Lessons do not have to last 30-45 minutes in order for students to fully grasp a concept. By providing a short lesson, students can learn a concept in as little as 15 minutes. Below you will find a mini lesson plan template that you can use for your writer's workshop.
(To print: Click the printer icon in the top right hand corner)
Topic
- What is the lesson about? What does it focus on? This where you name the teaching point.
- Gather the materials you will need in order to teach the concept to the students.
- Activate prior knowledge. This is where you talk about what you taught in the previous lesson. For example, "Yesterday we learned about..." and "Today we will learn about..."
- Demonstrate your teaching points to the students. Act as if you are a student working independently. For example, "Let me show you how I..." and "One way I can do that is by..."
- Explain teaching points and give examples.
- Model
- Guided practice
- During this phase of the mini lesson you act as coach and assess the students. For example,"Now you are going to turn to your partner and..."
- This is where you will review key points and clarify if needed. For Example, "Today I taught you..." and "Every time you read you are going to..."
- Students practice working independently using the information they just learned from your teaching points.
- Can be individual, partner or group.
- Students share what they have learned. Ask students, "Did you use what you learned? Did it work? How will you use it next time?
- Tie up any loose ends and use this time to further instruct.
For additional information and tips, read about thematic units and lesson plans.
