A quick checklist for your lesson planning

Lesson planning is almost always a trial and error based process. This implies that students might cause discipline problems if they are simply expected to do a worksheet without any prior introduction to the subject or topic. They might also loose attention when a teacher tends to lean towards the lecturing side by spilling out all of the lesson plan objectives all at once without any contextualization. In short, a new teacher should try and aim for less teacher dominated talk and be open to using varied teaching techniques that would allow for a variety of student interaction. You might be thinking now, how can I bear in mind all these elements for a single lesson plan? Well, I can assure that not every lesson will go according to plan but you as a new teacher, can ensure your lessons will go as smoothly as you can using this simple checklist. Does your lesson plan include these items?

1. Objectives for the lesson plan are written. The objectives plain and simple, are your goals or where you want to take your students - let's say from point X to point Y. Objectives can [and should] be broken down. An example illustrating this point is: Teaching a Reading Comprehension on Endangered Animals with the specifics being skimming, scanning and making inferences.
2. Topic of the lesson. Does your main objective refer to the main topic and language items?
3. Classroom materials: Will you be needing to xerox or order pre-planned classroom materials?
4. Warm-up activity and wrap-up. Does your warm-up stage activity “engage” learners  in a student-centered manner? Does your wrap-up stage contain an activity which makes students have a positive perception of learning and make them feel motivated to come to next class?
5. Timing for each activity: Timing should be thought out beforehand but flexibility should be exercised for time extensions. In time this will become much more natural but for now, keep to writing it down.
6. Strategies and ways for dealing with weak or strong students: Did you consider a backup plan for fast finishers?
7.  Is your presentation stage student-centered, does it reference the language and vocabulary they will need for the rest of the lesson, and does it account for “elicitation”?
8. Does your practice stage contain an exercise or activity that is controlled or semi-controlled, focus on the language and vocabulary students will need for the next stage, and emphasize accuracy?
9. Does your production stage contain an activity that is ‘semi-controlled’ or ‘free’, focus on the language and vocabulary students have learned, and emphasize fluency in a vivid real-life situation

Other Elements for Consideration

• Different group arrangements (groups, pairs, frontal)
• feedback for students' work
• Sequencing and transitions between different activities.
• Homework: What and how to check?
• Backup plan or extra activity - this is very important; otherwise known as a SOS kit!

.Read more at Suite101: Checklist for a Lesson Plan: Tips for Planning an Entire Unit or Groups of Lessons | Suite101.com http://doritsasson.suite101.com/checklist-for-a-lesson-plan-a23249#ixzz1YuZME7sn