This post is intended to share how I plan & also serves as a cry for help because I KNOW I could be doing a better job in this area!
Most days (actually, EVERY day) feels like a game of tug-of-war. I'm walking a tightrope between my students' IEP goals & objectives and the general education curriculum. For some students, their goals align seamlessly and they can access the general curriculum with support/services. For other students, their goals seem realms apart and I need to find a way to bring them closer. It's a challenge, but it's also what makes my job SO rewarding :)
My lesson plans are based on the general educators' plans, which I'm supposed to receive one week in advance. We use backwards planning, so I already have a calendar with standards listed for the entire area. This means I can plan ahead in a general sense while I wait for the "nitty gritty" details from the weekly plans.
I'm constantly thinking of how my students can work towards mastery of their IEP objectives while also making sure they gain as much as possible from what their grade-level teammates are working on. For example, if I know that teachers are focusing on compound words one day, I can be prepared to pull a small group (doesn't matter if they have an IEP or not - I want to work with any student who is struggling) to offer a differentiated lesson on compound words. My small group may be experiencing the same lesson but using different materials, perhaps more picture cues or hands-on materials.
This approach means I'm constantly assessing to see how the students are doing and keeping the groupings fluid as students demonstrate different strengths and weaknesses.
Here's the format I use - I welcome any & all suggestions to improve on this!
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I type into this template, so it usually ends up 5-6 pages for the week. As all teachers do, we teach so much more than what the paper indicates. I'm looking for more ways to add these details, plus results of informal assessments, with still remaining user-friendly.
I can't wait to see what other teachers do! Is your lesson plan format mandated by your administration? Or did you create your own? Check back with Jessica at Mrs. Stanford's Class to read how other teachers effectively plan! Don't forget to enter the giveaway!
I feel your pain in planning! I am a resource room teacher and I sometimes feel like I am flying by the seat of my pants (even if I have it all detailed out in my lesson plans!) Luckily my school system isn't super strict and I just do I plan book and vaguely say what I am doing, for example in Reading I might put "Comprehension Mini-Lesson and Small groups times, and Daily Word Ladder" my principal is pretty good about asking what something is if her doesn't understand! Luckily he was a SPED teacher too, so he knows how difficult it is. I do like you template though....I might try to make my own version! By the way, I am your newest follower. I love the site!
ReplyDeleteAudra
The Aud Classroom?
I should of proof read that a little better...sorry!
DeleteI feel like planning is a nightmare, too. I do all pull-out instruction (so far anyway) but it always seems to fall apart because my aide is pulled out, the gen ed class needs them back for something, the schedule changes, etc. I feel like I'm winging it all the time. I wish I knew a better way! When do you pull small groups? There's been talk of more push-in in my school. The 4th and 5th grade teachers have been doing it but I haven't figured out how to do with the lower grades.
ReplyDeleteAngelia
Extra Special Teaching