This document provides an introduction to developing effective lesson plans for counseling in schools. It outlines that lesson plans (1) empower educators by allowing them to structure their own lessons, (2) communicate important information to students and teachers, and (3) serve as a guide for organizing thoughts and materials. Developing strong lesson plans requires thinking, practice, and reflection. While formats can vary, effective plans should include learning objectives, instructional procedures, required resources and materials, and an evaluation component linking back to the objectives. Common errors to avoid are not clearly linking objectives to activities, assessment, and materials chosen. The document concludes with steps to create an effective plan such as determining objectives, selecting instructional methods, and planning for evaluation

1. Counseling in Schools:
Brief Introduction to Lesson Plan Development
K. Dotson-Blake, ECU, 2007
I. Why use lesson plans
a. Empowers educators to “own” the content they are sharing with their
students
b. Lesson plans communicate information for students and educators
c. Serve as a guide to help educators organize thoughts, materials & ideas
d. Essential for time management
II. Requirements for Developing Strong Lesson Plans
a. Thinking
b. Practice
c. Reflection
III. Lesson Plan Formats
a. Many different forms
b. No ONE correct format, many forms can all be effective
c. Some central components that should be included in an effective lesson
plan
i. Student learning objectives
ii. Instructional procedures and techniques
iii. Required resources and materials
iv. Evaluation component—description of how evaluation of
student progress concerning objectives will occur
IV. Common Errors
a. Objectives not linked to specific learning behaviors or actions
i. Impossible to link to evaluation component
b. Assessment/Evaluation not solidly linked to learning objectives
c. Materials not clearly linked to objectives and activities
i. Deluge of materials not clearly relevant to lesson goals
d. Instructional efficiency not appropriately considered
e. Student activities do not match lesson objectives
f. Lesson not built upon a foundation of previous student learning
i. Not developed with attention to the developmental needs of
audience
V. Creating an Effective Lesson Plan
a. Determine the objective
b. Research the focus
c. Select the appropriate instructional method
d. Identify a usable lesson plan format
e. Decide how to organize the lesson
f. Choose support material and resources
g. Prepare the beginning and ending of the lesson

2. h. Plan the evaluation component
i. Prepare a final outline.