How to Write a Unit Plan Portland OR

Steps

1. Define Your Objectives. Writing a clear goal for each lesson and activity will help focus the learning of your students and your teaching.
2. Follow a Standard Template for Preparing a Unit. Normally, these begin with objectives, but also include standards addressed, materials, lessons, assessments, resources, and accommodations for all learners in the classroom.
3. Survey Your Resources. Take some time to review what resources are already available to you. Often, there are good resources already in use and taking the time to use a previous lesson or learning methodology will save a lot of time in the long run.
4. Study the State Standards and become knowledgeable about the actual content/subject matter of your unit plan.
5. List in sequential order the major concepts in outline form to be clear on what concepts you are planning to teach within a given time frame.
6. Plan and Create Your Assessment Tools. After reviewing what resources you can pull from, creating a diversity of assessment tools to evaluate learning is next. Both summative and formative measures should be in place to ensure a broad evaluation of the objectives is met by all students.
7. Pick and Choose the Lessons. Given the time and the needs of your students, select what fits their learning styles and approaches that will garner their curiosity and interest.
8. Have Benchmarks in Place. Once the unit has begun, have benchmarks to maneuver through the unit. This will help keep you on track for time and ensure that learning objectives are being met.

Tips

• Remember that the best resource is people. Talk to those who have created units before, or who might be experts in a field of study you want to create in a unit.
• Be aware of specific state and district guidelines for the subject matter you intend to write about in a unit.
• Gather lists of resources that you can add to each time you present this unit.
• Use variety in lessons, assessment, and resources - let learners experience the unit of study through various means.
• Over-plan - it is always better to have more activities than not enough.

Warnings

• You must stick to a timeline to complete a unit.
• You must have the resources for the activities before you begin planning the lessons you choose.
• You must be aware of teaching standards as well as subject matter standards.

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