What Resources Are Available for Instructional Planning?

Welcome back to Teaching with Valor, the podcast where we explore the everyday questions, challenges, and victories of teaching. I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today we’re diving into one of the most fundamental aspects of teaching: What resources are available for instructional planning?

When it comes to planning lessons, having the right resources can make all the difference. But with so many books, websites, apps, and educational tools out there, how do you find what you need without getting overwhelmed? Whether you’re new to teaching or you’ve been in the classroom for years, instructional planning can sometimes feel like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. There are so many pieces, and finding the ones that fit can take time and patience.

In this episode, we’re going to break it down step-by-step. We’ll explore some of the best resources for instructional planning at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. We’ll also talk about how to find resources that align with your teaching style and your students’ needs. And, we’ll touch on how to avoid the trap of over-planning—because yes, that’s a thing too!

Show Notes

For more information on this topic checkout the following resources: 

• Edutopia – Instructional Planning Resources: www.edutopia.org - Articles and videos on instructional planning and effective teaching strategies.
• Teachers Pay Teachers (TpT): www.teacherspayteachers.com - Lesson plans, activities, and resources created by teachers, for teachers.
• Khan Academy: www.khanacademy.org - Instructional videos, practice exercises, and assessments for a variety of subjects and grade levels.
• Newsela: www.newsela.com - High-interest reading passages with adjustable reading levels.
• PBS LearningMedia: www.pbslearningmedia.org - Lesson plans, video clips, and primary source documents for history, literature, and science classes.

Stay tuned for more episodes, and remember, every student is unique, and every classroom can be a place where all students succeed. Keep teaching with valor!

