If ESL lesson planning feels overwhelming or takes way more time and energy than it should, you’re not alone. Having 20 years in the classroom, I know the feeling. I know just how stressful it can be to plan for large caseloads across multiple grade levels and content areas, all while meeting the needs of students at different language levels, and keeping lessons focused and engaging.
Here’s the good news: lesson planning doesn’t have to feel like this.
With the right structures in place, lesson planning can feel more manageable, less stressful—and even energizing.
An ESL Lesson Planning Guide That Works
To help take the stress and guesswork out of lesson planning, I created A Lesson Planning Guide. It’s a 4-step model that simplifies the process without sacrificing quality. This method helps to ensure that my plans are purposeful, student-centered, and easy to implement.
Let me walk you through it.
The 4-Step Lesson Planning Guide
Step 1: Start with the Purpose
Begin with the end in mind. What do your students need to know or be able to do by the end of the lesson or unit? Start with a learning objective that includes content + a key language use (language function). This will keep your planning focused and help ensure targeted instruction.
Step 2: Select the Input
With the learning target in mind, select meaningful instructional materials that build content knowledge AND language. Materials can include text, videos, photographs, read-aloud picture books, think-aloud modeling, anchor charts, etc. Input resources build content and language, plus, support the learning target through the use of receptive language skills.
Step 3: Plan the Output
Design tasks that allow students to practice and apply language around the learned content. Think about HOW students will show their understanding through the use of expressive language. Tasks can include gesturing, responding orally, labeling, illustrating, sentence or paragraph writing.
Scaffolding Chart by Proficiency Level
Step 4: Scaffolds and Supports
Think about which scaffolds are needed in order to support students in reaching the learning target. How can you make the lesson accessible for all language levels? Depending on student/group needs, scaffolds can include labeled visuals, sentence frames, word banks, modeled examples and chunked text.
This 4-step structure has become my go-to tool for ensuring that my ELD plans are purposeful and effective.
This tool, along with effective lesson planning formats and routines that support all proficiency levels, has brought a high level of clarity and calm to my lesson planning prep time. I know exactly what steps are needed to plan effective, purposeful language rich instruction to move students along the pathway to English language proficiency.
And I want that same confidence for you.🙌
ESL Lesson Planning Course for Teachers of Multilingual Learners
That’s why I created A Lesson Planning Roadmap! It’s a self-paced course that walks you through a proven planning system with a step-by-step guide, effective lesson planning templates, and real demonstrations of my lesson planning process.
➡️ Click here to explore A Lesson Planning Roadmap
Let me show you how to take the guesswork out of lesson planning and make the process more manageable.
Have you’ve ever thought, … there must be an easier way to lesson plan that’s less stressful, less overwhelming? If so, then this course was made for you. 💛 Check it out!
To get started, grab your own copy of the ELD Lesson Planning Toolkit by joining the “Courses for Teachers of MLs” email list.
The Toolkit includes:
- 4-Step Lesson Planning Guide, along with an example guide and blank template
- Scaffolding Chart by Proficiency Levels
- Sample Walk-Through Lesson
By joining the “Courses for Teachers of MLs” email list, you’ll be notified when new workshops & courses become available. 👇🏼
If you find the ESL/ELD Lesson Planning Toolkit helpful, it’s just a sample of the powerful lesson planning supports you’ll find inside A Lesson Planning Roadmap. Doors are open for a limited time, so don’t miss out!
Having a reliable and effective planning structure has taken lesson planning stress off my plate, and it can do the same for you!
Happy planning & teaching!
