Lesson Plannning Steps

1. Decide on a grade level.

2. The ELA-R (English Language Arts - Reading) standard has been chosen for you at that grade level. Put it on your Alignment Matrix (.doc).

3. Review the Science TEKS at that grade level. (TEKS Choices .doc) Choose ONE of the science standards (A., B., or C.) and add it to your Alignment Matrix.

4. Rewrite the each standard (ELA-R and Science) as an objective. You will have at least two objectives, one for ELA-R and one for science. Use the sample completed Alignment Matrix as a guide (.doc). Begin each objective with: "At the end of this lesson, students will know or be able to do..."

5. Refer often to your Essential Elements of Instruction (EEI) Step Book.

6. Talk about learning tasks (what you want the students to do during the lesson) and assessments (how you will know whether or not they achieved the objectives).

7. Locate resources to support the science standard and learning objectives. As per the Collaborative Planning Form and the rubric, your text set much include various genres (realistic fiction, informational, biography, poetry...) and multiple formats (some print, some electronic).

8. Choose one text as your Anchor Text.

9. Use the anchor text to practice engaging in the learning tasks with your partner. That way you will learn what may work with your students.

10. Finalize the learning tasks and make sure they are aligned with the standards and objectives. Add the learning tasks to your Alignment Matrix.

11. Think about the research-based instructional strategies (CS4TRC page 13). Which one will help students determine main ideas while they are learning this science concept? Create or adapt a graphic organizer to meet the objectives of the lesson. Refer to the Assessment and Research-based Instructional Strategies (.doc) category matrix.

12. Determine what kind of assessment tool will help you know whether or not students achieved the learning objectives.

13. Create or adapt an assessment tool (rubric, checklist, graphic organizer...).

14. Review your EEI Step Book. What is the first step? MOTIVATION! How will you get the students hooked on the lesson? Put this on the Lesson Plan Template (.doc) and proceed to fill in each step on the template. Keep referring to your Step Book.

15. Re-word the objectives on your Alignment Matrix into student-friendly terms. (Review the examples in the lessons in CS4TRC.)

16. Write three or four sentences about the presentation (modeling and coteaching). Remember: In your lesson, two teachers are team teaching.

17. Write directions for how students will practice or participate in the lesson.

18. Write how the educators will monitor students' guided practice.

19. Write how you will close the lesson. (See closure in CS4TRC lessons and on your Step Book.)

20. Write how you will asks students to reflect at the end of the lesson.

21. Write how you will modify this lesson for students with special needs.

22. Write how you will extend this lesson into a unit of study. This is where your text set will come into use.

23. Celebrate!