Preparing Lesson Plans
Preparing lesson plans is very important for classroom management. Without a clear lesson plan, it can be difficult to focus on classroom management. I have been taught that classroom management is the most important part of being a good classroom instructor. Why is the skill of preparing lesson plans not emphasized as the most important?
I agree that having the lesson plan is very very important. If you don't have the lesson plan together, the students pick up on that and their focus and attention quickly dwindles. So does their respect. How can you expect them to be prepared when you are not? However, I think the module here is assuming that you have that together already, now you just have to manage your classroom. Being on time to class, having clear cut rules and expectations leads to good classroom management. I like to talk about rules/expectations on day one. If I find that a rule/expectation isn't working, I know to modify it for the next term. The students like knowing where their boundaries are and what my expectations are for them.
Hi Carla:
Preparedness follows a pattern: Competence >confidence >student trust > student respect >student learning outcomes achieved. Poor preparation achieves little.
Regards, Barry
Last term a full-time instructor had a medical problem half-way through the term and was unable to finish out the term. Unfortunately, there weren't any plans available for a substitute to take over. As a result, this term our campus is using the online Drop-Box service to keep lesson plans up-to-date and available to everyone.
Hi Paul:
One thing to keep in mind about preparing lesson plans is ultimately, we want to have a variety to address every type of learner.
Regards, Barry
