(ELT teachers) How long before a specific lesson do you prepare it?

Question

Do you do your lesson plan the same day of the class? The day before? Hours before it? Minutes before it?

Answer 1

Quite often, soon after the preceding lesson to maintain the natural transition from one lesson to the next. Last few years I teach the same subject at the same level to up to 7 groups per week, and inevitably we end up in different places at different times however hard I try to syncronise the topics! In this case I keep notes in my diary or in the register so I know what I have and haven't done. When it comes to making copies or preparing materials or resources, at least a couple of hours before just in case the copier decides to hate me that day, or the dvd player is missing a cable, or sthg. If all else fails it gives me time to change the lesson or improvise the parts where I can't do what I'd previously planned :)

Answer 2

I plan it, begin preparing it, and make all of my copies on Friday...with the lesson being for the following week. I look over everything for the next school day before I go home. I don't do plans until Friday because you never know if something is going to take more or less time than you thought.

It's my first year as an ELT teacher, and it's been working out for me this way. I'm sure other people do things their own way.

Answer 3

I try to prepare lessons as soon after the previous lesson as possible. I usually end up doing most of my preparations at the weekends. However, it really depends on what the lesson is about. Some things take more preparation than others.

Answer 4

Unless I'm being observed, minutes before the students arrive! As lesson plans are required at my workplace, I make notes of what I taught in the lesson, then transfer them in full to the lesson plan template!
Scandalous I know, but with all the paperwork required, it is the only way to do it! I'm not proud-sometimes when i have a particular theme or item of grammar I use teacher' notes and follow them for ideas. Don't tell my CELTA tutor -she would probably be horrified, but realistically you have to be EXTREMELY organised to write lesson plans every day if you are to keep all your other admin up to date.Sadly I am not one of those super efficient organised teachers

Answer 5

I usually do basic plans the weekend before, but mostly I tune into the needs of the group and we go from there.

I am lucky because I am a remedial teacher and I don't have to follow a set syllabus.

Answer 6

Day before if possible, after the previous lesson.