Mathematics Lesson Planning for Learning and Reflection

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The resources shared here represent a sample of the nationally-known tools available to support mathematics teachers and the work of Colorado math educators. These materials are designed to go beyond typical lesson plans that describe a set of steps to do with students. Instead, these help build lessons that have a particular focus on aspects of teacher planning, instructional practice, and reflection. They are better thought of as lessons to learn from rather than to teach with, and each lesson should prompt you to think about your own approach to lesson planning and reflection. Lesson planning in this way requires using one of each kind of these four resources:

• Lesson Planning Guide (such as 5 Practices, the Thinking Through a Lesson Protocol, etc.)
• Instructional Model (such as Launch, Explore, Summarize or the 5E Instructional Model)
• Mathematics Teaching Practices (such as any from the list of Effective Mathematics Teaching Practices or TeachingWorks' High-Leverage Practices)
• Tools for Lesson Observation and Reflection (such as the SERP 5x8 Card or the Achieve the Core Coaching Tool)

Examples of each one of these kinds of tools can be used to support planning and delivering a lesson designed to help teachers better understand and improve their own practice. For an example lesson and more information, see the math resources from Phase IV of the District Sample Curriculum Project.