How to Write a Lesson Plan: Introduction to Basic Lesson Design and the 8 Keys to Good Planning

In this article, learn how to write a lesson objective and draft a practical lesson plan using a classic and adaptable lesson plan outline. Eight key elements related to good lesson design are reviewed:
1. Motivation,
2. Explaining the objective,
3. Input, examples, and multiple representations
4. Modeling,
5. Checking for understanding,
6. Guided practice,
7. Independent practice,
8. Formal assessment or informal evaluation of the objective.
Includes a blank lesson plan template, a sample written lesson plan, and a list of verbs to help you write precise performance objectives. (Article: 10,224 words)

Lynn Melby Gordon, Ph.D. is a full-time tenured professor of teacher education at California State University, Northridge. She is the author of The Big Collection of Phonics Flipbooks, published by Scholastic in 2009.