7 Effective Lesson Planning Tips for New Teachers

The school season is back in full swing, and if you’re wondering how to engage your new students, the secret is in your lesson planning! Your students may have enjoyed your lesson style last year, but a new school year calls for a new style of teaching. Here are seven effective lesson planning and time management tips for teachers that will help you engage your students and make the most of your time.

Make Objectives

It may sound obvious, but the goal the classroom is to teach students. However, an important part of being a teacher is not just giving your students the information they need, but also setting specific objectives that help you decide what to focus on and how to ensure your class develops a thorough understanding of the subject matter.

Time Management Reigns Supreme

One of the biggest challenges for teachers is figuring out how long it will take to teach a lesson. Time management is extremely important, so you don’t have to cut a lesson short, leaving your students without the full picture. Take some time to divide up your lessons and make time for the warmup, activity/learning, and a quiz. Sectioning off your time will help you stay on track as you move through your class.

Get Creative

Although there are specific things you need to teach your students, you should still keep in mind that creativity and joy are a big part of learning. When your students enjoy what they learn, they are more engaged and retain more information. Even math class can be exciting—have your students identify shapes in artwork or build and count with blocks and Lego.

Target Various Learning Styles

Now more than ever, educators are aware that not all students learn the same. Some students learn kinesthetically (learn by doing), others are visual learners (learn by seeing), and some are auditory learners (learn by hearing). Incorporate each of these aspects into your lesson planning and you’ll help each of your students succeed.

Use Technology

Many schools have adapted to the technology generation, using platforms like Skype and text to keep in touch with parents or to answer homework questions after-hours. Take advantage of this opportunity to include tech in your classroom. If your students are working on a history timeline, have them create one on PowerPoint instead of using paper. Kids want to use technology and the current generation expects it. If you can use it to help boost your lessons, use it.

Assessment

As you go through your lesson, make some mental or written notes about how well it is going. When do your students pay attention the most? After how long do they begin to fidget and get distracted? What parts of your lesson were they most engaged in? Important questions like these should be considered while assessing your lessons.

Get Non-Traditional

You should never be afraid to experiment with something new—for example, you can take your students out of the classroom to give them a better perspective of the lesson. Observing and learning about the world outside the classroom is a practical, effective, and sensory way for students to absorb the lesson and retain the information.

Get Lesson Planning Tools from TIMESAVERS for TEACHERS

If you enjoyed these helpful lesson ideas, there’s a lot more where that came from. In fact, there are report card comments and lesson planning templates that can help you start fresh with a more effective teaching style. TIMESAVERS for TEACHERS provides quality tools for teachers to help them be more effective with their time. Visit our web site to learn more about tools like our Quick Lesson Ideas and download effective templates for your specific needs!

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