Essentials of Lesson Planning by Mike Schmoker

from Marshall Memo 828

Mike Schmoker on Lesson Planning 101

            In this article in Education Week Teacher, author/consultant Mike Schmoker lays out what he says are the rock-solid, research-based components of a well-structured lesson. Citing research by Robert Marzano, Dylan Wiliam, Doug Lemov, James Popham, and John Hattie, Schmoker says these elements “are at or near the top of the list of the most effective known instructional practices” and apply to all types of lessons, “no matter how creative or ‘constructivist’ we wish to be.” Here they are:

-    A carefully-formulated, clearly-stated purpose for the lesson;

-    A brief explanation of why that objective is worth learning;

-    A preview of how it will be assessed;

-    Modeling or demonstrating that shows students exactly how to do the thinking and work necessary to succeed in the day’s assessment;

-    Guided practice, with students applying or practicing each step;

-    Checking for understanding – using assessments that reveal the learning of all students, not just a few eager volunteers;

-    If not enough students are succeeding (which is often the case), bringing the class back together and clarifying or reteaching, or enlisting students’ expertise by having them work in pairs to help each other;

-    This recursive cycle continues until all (or almost all) students are ready to complete the day’s assignment, project, or assessment by themselves.

-    The teacher helps or tutors those who need additional assistance.

“Unfortunately, for decades, the elements of a well-structured lesson have been marginalized or ignored in most schools,” says Schmoker, “forced to compete for time and attention with unending, successive waves of (mostly) unproven innovations and policy requirements. This prevents the kind of sustained practice educators need to master these elements well enough to enjoy the profound impact they would have on student learning… Our  highest-achieving teachers know that these elements reduce boredom, increase student engagement, and guarantee significantly higher rates of student success on assessments of everything from content mastery to critical and creative thinking, to close reading, writing, and problem-solving.”

“The Lost Art of Teaching Soundly Structured Lessons” by Mike Schmoker in Education Week Teacher, June 3, 2013, https://bit.ly/2wd3ut1; Schmoker is at schmoker@futureone.com.