Good Bye Lesson Plans

The traditional lesson plan was finally phased out by the department. Instead of using the lesson plan, we are now using the daily lesson log. Technically, it is still a lesson plan but it is not as detailed as the traditional lesson plans that had been used by generations of teachers. Lesson logs still require lesson plans or teaching modules, pelcs (Philippine Elementary Learning Competencies), books, etc. as references, but they are not to be re-written everyday on the daily lesson planner as was the norm before. So, instead of re-writing all that stuff, we just write the objectives, lesson for the day, references and materials, the method for the lesson, and the number of pupils who have passed the lesson evaluation and the action to be taken for those who did not, whether they are for remediation or whether the lesson is for re-teaching.   New teachers with below two years experience are still required to use the detailed lesson plan.

When I entered the public school system about three years ago, I saw the time and the effort it required for teachers to re-write lesson plans that they (or we) copied either from modules or from old proto-type lesson plans that they (or we) have used for years. Lesson plan writing was simply an automatic effort on the part of the teachers because it was required and was checked on a daily basis, but in reality, there were no real lesson preparationS; it was just copying--the time needed for “real” preparation was taken by the long and laborious time for re-writing lesson plans especially for teachers teaching multiple subjects which in the case of elementary teachers was the norm. And to be fair for the veteran teachers who from experience have memorized their lessons almost to the letter, detailed lesson plans were superfluous. I thought that the effort was a waste of time--time that the teachers could use for materials preparation and/or for reading related and relevant materials about the subject they teach or simply reading for general knowledge which is a must for teachers.

There are withdrawal syndromes, I think, because for almost three years, I got used to writing on my lesson planner on my vacant time. I am also used to seeing teachers head bowed, writing furiously on their planner trying to finish their multiple-lesson plans as early as possible so that they would not have to write after classes.

Anyway, this is the end of an era, I hope, where teachers have to bring their lesson planners, teaching materials, etc. at home to work on them.

 A relaxed teacher is a productive teacher, if I must say so.