Tools for planning instruction

designed by Amy Parks and Cheryl Rosaen

Planning learning tasks for students is a challenging and central part of providing instruction that is responsive to all learners in your classroom.

You have three ways to explore the options offered here:

Scan stories of beginning teachers' dilemmas

Explore strategies for standards-based teaching

Scan tools and resources

Julie gets bogged down in one topic and wonders how she's ever going to cover what she's supposed to for the year.

Ernest wants to branch out into more interesting teaching but wonders how he could pull it off.

Kyra thinks about quitting because, day by day, she's not getting it done with her students.

Section I: Grasp the pattern of the Michigan standards to get the "Big Picture."

Section II: Plan the year to guide your unit planning.

Section III: Unit planning focuses on important ideas and is responsive to all learners.

Section IV: Daily planning supports meaningful learning for all students.

Ideas for mentoring: Co-planning by beginning teacher and mentor teacher. Conferring about plans.