From preparation to classroom practice
Plan. Notice. Respond.
Six practical guides to help you plan a lesson and decide what to do next. Original examples, printable checklists and a task to try.
Source and editorial audit completed 18 October 2026 with AI assistance. These are general planning suggestions, not official board lesson plans or examination guidance.
Write learning objectives you can check
A useful lesson objective states what learners should be able to do and what evidence will show it. Plan the evidence before choosing the activity.
Read and plan →Guide 02 · Classroom practiceCheck prior knowledge before a new lesson
A prior-knowledge check is a short task that reveals the ideas learners bring to a new topic. Use the responses to decide where to begin, rather than to award a grade.
Read and plan →Guide 03 · Classroom practicePlan a connected learning sequence
A learning sequence connects an initial problem, guided exploration, explanation and independent application. Each step should prepare learners for the next and reveal something about their understanding.
Read and plan →Guide 04 · Classroom practiceUse exit tickets to plan the next lesson
An exit ticket is a short end-of-lesson response used to decide what to teach next. Ask for evidence of the main learning goal and plan when you will act on the responses.
Read and plan →Guide 05 · Classroom practiceGive feedback learners can use
Useful feedback identifies a specific feature of the work and gives the learner a manageable next action. Leave time for the learner to apply it and check the revision.
Read and plan →Guide 06 · Classroom practiceUse learning errors to choose the next step
A learning error is a starting point for investigating a learner’s reasoning. Ask how the response was produced before deciding whether to clarify the task, model a method or revisit a concept.
Read and plan →Building your subject knowledge? Explore the shared learning library →