Differentiated Learner Lesson Plan Template

One of the most challenging things to do well when you are beginning teaching (and frequently observed)  is to make sure that you are addressing the learning needs of all students, while gathering the appropriate information about their learning, as well as varying your instructional strategies to meet all learner needs. 

I created this planning template for myself when I lead a special education classroom with 12 learners on IPPs and an education assistant to help meet the needs of the students in my class. It also worked well for my 'regular' class of 33 with 9 students on IPPs. 

Feel free to use it, adapt it or ignore it! You could change the '21st century learning outcomes' to 'Daily 5', 'character education', 'theme of the month', 'literacy outcome', 'Common Core' or any other district or school wide initiative you have.

Lesson Plan and Activity Reflections

Lesson Plan and Activity Reflections

Reflecting on Activities and Lesson plans help us make better decisions going forward, articulate why we make the instructional choices we make, and consider the learning outcomes we are trying to achieve. This chart provides a template for some questions you could consider while creating your plans and activities.

Student Teacher Journal Reflections

Student Teaching Journal for Reflections

Sometimes it can be difficult to figure out how to reflect on your lessons and practice. This chart gives some direction and topics for communicating your experience to your University Facilitator or Partner Teacher. 

Creating success during your Field Experience part 1

I don't know if you feel this way yet, but these Field Experiences that you are about to begin are incredibly fun. You will be learning so much, re-evaluating and possibly tweaking your philosophy of education and meeting kids on a level that you probably haven't had the opportunity to do so before. There is a lot of trust given to teachers by students, especially at the younger stages of education. That trust is incredibly precious, and should be nurtured and cherished. There will be many people that let down our youth, but I hope that you - as the new teachers entering the vocation - aren't one of them. When you step into your field experience remember that you will leave an impression and imprint on your students, and that you are creating not just a learning experience, but an impact on their experiences.


As an evaluator, I have to look for specific competencies and develop a narrative of your experience.

Creating success in your teaching Field Experience part 2

Situations out of your control . . .

You may come upon a few challenging situations during the Field Experiences. These unfortunate circumstances can make a challenging learning situation even more so. Here are some guidelines that I hope give you a bit of a handbook if you encounter them . . .

Here we go. I anticipate modifying and adding to this as required.

about second year teaching . . .

One of my students asked me to participate in an assignment from another faculty member. The task was to ask more than one teacher what it takes to be a second year teacher. Love this question. For a couple of reasons - at this stage in their careers, students are learning so much theory and focusing on the immediate. During their practicum/Field Experience, they experience so very acutely the process of instructing the students. The first few years in the classroom are a proving ground, and that happens outside the classroom too. So, what does it take to be a second year teacher?