Lesson Plans Options

[Violinia]

Who uses them? We were taught the importance of them (with flexibility) on the CTABRSM course but I find it so hard to keep making them and sticking to them! I even make them and then don't consult them in the lesson............aargh.

What I have noticed, though, is how much the students appreciate it when you mention tiny details from the last lesson - it does make them feel very cared for, and I hate myself when I have to consult their notebook to remind myself of exactly what we covered last time - I'm sure it makes them feel your approach to their lesson is a bit slapdash/makes the teacher (me) look unprofessional.

WHY don't I keep their lesson plan open in front of me and teach from that at every single lesson? I'm driving myself mad with this at the moment. MUST DO IT, MUST DO IT, MUST DO IT!!!!

Does anybody else here wrestle with this?

[BusyBee]

I have devised a 'memory jog' system that puts the evening lesson's ahead into focus. I have tried sticking to an actual plan in the lesson and it just doesn't work as it makes the teaching so contrived somehow. I have found it is quite enough to place an A4 sheet of paper in a file next to the pupil details. On the day of their lesson I write the date and scribble a few reminders in pencil. For example, to focus on a particular scale or piece or devise a fun way of explaining something not understood the previous week. I find this very helpful - as soon as I start thinking and writing something down the 'plan' of what to do becomes very clear - usually! If not I think about the pupil very carefully in case we are losing our way. It's a good spot-check. So nothing elaborate needed and very simple to do. I know another teacher who just uses a big diary to make brief notes.

I suppose on a training course you have to show a more detailed plan to demonstrate you can structure a lesson, but it would be unrealistic to keep this up long-term.

[jenny]

I have devised a 'memory jog' system that puts the evening lesson's ahead into focus. I have tried sticking to an actual plan in the lesson and it just doesn't work as it makes the teaching so contrived somehow. I have found it is quite enough to place an A4 sheet of paper in a file next to the pupil details. On the day of their lesson I write the date and scribble a few reminders in pencil. For example, to focus on a particular scale or piece or devise a fun way of explaining something not understood the previous week. I find this very helpful - as soon as I start thinking and writing something down the 'plan' of what to do becomes very clear - usually! If not I think about the pupil very carefully in case we are losing our way. It's a good spot-check. So nothing elaborate needed and very simple to do. I know another teacher who just uses a big diary to make brief notes.

I suppose on a training course you have to show a more detailed plan to demonstrate you can structure a lesson, but it would be unrealistic to keep this up long-term.

I use exactly the same idea - jotting things down, but without it disrupting the flow of the lesson. I feel it just doesn't work to plan for each lesson because, as others have said, we never know what's going to happen, but a reminder of relevant points from the previous lesson really helps at the next one.