any teachers here in the lounge tonight?

[wildhorses]

k-6 ??

do you make lesson plans?

[pagerbear]

1. My mom taught that age group for many years and always made lesson plans.

Seems to me teaching would be so much more difficult without them.

[wildhorses]

6. i can see they are necessary, especially for that age group.

i need 3 of them by wednesday morning 9 am...

[LibraLiz1973]

2. Kindergarten here

Yes, I do.

It is THE WORST part of my job, hands down. I hate it.

I'm more creative than long term planning allows me to be.
What I mean by that is, each year the children will show interest in different things.
One year they learned all 42 Presidents and all 50 states. They could tell you every Presidents first, last and middle name
and what number President they were. They could tell you all 50 states and all the capitals. They were SO interested in it for
some reason. I had to completely redo my lesson plan to incorporate all the materials I created to do that.
Last year my kids showed alot of interest in sign language. We learned songs, phrases, the alphabet- you name it.
The year before that it was life cycles- trees, plants, flowers, butterflies, fruits & vegetables.
They never cease to amaze me- each year it is something different.
I've tried to do the Presidential one again and it has never worked.
And I tried to use the life cycle unit on a smaller scale last year, it didn't take!
So I definitely try to tailor what they learn to what they are most interested in.

We have to turn ours in one month in advance.

[wildhorses]

8. WOW!! you sound just like my teacher

she loves that age group. don't get me wrong i love that age group also but, that is not where i want to be teaching. i want to teach 8th grade and up...possibly even college level. so this lesson planning thing is not my cup of tea.

[LibraLiz1973]

10. I totally understand

Not loving the lesson plan! I love to plan activities and do research but hate being boxed in to saying a month in advance what I'll be doing.

I love the Kindergartners- such an awesome group each year. I love older kids as well, work with them during the summer.
But I don't think I could handle them every day!!

[pagerbear]

14. Why don't you think you'll need lesson plans for 8th grade and up?

Sure, they'll be a different kind of lesson plans, but you need 'em just the same.

[wildhorses]

18. seems like the younger the age group

the more specific the plan needs to be. it even has to have a 'cute' name.

[pagerbear]

13. It's terrific you have that much freedom in the age of NCLB

[LibraLiz1973]

34. They still learn all the necessary stuff

Alphabet, Math, Addition, Subtraction, Sight Words, Sizing etc.
The other things are my add ons, that take about 1 hour a day.

[femmocrat]

15. I can understand why you would hate that.

We just do weekly plans. As long as I follow the curriculum, it doesn't matter in what order I teach the lessons. I teach art, so I'm not limited by textbooks and standardized testing. At least I have some room for flexibility. It would be different in math or any of the other core subjects. They are far more rigid in what they have to cover.

[femmocrat]

3. Yes. Of course I do.

We have to turn in our plans every Friday, but I would write them even if they weren't required.

Why do you ask?

[pagerbear]

4. Turn them in? To whom? The principal?

[femmocrat]

7. Yes. Plus I keep a copy in a folder on my desk, in case there is a sub.

I think the school secretary also keeps a copy in the office for the same purpose.

[wildhorses]

9. exactly. this is a course for substitute teachers

that i am taking this summer. that is what the teacher told us a lesson plan is for. what kind of supplies are needed, etc...

[femmocrat]

12. Right! You would follow it when you go in to sub.

You wouldn't have to write lesson plans unless you were in long-term.

[wildhorses]

19. i guess that is why i have to do this project then

do you think i can write 3 of them by 9 am wednesday morning?

[Kajsa]

23. Hi Wildhorses!

I'm a sub and a home teacher.

You really lucked out with a course in subbing!
We have no workshops, training, support, etc.

Can you tell I'm a bit irritated at such?

If you have any questions regarding subbing, I'd be glad to
help.

Oh yeah, I have made many lesson plans.
For long term jobs, I've planned units.
I teach English and ELD- secondary level.
7-12.

Good luck!

[wildhorses]

27. thanks

perhaps i am making this harder than it is. of course, it doesn't help matters that i am hanging in the lounge

[wildhorses]

5. i have to write 3 of them for a school project

i have procrastinated and they are due wednesday.

i was on the website thinking i could cram 3 of them right quick but it is looking more complicated than i thought. we did a couple in class as a group and i have my notes. i want to teach high school so this is not really my thing at all.

any ideas or suggestions?

[femmocrat]

11. Did they give you an outline to follow?

Is it a unit plan (much longer) or just a single lesson?

It depends on what your professor wants, but I don't think most teachers write in great detail. I just use an outline format.

