Seven habits that make lesson plans easier to teach from

A lesson plan is only useful if you can glance at it mid-lesson and know what happens next. These seven habits help.

• Write one clear outcome at the top, in words a learner could repeat.
• Time-box each part of the lesson, even roughly.
• Put the key question or problem you will start with in writing.
• List materials and prepare them the day before.
• Plan the check for understanding, not only the activity.
• Leave a line for notes after the lesson: what worked, what to change.
• Keep plans in one folder so a colleague can cover your class if needed.

You do not need to write essays. A one-page plan that you actually use beats a long plan that stays in the file.