Laurette CarleWilliamson County Schools

Reflect and Brainstorm

◦ What concepts or topics do I want to fold into my teaching this year?

◦ What concepts or topics align best with the standards for my subject or grade level?

◦ What concepts or topics will help my students develop their critical thinking skills?

Choose one topic or concept to be the “big idea” or “essential understanding” that you hope to convey to your students

Write your big idea at the top of the planning worksheet provided

Which standards will I target? How much time will I spend on this? How can I connect this to students’

prior knowledge or experiences? How can I engage or hook them at the

start of this unit of study? What do I expect them to know and be

able to do by the end of this unit of study? What assessments will I use to measure

their progress?

Think about the variety necessary for a balanced approach to assessment:

Formal and InformalFormative and SummativeTraditional and Authentic

What teaching strategies might I use to help the students reach these learning targets?

What resources will I use?

What are some possible ways I can differentiate◦ The content (for different abilities)?◦ The instruction (for different learning styles)?

You can’t finalize your plans until you know each of your students!

Know their interests – helps with motivation

Know their learning profile – helps your efficiency if you choose the instructional strategy that matches best

Know their level of readiness to learn – pre-assessments help set targets for growth

We understand it’s only a start We know it’s a work in progress We want to see how this week’s learning

experience might impact your students You will turn in your plan tomorrow

◦Handwritten sketch, or◦Electronic copy emailed to

lynn.d.mcdonald@vanderbilt.edu