a. How important do you think a lesson plan is to a
successful lesson? What features do you think a lesson plan should include?
R/ We believe it is
important because it allows us to organize our thoughts better and address
potential problems or weaknesses that have been already identified in our students, thanks to
diagnostic tests. Therefore, it allows us to target specific problems and
solve them more efficiently. It helps us
to refine our teaching methodology and approach better, and demand specify goals we want our students to accomplish and learn. It allow us as teachers to keep grounded,
by keeping direction and focus on the lessons we want to teach, despite
unexpected distractions or out of topic discussions initiated or mentioned in class.
Features:
* Clear and specific objectives
* Materials
and equipment appropriate for the target lesson
*
Activities varying in format and level of difficulty for each lesson to
motivate
students and strengthen their weak areas.
* And
also keep in mind the following: Sequencing, Pacing, Gauging difficulty,
Accounting
for individual differences, Monitoring
learner versus teacher talk,
and timing
In regard to stages a lesson plan should include the following:
* Review
* Introduction to a new lesson
* Presenting new material
* Practicing new information
* Evaluating lessons learned
b. Do you think it is a good idea to strictly follow a
lesson plan? Why?
R/ No. Teachers sometimes deviate from lesson planning to favor
and encourage more participation,
individual needs, and new events relevant to the class or topic of
discussion. Therefore, to be an effective
language teacher lessons plans should not be followed so strictly, without
acknowledging the potential and influence of external factors to help complement
lessons and keep the class motivated and moving at a right pace.
Lesson plans are important to
keep teachers focus and help them return to the main points of the lesson, despite
unexpected interruptions. Perhaps new teachers may feel more confident to follow
a lesson plan more strictly, but by gaining more experience lesson plans become
only a map of reference, and not a blind route to follow strictly. Teachers are there to use their judgment and facilitate learning and motivation
according to the circumstances presented at a specific moment.
c. Some people think that lesson plans severely restrict
teachers’ creativity. Do you agree? Explain your answer.
R/ No. On one hand, new teachers
can implement by default creative activities from the beginning and duration of
the class in the lesson plans. On the other hand, experienced teachers are more
knowledgeable and equipped to use previous experiences, stories, and anecdotes of
real life to complement their lesson plan, in response to a interruption or new
development happening in class.
We would say that teachers can't
stop learning, and they should continue learning and participating in
educational activities and teacher development research to help them keep creativity
and motivation alive in class. Otherwise, it is very likely that teachers will become
comfortable by following lesson plans.
