5. Try to incorporate the 4 skills All good lesson plans should touch upon each of the four skills, as well as others such as pronunciation and grammar. Each individual lesson will likely focus on only one or two of these points, but a well rounded lesson will somehow incorporate all 4 of the English skills.
6. Be realistic about time constraints When writing lesson plans it is easy to plan a lesson that includes reading, writing, listening, and speaking, but teachers need to be aware of their time constraints and the abilities of their students. Teachers should have very realistic expectations about what their students can achieve in the given time.
7. Consider multiple lesson plans Having different versions of the same lesson plan can be a great way to be prepared for anything. A good idea is to have your ideal lesson plan, a shorter version in case of confusion or an unforeseen time restraint, and a longer version on the chance that you underestimated your students or had more time than expected.
8. Plan extension activities Every lesson plan should include extension activities for both early finishers and students who would like to practice more at home. Never allow a student to finish and just sit there– they will become bored and often disruptive. Some students also look to continue learning at home with additional activities, exercises, or reading and television recommendations. You should always have a few things included in your lesson plan to recommend for further study.
9. Check often for comprehension Students are often shy and easily embarrassed when learning a new language. Many students do not ask for help or repetition for fear of ridicule. Teachers must check for comprehension various times throughout a lesson. Comprehension checks should never simply ask if the students have understood, rather they must solicit the targeted information from the students.
10. Leave time to review at the end Many teachers forget how important it is to leave time at the end of a lesson for a quick review of the new material and an opportunity for any questions. It often seems that students have understood the concepts but a well planned review session at the end of a lesson may show otherwise. Using the feedback and questions from the review, teachers can plan a better follow up lesson.
