Developing Your Lesson Plans

As a homeschooling parent you are acutely awarealready knows about the subject matter and
of how important it is to have daily plans and bewhat it is they need to know (prerequisites) in
organized. Everyone has their own methods andorder to successfully complete the lessons.
tactics. And most of these plans certainly weren'tAs you are making your first pass at your lesson
perfect right out of the gate and have evolvedplan, be sure to include somewhere in it any
over time.materials you will need to accomplish the
As homeschoolers one of the greatest benefits isobjectives that you have described. Materials not
that of having great flexibility with how youonly necessary for the lessons themselves; but
educate your child. But even with this greatbe sure to include any materials you may need
educational flexibility you shouldn't really be sailingfor the evaluation process.
without a compass.Of course your lesson plans will include much
When it comes to educating, that compass isgreater detail than is given here, but just to get
your lesson plan.you started here is a quick outline or review of
Although homeschooling generally doesn't requirethe thought process that goes into putting a
exacting lesson plans to be turned in, however,lesson plan together.
not having one at all certainly isn't a goodDetermine what it is you are going to teach and
approach to your child's education.what the priority outcomes of your teaching will
Let's take a look at some general concepts andbe... what your child will be able to do as a result
commonalities about lesson plans that may assistof completing the work and the activities
you in developing yours.contained in your lesson plan.
First of all, you have to start your thinking withDetermine what it is your child already knows
what it is you are going to teach. From there,about this subject matter or will need to know.
you'll need what your objectives for the lessonHaving a grasp on this will allow for a smooth
are. In other words, you'll want to be able totransition into your current planning and into the
observe specific behaviors your child is going tonext or related level of the subject.
be able to do or perform as a result of yourHave a plan on how you are going to facilitate the
teaching. You want the outcomes of yourlearning of this subject matter. Be sure to think
teaching to be measurable and quantifiable; so theabout any materials that you will need, such as
more specific the better it will be.manipulative objects for your child.
With this in mind you'll want to be descriptive withAnd finally, have a method of evaluation; both for
your objectives. This not only provides feedbackthe behavior of the child and the effectiveness of
on how your child is progressing, but it also givesyour lesson plan and your teaching techniques.
you as the educator great feedback on yourOnce you make the loop a few times through the
effectiveness. You should also have some sort oflesson planning process you'll soon develop a
description or statement of how you willtemplate that works best for you. Using a
determine whether your lesson plan objectivesdetailed lesson plan will greatly increase the
have been met.efficiency of your teaching as well as the quality
Take some time to determine what your childof the child's learning time.