lesson plans

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lesson plans
By Julianne

A lesson plan usually includes an objective - what you want the kids to learn, a means to accomplish the objective - how you're going to teach the lesson, and an evaluation - a way to determine whether the kids "got it".

For first grade math you can choose from a variety of objectives. Students at this age are learning to count, addition and subtraction, simple money counting, telling time, basic geometry and fractions. You need to choose an objective that fits within the guidelines your instructor has given - NYS (I'm assuming that's New York State???) Do you have a copy of the standard? If not,

get busy on the internet and find it. Most states have their core curriculum available there.

Now that you have a topic, break it down a bit. Choose a single component that you believe students could learn in one sitting. For example, my first graders are learning different ways of adding. On Thursday we had a group of fourth grade students in to work with us. The older students were teaching the younger ones to add by counting on. Take 5 + 3. Hold the 5 in your mind, now count on three more - 6, 7, 8. There's your answer. Seems simple to us, huh? My students needed to be shown a visual example of what to do and why it works. Then they needed practice and reminders. The students completed a number of problems together. We had a great time. For this particular lesson evaluation will come next Monday when I ask them to remember back to last week and do a few addition problems using the counting on technique.

That's all there is to a good lesson plan. The trick is to string a great many good lessons together in the proper order so that children learn and make progress. Good luck to you in your training.