Session plans/lesson plan?

Question

Why do teachers use session plan?

Can teachers teach children without designing a session plan?

I will like to know your view. Thanks

Answer 1

Why:

-As evidence of what they are doing ,evidence of the learning planned, the resources and that chidlren are getting a fair balance of the curriculum

-To ensure that resources, adult ratios, rooms can be booked etc and are all available so that the day is organised and can flow.

-Because its a requirement by school heads, governors, OFSTED etc.

-To look back and review whether learning has taken place, if anything can be improved etc.

Can teachers teach without...?

-Well yes of course they can-teaching is what they are trained at and teaching can happen at any time/place however the effectiveness and the long term benefits of a learning will be missing meaning that somethings may be repeated, certian children's individual needs and attainment levels may be missed and the day may not flow meaning chidlren get fidgetty, bored, upset etc.

Answer 2

I don't think I could keep everything in my head without one, or at least a list of prompts to remind me what I am going to do in the session.  Another good reason for having it is that you can scribble notes on it as you go along, about what the students achieved, or how they found the work, any positive/negative responses that you would otherwise forget, things you didn't get around to, things that need revising and evaluate what was successful or what needs changing for next time.

When it comes to record-keeping you just need to type your "scribbled notes" into the correct format.  It means you don't have to remember everything in your head.

The biggest advantage is that you have a plan ready to re-use for the next year's class.  No need to redo plans if you had ones that worked well, or just need adjusting a bit.  Saves a lot of time.

Answer 3

Especially when training, I found lesson/session plans were totally esential. They acted almost like a cue card prompt to the lesson, which was especialy important when children misbehaved and you lose your place! We were also required to produce these plans and get them checked by tutors and signed off before we could teach them, so they became an ordinary, if not annoying part of the process of training.

During my first year of teaching I still write a few notes down about what I am going to do, this is particularly important as I teach young kids, so to be stuck thinking about what on earth I'm going to do next and leave them sitting there bored would not be a good idea!!

There is also a teacher I work with who has been in the profession for 30 years and she still notes down what she will be teaching, so I think that they are important whatever stage you are alt!