TESOL New Jersey

This unit talks about lesson planning and how to create a lesson plan that will allow you to be flexible but which also allows you to keep track of what the class is achieving. For more experienced teachers, a strict or structured lesson plan might be more of a hindrance. Experienced teachers have a feel for how lessons will play out and are able to be more flexible in their teaching techniques. A lesson plan for those teacher might just be a few notes jotted down to keep them and the class on track every so often. For the more inexperienced teachers, a lesson plan can be extremely helpful. It lets them write down expectations for themselves and for the class. It is also a great way to keep a record of what the class has learned and what still needs to be worked on. It should be noted that the stricter the lesson plan, the less flexibility it offers to potential problems that may arise. It is important for the teacher to be prepared for small problems and know how to handle them when they come along. It is okay to go off track if the teacher feels the class would benefit from focusing on a topic a little longer or are ready to move onto the next step. As a teacher gains more experience, it will be easier to gauge this.