Just follow your outline (Objectives, Procedures, Materials, Conclusion, etc.) and include your state standards. One page per lesson would probably be sufficient.

[wildhorses]

16. she gave me a format to follow

and a website. now that i am on the website...it all looks like greek to me.

why did i procrastinate

[JVS]

17. TA

And yeah, I plan.

[wildhorses]

22. what age group do you teach?

do you turn in a formal lesson plan?

[JVS]

32. usually freshmen with occasional upperclassmen, grads, once a prof's wife

Nobody collects my plans, but it sure isn't fun facing a class and not having things laid out

[hfojvt]

20. No battle plan ever survives

contact with the enemy.

[wildhorses]

21. manuever and flank retreat and charge

ride all night and do it again

5 year olds ARE the enemy

[hfojvt]

26. "The sad thing about parent child relationships,

is that the parent is the child's friend and the child does not know it, and the child is the parent's enemy and the parent does not know it." Haim Gainott

Same thing could be said about teachers and children.

[wildhorses]

28. that sounds like something

kahlil gihbran would have said

[Danger Mouse]

24. I'm a TA, but I'm still responsible for my Math and Reading groups...

i pretty much just wing it

[wildhorses]

29. what age group?

i am big fan of winging it myself

[Danger Mouse]

31. 12-13.

I work in special ed, though. my math group is 6th-grade level, reading group 4th grade.

[Zoigal]

25. Retired teacher

now. Always had to make lesson plans. Often they had to be
turned into the principal for "checking". Standard procedure in the
"olden days". Basically a sound idea. Good way to organize materials,
thoughts, etc. A must in case one has a substitute. Just remember, they don't always have to be followed.

[wildhorses]

30. have any old lesson plans laying around --

that you would like to share

and oh yeah bless you for your years of dedication

[greenbriar]

33. what subject?

Lesson plans are a must to survive.

here is a sample of mine


Resources: Prentice Hall MaGruder’s American Government Textbook, computer, aver key (or projector) computer lab, powerpoint, inspiration software, Power Point software
Standards: Technology: Teacher Standards ISTE: IV assessment and evaluation Teachers apply technology to facilitate a variety of effective assessment and evaluation strategies
Standard III Teaching, Learning and the Curriculum Teachers implement curriculum plans that include methods and strategies for applying technology to maximize learning.
Student Standards Met: Standard I Basic Operations and Concepts Students demonstrate a sound understanding of the nature and operation of technology systems
Students are proficient in the use of technology
CONTENT:
1.4 Describe how constitutions set forth the structure of government, give the government power, and establish the relationship between the people and their government. (MP)
2. Describe the purposes, organization, and functions of the three branches of government. (MP)
Specific Content Objectives: Students will create a PowerPoint describing the 3 branches of Government and the qualifications to hold each branch. At the end, they will make a choice of which branch is the most important and justify their choice.
Essential Questions:
What are the structures and responsibilities of the federal government?
Which branch of American Government is the most important?
Expected Prior Knowledge: Students should have a general idea that the U.S. has a president as well as senators and representatives and a court system.
Language Goal:
Students will express their research, both written and orally by presenting their final products and an essay question on the test which will be scored using 6-trait or ARG Procedures/Management:
Review collaboration roles each day
Students will use checklist to guide their activities
Proper computer use, lab behavior will be reviewed daily
Finish unit with final product and self-test
Anticipatory Set: Students will review the Three Branches of Government and their qualifications through question and answer drill. Modeling/Direct Instruction

Teacher will guide students by starting concept map using Inspiration software, and then direct the students to finish their own using images and being creative.

The students in groups of two will create a PowerPoint using the information from their concept map to present the Three Branches of Government to the class. Guided Practice
Teacher will guide students through the concept map using Inspiration software. Students will then create their own concept map of the Three Branches of Government
Technology Links:
PowerPoint software
Inspiration software
www.whitehouse.gov
www.supremecourtus.gov /
www.congress.org/congressorg/home/

Assessment:

The attached rubric will be used to grade the final Power Point and concept map.

The Essay justifying your choice of the most important branch will be scored using the ARG rubric.
Reflection: This unit will take 5 days to complete. The first day will be spent reviewing the Three Branches of Government and the qualifications of office. Students will need 3 days in the computer lab. One day for the Concept map and explanation then two days to create their PowerPoint. A final day will be utilized to present their PowerPoint to the class.

[GenDem]

35. K - 8 Art teacher

And yes, I have my entire year planned out for each grade level.

At the school that I teach at, the grade level teachers must submit their weekly lesson plans to our principal every Thursday, and he reviews and approves them.