Some people believe that teaching is a science, while others believe that it is an art. I believe that it is both. Years of studies have been done on best teaching practices that help students achieve their highest potential. Yet, we teachers still struggle to implement these practices because they are often shrink wrapped in one size fit all curriculums.
As teachers we are often told to make sure that we have our pulse on our students’ needs, but no one tells us how to do that. They fail to tell us that in this profession in order to teach something you have to first understand it, experience it or “wear” it yourself and then infuse yourself in it before you deliver it.
Theory without practice falls flat in a classroom full of young minds. It is all too easy to lose these minds in the fumbling of unrehearsed and poorly planned lessons.
I should know this often happened to me. I would often take the basal or the latest professional development book that I was reading and literally read it verbatim as I delivered my lessons.
Even though I “prepared” the night before I did not put myself into these lessons, I did not practice them in a way that conveyed my confidence in them and often I tried to teach way too many things at once.
Then I discovered mini lessons and even though that was a step in the right direction it still did not solve my problem.
That is why I started using this 4 step approach to crafting a mini lesson that is both intentional and effective.
4 Steps to Crafting A Mini Lesson
- Know your standards
- Choose one strategy
- Try it out
- Script it out
Using these four steps and practicing them helped me to deliver lessons that my students could implement.
I created a free guide to help you on your journey to honing your craft and writing mini lessons that not only hold your students attention but feel authentic to you and your practice as an educator.
Grab your free guide here and let’s start learning together.
Next Steps:
Grab your free guide here and print it out. Then take notes as I take you step by step through the process I use to write mini lessons. Try it out and tag me on social media to let me know how it goes, I love to connect with you. Sign up to get on the wait list for my Mini Lesson Revamp Bootcamp Coaching Program, and bethe first to know when registration opens.
