# 5 Tips for Successful Lesson Planning

**October 22, 2019**

How’s your school year going so far? If you’re a new teacher, you might be feeling overwhelmed by the challenges of the classroom—maybe you’re struggling with how much there is to juggle, or maybe lesson planning is tougher than you hoped it would be.

If the lesson planning process is something you wish you had a better handle on, today’s post is for you. We’re sharing five overarching guidelines for successful lesson planning, excerpted from [**Launching a Career in Special Education**](https://products.brookespublishing.com/Launching-a-Career-in-Special-Education-P1135.aspx) by Elizabeth A. Potts & Lori A. Howard. Though these tips are geared toward special educators, they’re also helpful strategies any teacher can follow. Make sure you’re doing all five of these things before the second half of the school year starts.

### **Know your learners.**
Make sure to review individualized education programs (IEPs) to know the goals or objectives that should be covered. Know if the students need assistive technology or specific accommodations. Once you’re familiar with your learners, you will have an easier time planning how to engage them in a lesson.

### **Take the time to learn the scope and sequence of the curriculum.**
No matter what subject you are teaching (reading, science, math, life skills), there will be a plan that details what content should be covered. Some states and districts have guidelines on where you should be in the curriculum throughout the school year. Having this “mental map” of where you should be headed instructionally can help you plan more effective lessons more quickly.

### **Establish your own teaching routine.**
Every teacher should develop a routine to introduce new content, review previously taught content, and summarize the lesson at the end. Once you have figured out what works best for you, use this system when you plan your instruction.

### **Manage your instructional time in segments.**
Depending on how long each instructional period is (60 minutes, 90 minutes), you can "chunk" the time into segments (maybe 15 or 20 minutes). You then know that you will spend 20 minutes introducing your lesson, with another 30–35 minutes of guided practice in each lesson.

### **Use your planning time to actually plan!**
Teachers have many competing priorities and often use their planning time to address IEPs, parental concerns, and communication with other teachers. Although some of this is inevitable, try to find 1 or 2 periods each week to focus on planning lessons. Practice self-discipline, and stay focused on completing your planning. Make this a priority.

And for more guidance on navigating your first years in the classroom, check out the book:

**[Launching a Career in Special Education](https://products.brookespublishing.com/Launching-a-Career-in-Special-Education-P1135.aspx)**

Planning for Success

By Elizabeth A. Potts, Ph.D., & Lori A. Howard, Ph.D.

Developed by two special education experts with decades of experience, this book gives you a complete action plan for on-the-job success—from managing everyday details like paperwork and classroom routines to mastering big-picture strategies for behavior management, collaboration, and assessment.