Have you ever wondered how to write lesson note? Teaching is the process of imparting knowledge but to do this one has to implore a systematic approach to planning towards it.
The keyword here is “Planning”. Time management, topic objectives, teaching procedures, etc., needs to be properly planned for each teaching session to follow the curriculum, be effective, and for the learning objectives to be met.
In this article, we will provide an effective guide on how to write lesson notes in a format that will help teachers and educational instructors at Nursery, Primary, and Secondary levels, achieve their teaching goals.
What is a lesson note?
A lesson note otherwise known as a lesson plan is a document that outlines the objectives, content, and teaching procedure of each topic in a school curriculum. It guides and helps teachers structure their teaching structure for each topic on a lesson-by-lesson basis. If we remember our days in school, we would notice a pattern that all our teachers use in teaching.
In the staff room or on their desks in our classrooms, we would have noticed that they are either marking the assignments, diary, attendance, or writing their lesson notes with the aid of textbooks and instructional materials. This is a testament to the amount of work they carry out to achieve each lesson’s objectives in line with the curriculum.
How to Write a Lesson Note in Nigeria
The lesson note determines how well a teacher will impart knowledge to the students, so effective planning should be done on a step-by-step basis. Here are the procedures you should follow when creating a lesson note:
Identify your Lesson Objectives
For every teaching week, this is the first step you should take. Not to be worried, it is always stated in the curriculum. The learning objectives will give you pointers on what you will focus on when planning for each topic.
Determine the best instructional materials
Practical knowledge lasts more than theories. So, when you have determined your lesson objectives, select the best materials that will efficiently explain the topic. It could be a laboratory apparatus or visual aids. For some topics, the textbook is all you need.
Outline the instructional procedures
This is how you will explain the lesson to the students. The aim of this is to pass across knowledge. Therefore, whatever procedure you will choose must engage your students and pique their interest in the subjects.
Outline your evaluation techniques
This is how you will assess if the learning objectives have been understood by your students. You may decide to evaluate with a quiz session, test, assignments, student presentations or projects, etc.
Outline the assignment
This is how you will assess the level of understanding each student has on the topic. These assignments may be from their textbooks or practical, but if you choose to test their knowledge, it must be in line with what you have taught them based on the curriculum.
General Features of a Lesson Note
Let’s examine the general feature that must be present in lesson notes irrespective of the writing style your school accepts. These include the following:
- Date and Time
- Class
- Subject
- Topic
- Duration
- Period
- Previous knowledge
- Lesson Aims and Objectives
- Topic introduction
- Teacher’s and Student Activities
- Teaching methods
- Teachings aid
- Lesson evaluation and conclusion
- Assignments
- Lesson summary
Critical Components of An Efficient Lesson Note
Every lesson note is made up of many components but these are the most important aspects that guide the method of teaching, provide instructions, and ensure the students are taught rightly:
The Learning Objectives
Learning objectives are quite important because they guide the flow of the lesson note. They point out the knowledge that will be imparted to the students at the end of each lesson. This is mostly a sentence or a few sentences that serve as the target the teacher is aiming to achieve. It is clear and concise and always a reflection of the curriculum. Think of it as the map to a predetermined destination that guides the teachers. All you will teach should stem from these learning objectives. All learning objectives have these in common: they are time bound, achievable, specific, and measurable.
Here are a few examples of learning objectives:
Agricultural Science: By the end of the lesson, students will be able to identify and explain the different types of tree crops and their produce.
Christian Religious Studies: By the end of the lesson, students will be able to explain the significance of the birth of Jesus.
Mathematics: By the end of the lesson, students will be able to solve algebra equations.
English Language: By the end of the lesson, students will be able to identify and explain idiomatic expressions.
