Some questions to consider while planning lessons:

What?

1. What is the intended learning? What are the skills, concepts, habits of mind being developed?
2. To what standard(s) is the lesson content connected?
3. What difficulties, misunderstandings, or misconceptions might students have about this content?
4. What theories of teaching and learning support this lesson design?

 How? 

5. How will the teacher model/explain clear expectations for the students’ learning?
6. How will each activity promote rigorous thinking?
7. How will students be grouped for learning? How is the grouping related to the lesson content?
8. How will accountable student talk and collaboration be encouraged in an atmosphere of mutual respect?
9. How will students make public their thinking and learning?
10. How will assistance be provided to individual students (struggling students as well as those needing an extra challenge)?
11. How will student learning be assessed by the teacher and by the students themselves?
12. How will student accomplishment be recognized?
13. How will the teacher do things differently the next time? How will instruction proceed form here?

 Why? 

14. Why is the lesson content appropriate to the students’ learning needs and prior knowledge?
15. Why are these instructional strategies/learning activities appropriate to the lesson/goals?

 Questions derived from The Institute for Learning’s Content-Focused Coaching model.