ‘warm up’, as strange as that term is for anything outside of sports, is to give the students a small activity before class starts that is familiar and simple, yet gets them into English mode. Good examples of this are:
Singing
Dancing
Or even a short ABC game or something similar.
Step 3 – Review the previous class
If you think about it, how clever must you be to remember everything the first time you’re taught it. Now imagine being a child, there’s no way you can expect them to remember everything first time. So that’s why a quick review of the previous lesson is vital to making it sink in! By taking 5 minutes at the beginning of class to review, you’ve saved hours in the long run.
Step 4 – New content
Before you start your plan, its probably a good idea to pick a topic for class. This could be animals, transportation, food…anything you like really so long as its suitable and you can make a class from it.
So once you’ve chosen this topic, go through the new words or sentences, nice and slowly I might add, and use different tone, pitches and volumes of voice to help keep the students interested. They tend to switch off when everything is monotone.
If you think about it, how clever must you be to remember everything the first time you’re taught it. Now imagine being a child, there’s no way you can expect them to remember everything first time. So that’s why a quick review of the previous lesson is vital to making it sink in! By taking 5 minutes at the beginning of class to review, you’ve saved hours in the long run.
Step 4 – New content
Before you start your plan, its probably a good idea to pick a topic for class. This could be animals, transportation, food…anything you like really so long as its suitable and you can make a class from it.
So once you’ve chosen this topic, go through the new words or sentences, nice and slowly I might add, and use different tone, pitches and volumes of voice to help keep the students interested. They tend to switch off when everything is monotone.
Step 5 – Games!
Children and most people in general enjoy a game every now and then. So why not utilize them in your class? Add a fun and interesting game, switch the goal of the game so that its English orientated and there you have it, a crazy class that’s having fun with English!
Step 6 – Finally review your work
Like I said before, reviewing your work really makes it sink in. It’s very easy for children to get wrapped up in the game and lose focus on the class. So a quick 2/3 minute review at the end of class helps to settle things down and help the new information sink in.
Children and most people in general enjoy a game every now and then. So why not utilize them in your class? Add a fun and interesting game, switch the goal of the game so that its English orientated and there you have it, a crazy class that’s having fun with English!
Step 6 – Finally review your work
Like I said before, reviewing your work really makes it sink in. It’s very easy for children to get wrapped up in the game and lose focus on the class. So a quick 2/3 minute review at the end of class helps to settle things down and help the new information sink in.
Finally, Time management
This is potentially the most important part of any well developed plan! If you don’t keep track of time you could miss something or not have time for something, or even worse, finish everything before your time is up. Then you end up picking from the top of your head and feeling like you’re not in control. So keep an eye on the time at all times!
This is potentially the most important part of any well developed plan! If you don’t keep track of time you could miss something or not have time for something, or even worse, finish everything before your time is up. Then you end up picking from the top of your head and feeling like you’re not in control. So keep an eye on the time at all times!
So, in case you hadn't guessed this plan is most suitable for young children but many aspects can be transferred to a class with older students!
Try it out in your classes and be sure to comment with any questions!
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Try it out in your classes and be sure to comment with any questions!
Follow us on:
YouTube
Google+
Linked in
For all the latest tips and tricks on teaching in China! Head to our website:
www.networkesl.com
To check out the LARGEST database of jobs in China and become part of our team!