Level Up Your Lesson Plans
Ignite the Joy of Learning with Fun and Educational Materials
1. Auflage Mai 2025
208 Seiten, Softcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd
Level Up Your Lesson Plans: Ignite the Joy of Learning with Fun and Educational Materials
Tired of spending hours on lesson plans? Discover strategies to streamline your planning process and maximize student engagement. Access exclusive templates, tools, and resources designed to help you create effective lessons that align with learning standards. Save time, reduce stress, and elevate your teaching game. In Level Up Your Lesson Plans: Ignite the Joy of Learning with Fun and Educational Materials, teacher Teresa Kwant delivers an exciting and practical instruction book for teachers interested in adding fun into their lesson plans, without sacrificing educational strategies. The book walks you through how to transform your teaching materials and lessons into interactive, collaborative and enjoyable learning experiences for both the teacher and students.
Kwant draws on personal and professional experiences to give actionable steps you can implement immediately. You'll also find:
* Tips for aligning your lessons with standards to make them both fun and engaging
* Strategies for building your own instructional plans for daily success with student learning
* Techniques to develop your own lessons plans efficiently, and with high engagement
Perfect for new and veteran classroom teachers looking for student engagement tips, Level Up Your Lesson Plans is a hands-on playbook for planning smarter, so you teach better. This book is the hands-on, creative teaching playbook the education community has been waiting for.
Chapter 1 Game On: The Level-Up Lesson Layout 1
Clear Learning Objective 6
Engaging Hook 7
Introduction of New Material 7
Guided Practice 8
Collaborative Practice 9
Assessment 10
Chapter 2 Start Your Journey with Clear Learning Objectives 15
Leveled-Up Learning Objective Ideas 21
Chapter 3 Press Play Using Engaging Hooks 25
The Leveled-Up Hook Acronym 32
Writing Your Hook 33
Leveled-Up Lesson Hook Ideas 35
Chapter 4 Map Expansion: The Introduction of New Material 37
Direct Instruction 41
Inquiry-Based Learning 43
Expanding the Knowledge Map with Direct Instruction and Inquiry-Based Learning 45
Roadmap for Student Map Expansion 46
Leveled-Up Lesson Map Expansion Ideas 46
Chapter 5 Join the Training Arena During Guided Practice 49
Modeling 53
Guidance 56
Independent Practice 58
Setting up Expectations During Independent Practice 64
Differentiating During Independent Practice 66
Chapter 6 Multiplayer Mode Collaborative Practice in Your Lessons 71
What is Collaboration in the Classroom? 73
Why Collaboration is Important in the Classroom 75
How to Implement Collaboration in Lesson Plans 76
Collaborative Activities and Projects 80
Chapter 7 Assessment: The Lesson Plan Victory Lap 87
Purpose of Assessments 88
Formative Assessments 89
Summative Assessments 95
Chapter 8 Let's Play: Game-Based Learning 103
Game-Based Learning Explained 104
Simple Game-Based Learning Examples for Elementary Students 105
Benefits of Game-Based Learning in the Classroom 107
Simplicity Over Complexity: Embracing the Uncomplicated Approach 114
Chapter 9 Unlock Digital Power-Ups: Creative Use of Technology in Lesson Planning 117
Digital or Paper-Based Games in the Classroom? 119
Five Creative Ideas to Incorporate Technology into Your Lessons 122
Chapter 10 Level-Up Learning with Escape Rooms 125
The Educational Value of Escape Rooms 126
Creating an Escape Room for Your Classroom 127
Digital vs. Printable Escape Rooms 132
Classroom Management Tips for Escape Rooms 134
The Power of Play in Learning 135
Chapter 11 Tips for Lesson Planning Efficiently and with Purpose 137
Prioritize 138
Leverage 140
Canva 141
Self-correcting Resources 142
ChatGPT 143
Adapt 144
Next 144
Chapter 12 Bonus Level: Turn Your Passion into Profit 173
Step 1: Find Your Passion and Narrow your Niche 174
Step 2: Research your Audience's Needs 175
Step 3: Design Quality Resources 176
Step 4: Creating Titles and Descriptions 181
Step 5: Pricing Tips 182
Step 6: Product Lines and Bundling 183
Wrapping It Up 184
Conclusion 185
About the Author 187
Index 189
"Teresa Kwant's has written the perfect book to outline what all goes into a quality, rock-solid lesson plan. Right from the objectives you're teaching, through the lesson, and back around with a final assessment, Level Up Your Lesson Plans is sure to ignite the teaching fire within your soul and get you excited about lesson planning!"
--Stephanie DeLussey, veteran special education teacher, IEP coach, CEO of Mrs. D's Corner and The Intentional IEP, and author of The Intentional IEP
"Level Up Your Lesson Plans is a game-changer for educators who want to energize their teaching while finding joy in their craft. As someone dedicated to supporting the mental health and well-being of educators worldwide, I was inspired by this book's innovative yet practical strategies for creating lessons that truly connect with students. The bonus materials are an incredible treasure trove, offering tools, templates, and ideas that make implementation seamless and fun. This book is a must-have for any teacher looking to impact their classroom while reigniting their own passion for teaching."
--Danna Thomas, founder and author, Happy Teacher Revolution