University of North Texas 
Appendix B: Lesson Plan Template
UNT FLEXIBLE LESSON PLAN APPROACH
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Table of Contents |
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Lesson Plan Models (you will be prompted to make a copy of the document) |
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The Teacher Education program at UNT is committed to preparing transformational teachers who hold deep pedagogical beliefs, enact expert teaching practices, and plan culturally sustaining and educational lessons.
Pedagogy
Successful teachers of all students hold deep pedagogical beliefs about the purposes for teaching. This requires answering questions such as: What is learning and teaching? What is the purpose of education? Who is education for? In our program, we have core commitments to identity, inquiry, activism, and community that teaching is not only “a relational and intellectual endeavor,” but “also both an ethical and a political act.” Schools can often succumb to reform accountability cultures that narrow teaching and learning to test preparation. Teachers risk losing what is most important for them and their students if they do not have deep pedagogical beliefs informing their instruction. Teacher candidates should explore pedagogical beliefs in their classes and throughout their careers.
Practices
Successful teachers of all students are able to enact expert teaching practices that support students' learning. In UNT courses, teacher candidates should be working through specific practices that they can use in the classroom such as how to lead discussions, how to give feedback, etc. Teachers should have a robust knowledge of varied teaching practices they can call upon to meet the needs of particular students and classroom communities. Teacher candidates should explore expert teaching practices in their classes and refine them throughout their careers.
Planning
Successful teachers of all students design meaningful instruction through purposeful planning of teaching. This document serves as a guide for UNT teacher candidates and instructors to craft teaching plans that will support both their class community and learning goals. Teaching plans can follow numerous models which emerge from differing ways of thinking about how to structure teaching and learning experiences. There is no one right way to plan teaching, but rather different models that suit different needs.
We are providing you the following models to consider as guides for developing teaching planning (see table above). Each model has benefits, shortcomings, and their own assumptions about teaching and learning. As you review each lesson plan model, consider the following questions:
- What aspects of teaching and learning are emphasized, ignored, or absent in the model?
- Does the model focus more on what the teacher or students will do? Does the model provide teachers and students agency?
- Is this model more suited for certain content or types of lessons?
- Does the model help support linguistically, racially, and culturally diverse students?
- What are the benefits and downsides of the model?
- Does the model invite reflection on teaching?