Lesson Plan

Ebeling suggested four steps to follow to use in adapting a lesson so more students will learn.

The steps are:

1. "Plan your lesson for the whole class" (p. 247). Literally this means writing out a lesson plan, stating clearly goals and expectations for the whole class.
2. “Think of your plan in terms of specific learners” (p. 248). This requires teachers know their students as they must be able to estimate who in the class might not “get it.” If even one student’s name is on the “not get it” list, some adaptation in the lesson is required.
3. “Analyze your lesson and one or more specific learners from nine different standpoints” (p. 248). The nine standpoints Ebeling provides are size, time, complexity, participation, environment, input, output, support, and goals. Clearly adaptations in all nine points would not be needed every time; however, the point is these are routine, specific areas which may require adjustments in what the teacher does that may result in increased student achievement.
4. “Observe how your adaptation works when you teach” (p. 248). Reflection on changes will be the only way a teacher will know if the changes have resulted in benefits to students.

Adapted from Ebeling, D. G. (2000). Adapting your teaching style to any learning style. Phi Delta Kappan, 82(3), 247-248.