Kagan Lesson Planning

Planning More Engaging and Effective Lessons

By Dr. Jacqueline Minor

You can infuse engagement and interaction into just about any lesson by using a Kagan Structure. A simple structure can transform a humdrum lesson into a cooperative and highly engaging learning experience. While using a structure here and there can more successfully reach learning objectives, there’s a whole lot more you can do with lesson planning. There’s an art and science to lesson planning Kagan lessons.

Kagan Professional Development offers lesson planning services to schools and districts. Kagan Lesson Planning is designed to take place during collaborative planning time where teachers meet in small groups to share ideas and go through upcoming lessons. This can be done by grade level teams or by content area teams. These sessions give the teachers and the Kagan Trainer or Coach opportunities to address three major areas.

1) Structure/Content Match: Teachers have a wide range of objectives that need to be taught. Therefore, it is imperative that teachers have a variety of sound instructional practices from which to choose. Kagan Structures serve as tools that allow teachers to engineer various types of learning experiences for students. Kagan offers many highly-engaging structures. Different structures are better suited for reaching different learning objectives. Selecting the appropriate structures for the desired outcome is part of the art of teaching with structures. Lesson planning sessions with a Certified Kagan Trainer or Coach will assist teachers in analyzing their own curriculum and choosing structures that maximize learning and engagement.

2) Lesson Plan/Teacher Manual Connection: Almost any lesson can be improved by infusing a Kagan Structure into the lesson. Kagan Structures offer a more engaging and effective approach to reaching learning objectives. Teachers can keep their current lesson plans or teacher manual directions and learn how to insert structures to engage students throughout the lesson. This involves looking for key words, identifying group activities, and analyzing lesson components to determine the best place(s) to insert structures.

3) Seven Keys: Teachers often have additional questions about team formation, classbuilding, teambuilding, management, and social skills. Lesson planning sessions give teachers the opportunity to ask questions and gather suggestions and ideas for strengthening the key areas.

Kagan Lesson Planning sessions are intended to be flexible. We want to meet the teachers “where they are” and assist them in taking the next step toward successful implementation. If your school is interested in Kagan Lesson Planning, please contact the Kagan Partnership Team and we will be happy to discuss availability and options with you.