How do you take a unit plan and translate that into daily lessons? Today’s episode is a Leveling Up episode, where I coach Liz, a Spanish teacher in the Northeast of the US. Translating a unit plan into daily lessons is the area where wants to level up her teaching practice.
Suggestions:
- Take more general Can Do Statements and make them more specific. This will help to eliminate the overwhelm of too much content to cover in any given unit. Create several units on a similar theme, but change out the content
- Divide the unit objectives into smaller, manageable learning targets that can be covered in daily lessons.
- Plan backwards by day, with each day building on a previous material
- Develop a consistent daily lesson structure that includes warm-ups, instruction, practice activities and be sure to add in the fun.
- Ensure that the content of each daily lesson directly aligns with the Can Do Statements and language proficiency standards.
Action Plan:
This Week:
- Take an existing set of Can Do Statements and make them more specific.
The Coming Weeks:
- As you plan each daily lesson, ensure that the instructional content directly relates to the unit’s overall goals and language proficiency standards. Eliminate any activities or materials that do not align.
Resources:
Can Do Statements
- Podcast Episode #18: Make Your Can Do Statements Communicative
- Blog Post: Make Sure “I Can” Statements Are Communicative
Backwards Design
- Podcast Episode # 56: Backwards Design and Planning
- Blog Post: World Language Lesson Planning with Backwards Design
You can also be a part of Leveling Up coaching episode if there is an area of your teaching that you like to improve or enhance. Join me on the podcast for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode.
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