Education Terminology

In a lesson, interaction patterns refer to the way a teacher works individually with learners.

A procedure is a set of actions that describes how to teach a lesson.

A stage or step refers to the entire lesson plan.

Timetable fit refers to the order of lessons in a week.

Timing refers to the order of activities in a lesson.

Teachers do not need to consider interaction patterns when planning a lesson.

The main aim of a lesson is always a subsidiary aim.

A solution is always a problem.

An assumption is always an anticipated problem.

Aids are always handouts or pictures.

A stage aim is always a subsidiary aim.

A personal aim is always related to learner outcomes.

A lesson plan always includes anticipated problems.

An assumption is always made about learners' prior knowledge.

Glossary for Lesson Planning

Aids: teaching materials used in class, e.g. handouts, pictures, flashcards, to help learners understand concepts more easily.

Lesson Planning Terminology

Aim: what the teacher wants to achieve in the lesson or course, e.g. teaching the present perfect simple or developing listening skills.
- Main aim: the most important goal of the lesson.
- Stage aim: the purpose of a specific stage or step in the lesson.
- Subsidiary aim: a secondary focus of the lesson, less important than the main aim.
- Personal aim: what the teacher wants to improve in their teaching, e.g. reducing time spent writing on the board.

Problem-Solving in Lesson Planning

Solution: an answer to a problem anticipated by the teacher, included in the lesson plan.
Assumptions: what the teacher believes learners will or won't know or how they will behave in a particular lesson.

Classroom Interaction and Procedure

Interaction patterns: ways learners and the teacher work together in class, e.g. learner-learner in pairs or groups, or teacher-learner in open class.
Procedure: a set of actions describing how to do something, included in the lesson plan, e.g. learners practising language of complaints in a role-play in pairs.

Lesson Structure and Timing

Stage/step: a section of a lesson, e.g. lead-in, presentation, controlled practice.
Timetable fit: how a lesson fits logically into the sequence of lessons in a timetable.
Timing: the likely time different activities or stages in a lesson plan should take, usually included in the plan.

Test your knowledge of essential terms in lesson planning, including aids, aims, and more. Understand the vocabulary used in teaching and learning environments.