ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the art of lesson planning in a mathematics classroom. The process of planning an entire unit—from a couple of days to several weeks of instruction—is described first, as daily lessons always depend on a bigger picture of the topic’s progression. Then, the issue of dividing a unit into individual lesson plans is explored. Each component of a standard lesson plan is described and illustrated with examples, including goals and objectives, materials and resources, motivation, lesson procedures, closure, extensions, and assessment. Two contrasting lesson plans are presented in their entirety—one that lacks specificity and another that is clear and detailed. Through an analysis, the point is made that lessons have to be well-written enough that a teacher other than the writer of the plan could teach the lesson if the classroom teacher had to miss the class. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the difference between lesson “imaging” versus “planning,” as well as suggestions on how to thoroughly reflect on a lesson for improvement the next time it is taught.