The Materials and Resources
These are essential to any effective teaching in schools. Most students learn by what they see rather than what they hear. The theory is great but not as effective as practical. The latter brings about motivation, participation, ease of teaching, and more assimilation. Once teachers can give a visual representation of what they are teaching, rest assured that they have captured the attention of most students. So, for your Lesson note to be effective, including educational materials and resources so you can deliver your lesson with ease. Here are some of the common teaching materials and resources used in schools:
Textbooks
These are written information on each topic for all the classes and they serve as materials with written information, explanation, and assignments. Most textbooks have pictures and diagrams on some topics that will further help the teaching process.
Visual aids
Just like the name implies, these are things visible that help portray and aid understanding of each subject. It can be things in our environment, diagrams, charts, graphs, and even personal properties.
Audiovisual aids
These are also what we can see but they are multimedia in that they can assist through audio or videos. They can include videos and engaging software.
Laboratory equipment
This is mostly for scientific lessons and they are housed in the school’s laboratory. Subjects such as physics, chemistry, and biology have their laboratories because practical is quite important to pass knowledge to them. The teaching aids here are the equipment that includes test tubes, beakers, acids, bases, litmus paper, microscopes, etc. Also, experiments are carried out here.
Educational software
The world is undergoing digitalization and schools have keyed into this development because it has made learning easier. So, to aid teaching software like educational games, simulations, and the like are now part of the teaching procedures to make teaching more impactful and interactive with the students
Teachers should never forget that these educational materials and resources must always be a part of the lesson note so that it will aid in the easy understanding of the topics for the students and ease the teaching process.
Tips for Creating Effective Lesson Notes
Here are the tips that will guide you in creating an effective lesson note for your students:
Be factual
Often we may be tempted not to research before we write our lesson notes but this is a bad approach. Everything you tell your student is taken to heart by them, so spend time researching and only include facts in your lesson notes.
Engaging Introduction
The beginning of your lesson will determine how attentive your students will be. Always aim to capture their attention with a very engaging and interactive introduction. That way, they will stay with you till the very end and understand you better.
Master the subject
Before you impart knowledge, you must be knowledgeable. Take time to research and master each topic and subject you teach.
Know your students
Students have different ways and paces of assimilation. Know your students and tailor your lesson notes in a way that none is left out. The methods and procedures you will use in teaching should be all-encompassing.
Clear Lesson Objectives
Your lesson objectives will determine how you will achieve your end goal. Ensure your objectives are clear, measurable, achievable, and concise always.
Incorporate visual aids
This cannot be overemphasized. Even students with a slow learning pace will catch up with a visual aid. Include visual aids in your lesson to engage your student’s interest.
Incorporate Assignments
No better way to determine if you have imparted knowledge than assessing your students. In your lesson note, always include Homework and Assignments based on the lesson you have taught.
Frequently asked questions
How to write lesson plan in Nigeria?
Here are the steps for writing a lesson plan in Nigeria; set learning objectives, identify the learning activities, plan your assessment method, outline the lesson sequence, establish the lesson timeliness, and review the entire plan.
How do you write a lesson plan for secondary school?
An effective lesson plan for secondary school should have these components; Date, class, subject, topic, subtopic, gender, time/duration, period, average age, the total number of students, teaching method, instructional materials, behavioral objectives, previous knowledge, lesson aim and objectives, introduction, other lesson components, and assignment.
How do you write a lesson plan format
Here is an effective way to write a lesson plan format; Date, class, subject, topic, subtopic, time, and duration. Period, reference book(s), instructional materials, entry behavior, behavioral objectives, presentation of steps, conclusion, evaluation, and assignment.
What is the difference between lesson plan and lesson note?
Lesson plan is an instructional plan or step-by-step material that outlines how a teacher will teach the students effectively. While a lesson note encompasses the entire lesson content and is given to the students as notes for further studies.
How do you conclude a lesson note? Summarize all that has been taught on the topic in line with the lesson objectives and set assignments to evaluate the students’ knowledge of the topic.
Conclusion
In your journey as a teacher or an educator, proper planning makes things easier. The most efficient lesson note helps ease the burden of a teacher so devote ample time to research and write the best lesson note with our tips and guidelines.
