Why is lesson planning important?
Every teacher is required to prepare a lesson plan because this is considered as
guide for the day’s lessons. Lesson planning is important because it gives the teacher a
concrete direction of what she/he wants to take up for the day. Research has shown that
student learning is correlated to teacher planning. One major explanation is that when plan
is ready, teachers can focus on its implementation. When teachers do not have to think so
much about what they need to do next they are able to focus on other parts of the lesson.
Lesson planning is important because it helps teachers ensure that the day-to-day
activities that go on in their classrooms are providing students with an adequate level of
long –term progress toward the goals outlined in their scope and sequence, as well as their
individual education plans when necessary.
An effective lesson plan includes several elements: learning objectives, quality
questions, supplies and activities. It is important to have the learning objectives in mind
because those should drive the development and implementation of all activities in the
classroom. Quality questions are inquiries that the teacher plans to direct at the students
over the course of the lesson. Sometimes these questions are rhetoric in nature, but more
often they are designed to help the student think at a higher level than simple memorization
and comprehension. It is important to come up with a plan for assessment to determine
whether the class has met its targets.
Lesson planning is a complex yet essential part of the teaching process that
changes over time as teachers gain more hands-on experience.