This week we spent a little time going over the differences between Lesson Plans and Learning  Plans. I wanted to take a closer look at both these teaching tools, and my understanding of them.

“The boys in the back”. by Sam Balye. Unsplash

Lesson Plan Pros
  • Standardized expectations of learning (hitting all the expected points of the curriculum)
  • Scaffolded (expectations are laid out precise)
  • Less work for the teacher
Lesson Plan Cons
  • Standardized expectations of learning (no space for inquiry)
  • Scaffolded (expectations are unbending and restrictive)
  • Can be difficult for atypical learners
  • Can be boring for over achieving students

“musician checking music sheet before Concert”. Philippe Bout. Unsplash

Learning Plan Pros
  • Customized to the learner’s needs
  • Follows the curriculum (learner still reaches or surpasses curriculum goals)
  • Scaffolded for the individual learner
Learning Plan Cons
  • More work for the teacher

When it comes to the work load of the teacher, using strictly Lesson Plans seems to be the obvious choice, but is that the kind of culture we want to express in our classrooms?  There is not only one way to learn, and the individual shouldn’t be taken out of the equation simply for the convenience of the teacher.

“Fifth graders in their classroom at school”. Taylor Wilcox. Unsplash. Edited by Rena Kanya

The method brought up in class, a hybrid approach to the two, seems like an excellent way to avoid too much extra work for the teacher, but also consider the individual learner. Not all students are going to need an customized Learning Plan. It is important to get to know your students (who might have IEPs, or who might be an overachiever), and plan for students who might need a different approach. Start out with a Lesson Plan, to get the necessary knowledge out, but then turn to Learning plans when it comes to assignments and projects. Similar scaffolding can  be used, while still supporting the individual’s needs.

In the end it’s up to the teacher to make sure that none of their students get left behind. We need to be ready to adapt our Lesson Plans to be able to add in Learning Plans whenever needed. Flexibility in teaching is going to be necessary, so that we can give our students the support they’ll need to succeed.