Session 8: Lesson Planning

The objectives of this session are:

  • To connect short and long-term goals to the lesson planning process
  • To review strategies tutor trainees can use to help learners form goals
  • To familiarize tutor trainees with the process involved in lesson planning
  • To introduce a format to write lesson plans
  • To critique a lesson plan
  • To write a lesson plan
  • To provide tutor trainees with general tutoring tips

Overview of Session 8: Lesson Planning

5 minutes
  • Discuss objectives.
  • Show overhead, Overview of Session 8.


20 minutes


graphic of an overhead projector






A: Where should I start?

  • Discuss the importance of starting where your learner is. Link new knowledge to prior knowledge and experiences.
  • Discuss how lesson objectives (goals) should take into consideration the short and long-term goals of your learner.
  • Review the information about Hyun-Chu and define two long-term goals.
  • In pairs, trainees should break down the long-term goal into smaller short-term goals.
  • Refer to the tutor training manual and discuss the long-term and shortterm goals her tutor defined for her. What other long and short-term goals were mentioned during the pair work?
  • Ask trainees, "Let's say that you are in a situation where the learner has a long-term goal such as "go to university and graduate." How would you break this down into short-term goals?"
  • After giving the trainees a minute or two, ask them, "Was it difficult for you to take the learner's long-term goal and break it into smaller, manageable parts? Should you break this into short-term goals? Would it be better for you to do it in conjunction with the learner? Should the learner do it on her own and "inform" you?"
  • Show overhead, How can I help my learner set goals?. Explain that, while some learners may be overwhelmed when we ask about " goals", if we ask specific questions, we will get a better understanding of what some of the learner's goals are.
  • Introduce the "task analysis tree" or "mind map" as a method to brainstorm and plan with learners. (A shortened version is available in the tutor training manual.)
  • Refer to the assessment checklists from Session 3.