 5 Things You Can Overcome If You Prepare Your Lesson Plan A lesson plan is a teacher working document which serves as a step-by-step guide that provides a detailed description of a course or what the students are supposed to learn and how effectively it can be done during lesson time. Over time there have been lots of description as to what a lesson plan should look like or how a lesson could be planned. It is very important to plan a lesson because it is very difficult for inexperienced teachers to be flexible in a lesson without a teaching guide. However, planning a lesson should be carefully done so as to avoid making the teacher less flexible to meet up with the needs of the students. 1. Structure, Timing, Objectives We cannot try it on directly to answer the question of why it is important to plan a lesson without actually showcasing how a lesson is planned. However, there is no specific way in which a lesson plan should be written down as it could take the form of jot notes and formal plans. At the end of a day it is always paramount for a teacher to find a way to put down a plan and try as much as possible to keep it simple, allocate time for each activity, pay attention to lesson structure and also try to make sure each and every activity is directed at achieving an end objective in a much flexible and adaptable way. Thus the teacher when making a lesson plan has it as a duty to take into consideration language points, which shows the theme around which the lesson is centered and how it fits with a lesson at hand. 2. List of Materials The teacher also has to make a list of teaching materials to be used during the lesson, which is why it is said that lesson planning is not only about drafting jot notes or making formal plans. It also requires checking to see if all the equipment needed for the lesson are available and working. It also requires checking on seating arrangements and if the board is clean. However, the teacher in making a lesson plan must take into consideration anticipated problems generally faced by the students and teacher as well. According to this, in making a lesson plan, there must be a procedure or a method the teacher would use to achieve the objectives of the lesson. 3. Lesson Flow The teacher needs to start the class with greetings and warm up at the engaged phase of the lesson in order to motivate the students. Timing at each stage of the lesson should also be taken into consideration providing time for the teacher to students' interaction as well as students' to students' interaction, especially at the interactive phase. Students' evaluation should also be of paramount importance in lesson planning through the use of tests, worksheets, etc. to know the level of ability the class has with the topic. Teachers and observers' names, date, time, number of students and class level are also very vital components of a lesson plan. 4. Understanding Goals Looking at why lesson planning is important, lots of reasons have been brought forth to this effect but it would be worth mentioning just a few key points amongst which are the fact that planning a lesson is important because it helps the teacher to maintain a smooth running of the class without deviating from the topic at hand thus writing down what you expect the students to achieve by the end of the lesson and how you intend to make that possible helps the teacher to stay focused. 5. Kane, Saw, Concord Furthermore, lesson planning is very important because it helps the teacher to be organized likewise the students and like the saying goes failing to prepare is preparing to fail thus an organized teacher will always be able to deliver a lesson within a given time frame successfully. However, adaptability is also welcome as a teacher responding to the needs of the students can adjust the time allocated for a particular activity. In addition, lesson planning is very important in that it boasts the teacher's self-confidence because preparing a lesson helps the teacher to know what to do and at what time to do it. This helps the teacher to avoid mumbling or being stocked and not knowing what to do or say at any given moment. Lesson planning is also paramount importance in that it helps the teacher to determine the level of acquired skills for each and every student which helps the teacher to know how to tackle key weaknesses or problems faced by the students in the lesson. More so, planning a lesson helps a teacher keep records of work done, materials used which in turn could be of help to another teacher. Learn how to design your perfect lesson plan taking a TEFL course today. Conclusively it is only credible to say a lesson well planned benefits both the teacher and students. It also allows for the smooth functioning of the classroom and appropriate management of time and resources. Speak with an ITTT advisor today to put together your personal plan for teaching English abroad. Send us an email or call us toll free at 1-800-490-0531 to speak with an ITTT advisor today.