Lesson Design For Teachers

​When your textbook says " Show students how to work the sample problem," know that this is Skill Development.

​When your textbook calls for working examples with the students, know this is Guided Practice.

​When your textbook provides a definition at the top of the page or one as a "reminder to the teacher" in the margin, know this is Concept Development.

​Even though the book provides problems, you may need to arrange them in matching pairs to be taught as Rule of Two - one for your and one for the students.

During Skill Development and Guided Practice, be sure to explicitly teach all the variations found in the Independent Practice.

Most books provide worksheets, questions, or problems for students to work. Look at these first! This is Independent Practice.

​Textbooks often have concept definitions in the margins, in boxes, or in the text. Sometimes it can be identified in the teacher's edition with phrases such as "tell the students that" or "explain that."

You can often find something in the textbook describing why the lesson is important or how it is used in real life. This is Relevance.

Textbooks may have a closure problem or an Ext Ticket problem. This is Closure.

After closure, provide students with structured independent practice or in-class interventions.