Writing Lesson Plans Using Madeline Hunter
Effective Planning for the High School Teacher
Nov 26, 2008
As any educator can attest to, learning how to write effectual lesson plans is one of the most valuable traits at which anyone should become skilled. Although each district has certain methodologies that may be specific to its own goals and objectives, there are certain basic fundamentals that can be utilized at the high school level to write a solid lesson plan.
The Basics
Upon entering the teaching profession, many new employees are intimidated by the prospect of molding young minds and controlling the classroom environment. Despite the different core curriculum standards that may be required across the curriculum, there are a number of tried-and-true methods that can assist any new hire and therefore through effective lesson planning and solid preparation, this stress can be greatly assuaged. Also, since teachers must implement the doctrine of Bloom’s Taxonomy in their instructional planning it is best to find methods of preparation that work cohesively with this requirement.
One of the easiest ways to write a lesson plan is to use the Madeline Hunter lesson plan model. In this seven step plan, the teacher is expected to implement the following guidelines to create a smoothly flowing and seamless plan for a classroom period:
- objectives
- standards
- anticipatory set
- teaching
- guided practice/monitoring
- closure
- independent practice
Fortunately, there are many web sites available with templates for ease of use for teachers to access and even updated version of the original for variety.
Bloom and Hunter
As mentioned earlier, Bloom’s Taxonomy is a major component of any effective planning, and again the Hunter method offers a chance to use the higher level elements of Bloom’s in the classroom. Through having to create a set of objectives, the teacher may use the Bloom’s keywords, such as: analyze, evaluate, and judge, etc., to create a product effortlessly and without tremendous exertion and time.
A Successful Plan
The reason as to why the Madeline Hunter method works for new teachers in particular is because it is a solid base with a direct set of aims and objectives. Therefore, it assists the teacher with accomplishing his or her goals and also gives them a formula that is easy to digest, learn and also apply to any curriculum. As Dr. Bob Kizlik says in his 2001 ProTeacher article “Five Common Mistakes in Writing Lesson Plans (and how to avoid them )” in reference to planning, “If you are serious about improving your skill in planning lessons, you should begin by first thinking carefully about what the lesson is supposed to accomplish.” It is a matter of positive contribution and positive productivity. If the plans are successful, the student outcome will be so as well.
Essentially, it is important to evaluate a variety of different methods for lesson planning and the Hunter Method is certainly not the only one that will produce a solid plan; however, for the newer teacher who has to deal with a variety of issues: classroom management, in-services, learning the materials, and planning, the Hunter method is a wonderful tool.
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