The Lesson Planning Handbook: Essential Strategies That Inspire Student Thinking and Learning

by Peter Brunn

Great teachers often make teaching look almost effortless but, inevitably, if you look closer, you’ll discover their “perfect lessons” are the result of thoughtful planning and strategic organization. Peter Brunn draws from his own teaching experience as well as years of classroom research with hundreds of teachers across the country to bring you the steps, strategies, and structures successful teachers use to organize and manage their lessons so that you, too, can experience success with every lesson you teach. Even if you are using a program or mandated curriculum, there are ways to weave in Brunn’s findings about effective teaching. Learn how to address the standards while crafting lessons that ignite student thinking, foster student engagement and independent learning, and, in all ways, create a classroom environment that promotes academic success.

Genres: Education, Professional Development, Teaching, Nonfiction

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing in this book is earth-shattering, but it was a pleasant, easy-to-read reminder of what teaching and planning should be like that would be especially useful to a new teacher.

[Susan Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Useful Survey of Lesson Planning Basics

I quite liked this book. It's well organized and clearly written. (By the way, this book is geared for language arts/English teachers, K-12, but seems especially appropriate for middle school students.)

Brunn addresses the importance of classroom procedures, structure, and predictability for successful lessons; I absolutely agree with this point. I also liked that he talked about planning for lessons with different methods of instructional delivery, e.g., Direct Instruction, cooperative learning, etc.

I recommend this book.

[Cori Dantio · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book would be really good for someone who paid absolutely no attention to their education courses in college, the college offered no courses on lesson planning, or had alternate means of getting their license.

I personally found it to be really helpful, but I knew everything that was in the book already. It's also geared more towards the general education setting, and I teach special ed.

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad book, but a lot of the content was things that should have been taught in education courses and/or credential classes. However, there were some good examples and points that are worth being reminded about as a teacher.

[Graham Bates · Rating 5 out of 5]

While the context for writing is focused on elementary literacy, the book is applicable for all classrooms. Brunn writes a book that is both brief and helpful. The insights and suggestions are from experience and are written in an excellent, easy-to-follow way.

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an important book for teachers in planning lessons for students, taking into account ways to get students thinking and engaging in discourse. I will be able to reference this and share important points in my work with pre-service teachers.

[Chelsea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Most of what I read I learned in college. So there wasn't much new information to glean.

I first got this for free with a book order back when I was teaching. I slowly read it off and on. Finally finished it.

[Kevin Driskill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great practical guide to lesson planning.

[Jocelyn Lugo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a refresher for me but I think this should be read by first year teachers (out of college or career changers) since it has well-founded evidence to rocking at those lesson plans.

[Ally Wrenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

quick! great tips!

I know this is targeted for elementary school teachers but I did enjoy it. I was confused why the community building chapter was at the end.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had some really nice tips for thinking about lesson design, how to structure lessons, and how to deliver lessons in such a way as to accomplish both content and social objectives. I loved the inclusion of the importance of community-building in your classroom. I think this is incredibly important and is sometimes included at the younger level, but falls by the wayside by upper elementary and later. I'm giving 4 instead of 5 stars because I feel like the book is really best for the reading/writing classroom or the primary classroom. You can extend its implications to an upper level, certainly, but it doesn't really speak to upper school specifically and that is what I teach.

[Rebecca Reddell · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was nice to read a book about teaching that emphasized some of the points, actions, lesson techniques, and ideas I utilized while teaching. It felt like a reminder of how I conducted whole class versus small groups and individual learning lessons. I liked where the author came from, enjoyed his point of view, picked up a new suggestion or two, and overall felt it reflected my own teaching style. So, I think it was a great read to verify some of the same standards I had as a teacher, but it wasn't a book where I gained a whole lot of new insight in terms of changing or making lesson plans better. It was a quick read, and I applaud what the author is doing and how he's helping others.

[Benjamin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good book for reviewing important components of a well oiled classroom. The text is most geared toward Elementary Language Arts educators but the general structures discussed can be applied in any classroom with a bit of creative thinking.

[Amanda Harkrader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book!

This book gives you many great ideas for you as a teacher, your classroom, and your students. I highly recommend this to all teachers.

[Anneli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to read, good examples

[Katie Kirkland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple, quick read chock-full of simple structures to improve lesson planning and teaching.