What IS the "Best" Lesson Plan Template out there? Help Please!

     I am doing some research about lesson plan templates...WHY? I don't know, it's just that over the years I have switched up my lesson plan templates so many times, that I am finally done with it!

     So today I am going on a Teachers Pay Teachers "Best Lesson Plan Template" hunt. I might include Pinterest too!

What did I just get myself into?

     Excel or Word? Weekly, daily or by subject? Standards based?

Do I need EVERYTHING in them besides standards, objectives materials and the actual lesson plus an assessment piece if needed?

So far I have found some that are so comprehensive:
     They come with things like, Objectives and Goals, Materials and Equipment, Anticipatory Set, Direct Instruction, Guided Practice, Independent Practice, Closure,Assessment and Follow-up, Homework  and just when I was feeling overwhelmed with the "basics" these lesson plan templates even include... Learning Modality Tracking ,Multiple Intelligences Tracking, Class Room Activities and  Reflection Section . I am not saying these things are bad or not useful, I'm just saying how many pieces of paper will I have to print to get it all in?
Kudos to Teacher Snacks for such hard diligent work!
 ...and then I found the rather less involved plans with just objectives, "I can" statements, warm-ups, pre-asses, essential questions, activity and then on the bottom of the template the exit. There was a simple box for CCSS, DOK and resources. Simple- yes, concise- yes, easy to print-yes...but do I like it? Hmmmmm I think I need something in the middle.

     Did I mention all the "Drop-Down"menus...those are great, but alas I still have not found exactly what will work for me.

      I know that I don't like Excel,Word is easier for me to navigate. I like expandable boxes, and I like the freedom to color code my subjects and change up the schedule when I need to. I want to be able to look at my plans and see what I am teaching in whole group and what each small group is up to. I want to be able to keep track of all the FSS (CCSS) that I am teaching and that I need to revisit. Do they make that? I might also like to have a place to check off each activity that I did really did teach.

I found a great write up on one lesson plan template and it was FREE...read this and tell me what you think....
     "After using several different lesson plan templates over the years and not being totally happy with any of them, I decided to create one that would work perfect for me this upcoming year. This is a weekly lesson plan template is color coded and easy to use. It is an editable template so you can arrange it in a way that will work for you. You can type then print your lesson plans weekly or print the template and write in your plans by hand. Best of all, it's free! Happy planning!"~Sandy Price

     I think I used Sandy's lesson plan template two years ago? It looks so familiar...it's on my list to revisit.

    I found some editable lesson plans that looked promising, but they are on PowerPoint...not so sure how I feel about that? I opened one and got very confused because I couldn't edit it..back to the scrolling....

     I wish I had an ipad!!! The amount of lesson plans that I found that can be kept on your ipad, plus if your ipad was hooked to your classroom's doc cam or smartboard you could open your plans onto that and show videos PowerPoints and other techie devices that could really make your lesson plans interactive...but alas I am in low tech world and do not own an ipad at home or at school...bummer!

Back to the search
      This sounds promising "Have you tried 50 different lesson plan templates and still aren't extremely happy with what you have?? Well, that's how I've been this year! haha :) However, I came up with this one that has actually made me feel so much better!!! It gives me a week view for each subject so I can easily file each subject's lesson plan for the week into specific binders for easy use next time. "~Nicole Swisher

     It looks good, but it is in PowerPoint, still not sure how that will work out for me, but I like the subject by the week, instead of the whole week full of small print with all subjects on it...I might have to invest the $1 on Nicole....

     Here is another PowerPoint one, but this one sounds like I could do it, because it is a visual thing...I wonder if I could just add the "visual" stuff to the Nicole plans, either way check this out.. here is Brianna Newell's write up about her visual plans:

     "I don't know about you, but plans are a whole lot easier for me when I can type them up, print them out (or send to administration), and visually see exactly what I am going to be doing next or what materials I might need. There are so many days when I know what I am going to be teaching, but can't remember exactly what it looks like. I have everything neatly sorted in drawers, but there's always that time I have forgotten to put something in there. 

      These have been my lifesaver in my classroom! What's best of all...they can be edited to your favorite color scheme and also to fit your daily schedule. Whether you have the typical elementary setup or the middle/high subject area classes, this can work for you! "~Brianna Newell

I might have to use some TPT credits and check this out???

