How to create initial lesson plans and teaching materials

Start with a plan to deliver great lessons from day one

To get your teaching business off to a flying start, you need to create detailed lesson plans and prepare your teaching materials for the first few weeks. This preparation is the bedrock of effective teaching; it ensures your lessons are structured, meet learning goals, and show new clients that you are a professional who provides real value.

Why planning is your secret weapon

Walking into your first sessions fully prepared is crucial for building confidence—both for you and your student. A good plan removes the stress of thinking on your feet, allowing you to focus on the student's needs. For parents, seeing that you have a structured approach provides immediate reassurance that they’ve made the right choice.

A simple guide to creating your first lesson plans

You don't need to write a novel for every lesson. The goal is to create a clear, repeatable structure that you can adapt for different students and topics. Here’s a simple, four-step process:

1. Define the Objective: For each lesson, ask yourself: "What is the one key thing I want the student to know or be able to do by the end of this hour?" This could be anything from ‘Understand how to use the Pythagorean theorem’ to ‘Write a paragraph with a clear topic sentence’. This objective is your guide for the entire session.
2. Adopt a Simple Structure: A classic, effective lesson structure works wonders. Try breaking your time down like this:
   • The Starter (5 mins): A quick, engaging activity to warm up and recap the last session.
   • The Main Activity (35-40 mins): Introduce the new concept, work through examples together, and then let the student practise independently while you observe and guide.
   • The Plenary (5-10 mins): Review what you’ve covered, check the student's understanding with a few quick questions, and set any work to be done before the next session.
3. Gather Your Resources: Based on your plan, gather or create the materials you’ll need. This doesn’t have to be complicated. Effective resources include:
   • Worksheets or practice questions: You can create your own or find excellent, ready-made resources on sites like TES or Twinkl.
   • Presentations: A few simple slides on Google Slides or Canva can help introduce a new topic visually.
   • Past exam papers: Essential for students working towards qualifications like GCSEs or A-Levels.
   • Interactive tools: Online quizzes (like Kahoot!) or a digital whiteboard can make online lessons more engaging.
4. Get Organised: Create a simple digital filing system. Make a main folder for each student, with sub-folders for each lesson containing the plan and any corresponding materials. Naming files clearly (e.g., "2024-10-26_JohnD_Algebra-Lesson-Plan.pdf") will save you a huge amount of time and stress later on.

Top Tip: Your lesson plan is a guide, not a script. The most important thing is to respond to your student's needs. If they are struggling, be prepared to slow down. If they grasp a concept quickly, have an extension activity ready to challenge them. Flexibility is key!