Happy New Year! Winter break is over and teachers and students are back in the classroom. Between writing new lesson plans, welcoming students back to school, and re-establishing routines and procedures, this can be both an exciting and a daunting time for educators.
To help you make the most of this transitional time, we’ve curated a list of innovative and educational lesson plans created by BetterLesson Master Teachers that will engage students of all ages.
This lessons strategies list will include plans for reviewing classroom routines, goal-setting, and engaging in personal reflection. We will also include lesson plans to use for Martin Luther King Jr. Day!
Re-Establishing Classroom Routines and Procedures
Instructional Strategy: Creating Shared Classroom Values
Grade Level: Middle and High School
Big Idea: This strategy guides teachers through a process for collaborating with students to communicate what is important in the learning community and creating a set of classroom norms that will amplify the students’ and teacher’s shared values.
Instructional Strategy: Modeling and Repeated Practice of Expectations, Routines, and Procedures
Grade Level: All Grades
Big Idea: This strategy describes the steps to successful modeling and practice, and suggests where and how you can put this strategy to best use.
Instructional Strategy: Safe Ways to Share Points of View by Establishing Core Values and Norms
Grade Level: All Grades
Big Idea: The strategy supports teachers in setting up shared norms and values so that meaningful topics can be explored, while students feel seen, valued, and cared for.
Lesson Plan: Calendar Routine
Grade Level: Elementary
Big Idea: This lesson highlights how to use calendar routine. Calendar time incorporates many math concepts, and is completed daily outside of my math block.
Lesson Plan: Implementing Classroom Rules and Procedures
Grade Level: Middle
Big Idea: Use classroom rules and procedures appropriately.
Lesson Plan: Welcome Back – Return to Routines and Procedures
Grade Level: High School
Big Idea: At the kick off of the second semester, we’re setting some ground rules for group discussion and classroom management.
Lesson Plan: Understanding Why We Have Rules in the Classroom
Grade Level: High School
Big Idea: Brain science research helps us to understand why some rules and laws are age specific in society.
Goal Setting & Personal Reflection
Instructional Strategy: GOAL Journaling to Reflect and Grow
Grade Level: All Grades
Big Idea: Support students to set goals daily and reflect on their progress.
Instructional Strategy: Goal Setting and Reflection
Grade Level: All Grades
Big Idea: Students will develop ownership of their learning as they track their progress over time in pursuit of realistic goals.
Lesson Plan: Going for the Goal!
Grade Level: Elementary
Big Idea: Goal setting is an important part of being successful. After identifying areas in which they’ve already set and achieved goals, students will think about themselves as readers, writers, mathematicians, and community members.
Lesson Plan: Setting Goals, Winning BIG!
Grade Level: Middle
Big Idea: Without goals, we are aimless and unproductive. Let’s set some goals!
Instructional Strategy: Reflecting on Goals and Dreams Through Another’s Perspective
Grade Level: High School
Big Idea: Students consider their own and others’ viewpoints about their hopes and dreams.
Lesson Plan: Reflecting on 1st Semester and Setting Goals for 2nd Semester
Grade Level: High School
Big Idea: What did I learn and where am I going? Students examine their accomplishments and shortcomings, and then set goals for a new year.
Lesson Plan: Self Reflection
Grade Level: All Grades
Big Idea: By engaging in self-reflection, students can diagnose their learning, resulting in more engagement and deeper understanding.
Celebrating and Commemorating Martin Luther King, Jr.
Lesson Plan: Martin Luther King Jr.
Grade Level: Elementary
Big Idea: Explore some African American history as students practice identifying the main idea and supporting details.
Lesson Plan: Dr. Martin Luther King Had a Dream
Grade Level: Upper Elementary and Middle
Big Idea: Students will evaluate the significance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech to our nation.
Lesson Plan: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Life Lessons
Grade Level: Upper Elementary and Middle
Big Idea: Students will learn life lessons as they examine quotes by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Lesson Plan: Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” Argument – Part I
Grade Level: Middle
Big Idea: Analyzing the dream speech.
Lesson Plan: “SOAPSTone-ing” Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” Speech
Grade Level: High School
Big Idea: Lather up everyone! Students use a SOAPSTone chart to read an important American speech closely.
Lesson Plan: Understanding Martin Luther King Jr.’s Rhetorical Appeal in his Letter from Birmingham Jail
Grade Level: High School
Big Idea: How to Move the Crowd: The Persuasive, Powerful Rhetoric of Martin Luther King.