Transcript

Don: 0:09

Welcome back to Teaching with Valor, the podcast where we explore the everyday questions, challenges, and victories of teaching. I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today we’re diving into one of the most fundamental aspects of teaching: What resources are available for instructional planning? When it comes to planning lessons, having the right resources can make all the difference. But with so many books, websites, apps, and educational tools out there, how do you find what you need without getting overwhelmed? Whether you’re new to teaching or you’ve been in the classroom for years, instructional planning can sometimes feel like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. There are so many pieces, and finding the ones that fit can take time and patience. In this episode, we’re going to break it down step-by-step. We’ll explore some of the best resources for instructional planning at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. We’ll also talk about how to find resources that align with your teaching style and your students’ needs. And, we’ll touch on how to avoid the trap of over-planning—because yes, that’s a thing too! And for our parent listeners, stick around for a special bonus segment where we’ll answer the question: How can I find resources to help my child at home? Let’s get started! In todays first segment we look at The Basics of Instructional Planning. Before we dive into specific resources, let’s talk for a moment about what instructional planning is all about. At its core, instructional planning is the process of designing lessons and activities that help your students reach specific learning goals. It involves considering the what(the content and skills you want students to learn), the how(the methods and strategies you’ll use to teach), and the why(the purpose behind what you’re teaching). When you plan effectively, you’re not just thinking about what you’re going to teach—you’re thinking about how your students will engage with the material, what kinds of questions they might ask, and how you’ll assess their understanding. This requires a combination of creativity, strategy, and a solid understanding of your students’ needs. But even the best teachers can’t plan effectively without the right resources. That’s why finding and using high-quality resources is so essential to your success in the classroom. The right resources can help you stay organized, inspire creativity, and provide new ideas that you might not have thought of on your own. So, where should you start? Let’s take a closer look at some of the most useful resources for elementary school teachers. Now that we’ve laid the groundwork for why instructional planning is so important, let’s explore some of the top resources available for elementary school teachers. At the elementary level, planning involves creating engaging lessons that build foundational skills in literacy, math, science, and social studies. For younger students, instruction needs to be hands-on, interactive, and grounded in clear, accessible concepts. One of the best resources for elementary teachers is Teachers Pay Teachers. This online marketplace is a treasure trove of lesson plans, worksheets, activities, and projects created by other teachers. Whether you’re looking for literacy centers, science experiments, or math games, Teachers Pay Teachers has something for almost every subject and grade level. The key here is to find resources that align with your teaching style and your students’ needs. While some resources are free, others may require a small investment, but they often save you hours of planning time. Another essential resource is Scholastic’s Teacher Resources. Scholastic provides lesson plans, book recommendations, and printables that are organized by grade level and subject area. This is especially helpful for literacy instruction, as you can find book lists and activities tailored to the reading levels of your students. Scholastic also offers thematic units that integrate multiple subjects, which is perfect for elementary classrooms. In addition to websites, don’t overlook the value of educational books like The Daily Five by Gail Boushey and Joan Moser, which offers strategies for creating structured literacy blocks, or Teach Like a Champion by Doug Lemov, which provides concrete instructional techniques that you can implement immediately. Elementary teachers should also consider using digital tools like Seesaw and ClassDojo to plan and manage classroom activities. Seesaw allows students to document their learning through photos, videos, and digital drawings, while ClassDojo helps you communicate with parents and track student behavior. These tools are especially helpful if you’re trying to create a blended learning environment. Finally, look into district-provided resources and state education websites. Many school districts offer curriculum guides, pacing charts, and lesson plan templates that align with state standards. These can be a great starting point if you’re trying to build out your yearlong plans or align your lessons with specific learning objectives. As we move into middle school, the needs and resources for planning start to shift towards content specialization and more sophisticated learning strategies. Now that we’ve explored resources for elementary teachers, let’s move on to middle school, where planning takes on new challenges as students transition into more specialized subjects. Middle school is a critical time when students are transitioning from the foundational skills of elementary school to more complex, content-specific learning. This stage often requires a shift in planning to incorporate strategies that foster independence and critical thinking. For middle school teachers, one of the best resources is Edutopia. Edutopia offers a wealth of articles, videos, and resources focused on teaching strategies, student engagement, and project-based learning. If you’re looking for inspiration on how to introduce a new concept or manage your classroom more effectively, Edutopia is a great place to start. The site also offers real-life examples of successful projects and lessons from teachers across the country. In terms of lesson planning, CommonLit and Newsela are excellent resources for English Language Arts teachers. Both websites provide a variety of reading passages with accompanying questions and activities. They’re especially useful for finding texts that are both high-interest and aligned with specific reading levels. Newsela even allows you to adjust the reading level of a given article, making it accessible to a wider range of students. For science and math teachers, consider exploring Khan Academy and PhET Interactive Simulations. Khan Academy offers instructional videos, practice exercises, and assessments for a variety of subjects, making it a great resource for supplementing your lessons or offering additional support to struggling students. PhET, on the other hand, provides interactive simulations that allow students to explore scientific concepts in a hands-on, digital environment. Middle school teachers can also benefit from using Google Classroom for managing assignments and communicating with students. Google Classroom helps streamline the planning process by allowing you to organize lessons, post assignments, and provide feedback all in one place. This is particularly helpful for teachers who want to create a blended or flipped learning environment. As you plan for middle school, it’s essential to build in opportunities for collaboration and critical thinking. Websites like TeachThought and The Cult of Pedagogy offer resources and strategies for promoting deeper learning and student engagement. These sites can help you find ways to encourage student-led discussions, group projects, and inquiry-based learning. As we transition into high school, the focus shifts once again to preparing students for college and career readiness. Now that we’ve explored middle school resources, let’s move on to high school, where instructional planning becomes more about preparing students for their future endeavors and connecting the curriculum to real-world applications. At the high school level, instructional planning is often focused on preparing students for higher education, career paths, and independent thinking. This requires a balance between rigorous academic content and practical skills. For high school teachers, one of the most valuable resources is The College Board, especially for teachers who are preparing students for A-P classes or S-A-T exams. The College Board offers curriculum frameworks, sample lesson plans, and past exams that can help you align your instruction with the expectations of college-level courses. It’s also a great resource for finding professional development opportunities that will enhance your teaching practice. For project-based learning and career readiness, consider using Project Lead the Way. Project Lead the Way provides curriculum materials and resources for hands-on, project-based courses in STEM subjects. These materials are designed to challenge students to think critically and solve real-world problems, making them an excellent resource for high school teachers looking to integrate STEM concepts into their lessons. Another essential resource is TED-Ed, which offers engaging videos and lesson plans on a wide variety of topics. These videos can be a great starting point for class discussions, research projects, or writing assignments. You can also use TED-Ed’s platform to create your own interactive lessons around specific videos. High school teachers can also benefit from HyperDocs, which are digital lesson plans that allow you to organize and deliver content in a visually appealing and interactive format. HyperDocs are particularly useful if you want to create self-paced lessons or flipped classroom experiences. You can find templates and examples online or create your own using Google Docs or Slides. For more advanced students, PBS LearningMedia offers in-depth resources and activities aligned with subjects like history, literature, science, and civics. PBS provides lesson plans, video clips, primary source documents, and interactive activities that help bring complex topics to life. This is particularly helpful for social studies and language arts teachers who want to integrate multimedia resources into their lessons. As you explore these resources, remember to keep your instructional goals in mind. The key is to find resources that align with your curriculum, your students’ needs, and your teaching style. Now that we’ve discussed resources for elementary, middle, and high school teachers, let’s move into our bonus segment, where we answer the parent question:“How can I find the right resources to support my child’s learning at home?” This is a great question, especially in today’s world, where there are so many options available online. One of the best places to start is your child’s school or teacher. Teachers can recommend resources that align with the classroom curriculum and your child’s specific learning needs. They might suggest websites, books, or apps that reinforce the skills your child is working on in school. For younger children, consider using educational apps like A.B.C. mouse or Khan Academy Kids, which offer interactive lessons and games that build foundational skills in reading, math, and science. These apps are designed to be engaging and age-appropriate, making them a great way to support your child’s learning at home. For older children, you might explore websites like Khan Academy or CommonLit, which provide practice exercises, reading passages, and instructional videos for a variety of subjects. These resources can be especially helpful if your child needs extra support in a specific subject or wants to explore new topics on their own. Finally, don’t forget the value of public libraries. Many libraries offer online access to e-books, audiobooks, and educational databases, which can be a valuable supplement to classroom learning. Libraries also often offer tutoring programs, homework help, and access to community events that encourage learning beyond the classroom. Your takeaways from todays episode. Instructional planning is about more than just choosing the right lessons—it’s about creating meaningful, engaging experiences for your students. By using the resources we’ve discussed today, you can find inspiration, save time, and elevate your teaching to the next level. Thank you for joining us on today’s episode of Teaching with Valor. For more resources on instructional planning and finding the right tools for your classroom, check out the links in our episode description. Remember, effective planning isn’t just about what you teach—it’s about how you teach it. Keep exploring, keep learning, and as always, keep teaching with valor.