     I have been at it now for over two hours, I just didn't talk about ALL of them. The more I look, the more I either really hate this task, or feel like I should just make my own. I would love for you to share with me some of your favorite lesson plan templates that I should really take a look at! 

H E L P!

Science Fun with Solar Cookers!

     Yes I have been lacking in my blogger duties, so sorry. After finally finishing up my Master's in Literacy Education I got caught up in the craziness that is 3rd grade!
     This year I decided to loop up with my 2nd graders from last year. What an amazing group of kids! I couldn't resist looping with them. However, the perils of 3rd grade just crept up on me. State testing woes. I have never had to deal with the pressure involved in this high-stakes nonsense! 20 years into my career I am finally face to face with the "T E S T" !
     I decided I needed to make sure these kids got the BEST of me! So here is the beginning of our year ...hands-on and fun times in Science!

     We asked ourselves how can we use what we know about radiant energy to make a solar cooker that can actually make a snack?  I divided the class into engineering teams of three or four. Then introduced them to the material that they were allowed to use;shoe boxes or cardboard boxes; aluminum foil; wax paper; colored construction paper; plastic wrap; masking tape; clear tape; string (only those materials were permitted). Each child had a role to play too, that made it more manageable! Together they had 15 minutes to create and label drawings of their solar cookers. Then they estimated how much of the materials they would need to do the job. Once I signed off on their blueprint, then they could create.

We then used our "21st century skills" and collaborated, took initiative, used our curiosity and imagination.

The class had to problem solve together and really be flexible with one another so everyone's opinions could be heard.

Making sure they used effective oral and written communication with each other was so important!

 It took us two days from blueprints to  actual cookers. We waited for a super sunny day (4 days later) and went outside to make a snack.

This group had an awesome design, but will it work?

Another good design, complete with a flap to check what is cooking!

The open oven design is what we called this invention.

This oven has a large door to cook open or closed.

Another open design.

Finally we got cooking!

We didn't have to wait long, the slowest cooker took 22 minutes, but in hind sight I would not have put the chocolate with the marshmallow and cookie, 

As you can see "Solar Cookers" were a big hit,  

Next time on "Being the Queen Bee isn't Easy" expect to see what goes on in Math....I promise it won't take three months to get that post out!

The LAST of my Reflective Teaching Posts-Becoming a Reflective Teacher -Part 6

Do you really WANT to be a good teacher, or a GREAT teacher?
     The best advice I have for you is to watch a great teacher. Watch them as they model for you the secrets of their success. Don't try to copy them, you can't. That is their style, but I know you like the way they transition from one activity to another seamlessly. Watch them , take notes and reflect on how that will look like in your classroom.
     Another strategy for you to try is "Coaching Colleagues". This is when two or three teachers get together and agree to  give each other HONEST feedback regarding their use of instructional strategies. Some call this peer coaching, Marzano quotes another researcher Robbins on page 77 which means "a confidential process through which two or more professionals work together to reflect on current practices; expand, refine, and build new skills; share ideas; teach one another; conduct classroom research; or solve problems in the workplace"  I know this sounds like it could get sticky, but you have to trust your peers, especially the ones you really look up to, the ones you want to be like when you 'grow up'.
      A great way to really see and reflect is the strategy of instructional rounds. This is not for the faint of heart. In this strategy your peer coaching team examines videos of other teachers and each other  and discusses the best practice strategies in each video. During instructional rounds you can also visit each other's classrooms to see your peers in action. After the visit, you then engage the group in a discussion, reflection and draw conclusions about your own best practices.Make sure the instructional rounds are not about evaluation, but rather focused practice on good teaching skills.

My hopes for this series were to help you focus on what you do best for yourself, your children and your school.

• Are you being the best teacher you can be? If not, it's time to get uncomfortable and s t r e t c h
• Do you have a model of effective teaching? Who is your mentor? 
• Do you have good growth goals for your kids and yourself?  What kind of goals are you setting?
• Do you engage in focus practice? What do you do better than anyone else?
• Are you receiving and giving focused feedback? Do you ever see yourself?
• Who is the last 'best' teacher you observed teaching? Time to look around you and get some ideas!

Reference:Marzano, R. (2012). Becoming a reflective teacher. Bloomington, IN: Marzano Research Laboratory.