Lesson Plan Guiding Questions

 

Here are questions that teachers are encouraged to reflect on when planning instruction:

 

Objectives and Clear Targets

(Be explicit with students so they know the answers to these questions)

 

• What are students learning today? (Big Ideas, Essential Questions, Learning Objectives)

• Why are students learning this?

• What character/leadership connections are made in this lesson?

• What will students be able to do/connect with this learning?

• What does student success look like today?

 

 

Evidence of Understanding

 

• What products will students do, what will you look for (observations) and what conversations will you have that provide evidence of understanding today?  (What will they Write, Say, Do)

 

Support, Engagement and Extension

 

• How will you optimize the success for all students today? 

• List modifications (student specific changes to the expected standards), accommodations (student specific supports or instructional adjustments), differentiated instruction/student choice, and enrichment/extension activities.

 

Learning Plan

(Be intentional about teacher and student role, and appropriate balance… who’s doing most of the thinking?)

 

• How will you hook your students at the beginning of the lesson and connect today’s learning to the students’ prior experience/learning?

• How will students experience and explore the big ideas and essential questions of the lesson/unit?

• What character/leadership concepts will you reinforce in today’s lesson? How?

• How will you support students in the learning process?

• How will you gradually release responsibility for learning, moving from “I do” to “we do” to “you do”?

• What foundational skills/knowledge do students require to maximize their success and how will you teach them?

• How will you encourage students to revise, refine or rethink their learning?

• How will you sequence student experiences to maximize engagement and success?

• How will you help students make real-world connections today?

• How will students make their learning visible today?

• What feedback loops will you build into today’s lesson?

• How will you help students build character and become difference makers through today’s lesson?

 

Wrap Up

(loop to Big Idea & Evidence)

 

• How will you reinforce today’s learning and bridge to next learning steps?

• How will the students reflect on their own learning today?

 

Teacher Reflection

 

• Were the students successful today and how do you know?  

• What worked well and why?  

• What changes would you consider making to this lesson if you were to reteach it? 

• What did you learn about your students today? 

• How will your experience with today’s lesson affect future plans?