#lesson planning

[annasellheim]

Books I use when teaching art

[the-burntout-studyblr]

I have so many things to do in such little time 😅

[mourntheantagonist]

.

[write-feel-live-love]

Sunday Check In

I start work with students tomorrow. I'm overwhelmed and freaking out.

On the plus side, best weekend with my own kids in a long time. I was calm. I was a good mom. It felt amazing. ❤️ I am built for the working mom life, even if it it exhausting.

I need to work on lesson plans, so this post is from my phone. Sorry if it looks weird, Void.

I'm really anxious about this year. But I'm gonna try.

[plavi]

I shall return…

[123illumineapp]

How AI Is Revolutionizing Lesson Planning and Parent Communication in Early Childhood Education

Preschool is more than just a daily routine — it's where the foundations of a child’s emotional, cognitive, and social development are laid. But for educators, ensuring structure, creativity, and alignment with curriculum goals is no easy task. 

Enter AI-powered lesson planning and parent communication tools — transforming how teachers plan and track lessons, as well as seamlessly engage with families.

Rethinking Lesson Planning With AI Children thrive when their days are well-balanced between learning, play, rest, and discovery. Traditionally, planning such structured routines meant juggling paper planners, curriculum guidelines, and handwritten notes — often leaving little room for personalization or agility.

AI changes that.

Modern platforms like illumine integrate AI directly into the lesson planning process. This allows teachers to:

- Generate personalized activity suggestions based on age group, developmental milestones, or curriculum goals.

- Access adaptable templates for daily, weekly, or monthly schedules.

- Auto-align plans with required learning outcomes or school-wide themes.

- Track developmental progress through smart observations and outcome mapping.

From Silos to Collaboration: Smarter Planning Across Teams With AI-assisted tools, educators are no longer working in isolation. They can:

- Collaborate on shared plans across classrooms or grade levels.

- View real-time updates and feedback from co-teachers.

- Adjust lessons dynamically based on student engagement and feedback.

The illumine platform, for instance, supports seamless communication and collaboration, making it easier to align classroom activities with institutional goals or regulatory frameworks — all while maintaining a consistent approach to early learning.

Strengthening the Parent-Educator Partnership Lesson planning is just half the equation. The other half is communication — especially with parents who want to stay in the loop without waiting for the next meeting.

AI plays a critical role here too. Tools like illumine simplify and automate parent communication:

- Real-time activity updates with photos, videos, and descriptions of what the child did during the day.

- Automated reminders and announcements to keep parents informed and prepared.

- Smart messaging with AI-powered translations, enabling direct, secure, and multilingual conversations between parents and teachers.

- Digital learning journals, compiled automatically based on lessons and observations.

This transparency builds trust, creates a deeper emotional connection between home and school, and gives parents the confidence that their child is growing and thriving.

How illumine Brings It All Together illumine is an all-in-one childcare management platform designed specifically for preschools and daycare centers. Its AI-powered lesson planning and communication features enable educators to:

- Plan lessons across 25+ curriculum frameworks using intelligent templates and outcome mapping.

- Assess learning in real time with a platform that connects observations to developmental goals.

- Share daily reports with key milestones with parents through rich media including voice notes and structured reports.

- Maintain organized learning journals of every child with zero paper clutter.

By streamlining the planning and communication process, illumine empowers educators to reduce busywork, maintain consistency, and provide more personalized attention to each child.

Final Thoughts AI isn't just a buzzword in early education — it's a practical, powerful tool that helps teachers plan better, communicate more effectively, and keep children at the center of everything. When platforms like illumine bring these capabilities together, they don’t just support preschools — they transform them.

Want to see how it works in practice?  👉 Read the full blog here

[markmcole]

How I’ve Been Using ChatGPT as a Christian, Musician, and Traveller

Over the past six months, I’ve discovered a new companion that has quietly become part of my daily rhythm—not a person, but a tool: ChatGPT. Like many of you, I was initially skeptical. Could an AI really help someone who’s walked with God for decades, taught and led music and worship for a living, loves blogging, and traveled to over 70 countries? I wasn’t looking for a shortcut or a gimmick—I…

[cairfrey]

I'm trying to get lesson planning done, but the cat is having none of it!

[nfinitefreetime]

And here we go

I would typically expect to be Sundaying pretty hard at the end of Spring Break, but that’s not what’s happening. I’m not stressed at all. That said, I’ve had one hell of a time figuring out what the hell I’m going to do with my students this week, and more specifically what I’m going to do with them tomorrow, and I finally settled on a super basic, 20-question paper assignment with a mix of…

[tjeromebaker]

Crafting Inclusive Excellence: Using UDL to Design a Band 9 IGCSE Lesson Plan for Judith Wright’s "Request to a Year"

In the high-stakes world of IGCSE English Literature, achieving a Band 9 response—marked by sophisticated analysis, perceptive insights, and a fluent command of language—is the gold standard. For a poem like Judith Wright’s "Request to a Year," where students must dissect how linguistic devices convey meaning, the challenge is steep. But what if every student, including those with diverse or hidden learning needs, could rise to this level?

In the high-stakes world of IGCSE English Literature, achieving a Band 9 response—marked by sophisticated analysis, perceptive insights, and a fluent command of language—is the gold standard. For a poem like Judith Wright’s “Request to a Year,” where students must dissect how linguistic devices convey meaning, the challenge is steep. But what if every student, including those with diverse or…

[lavandamichelle]

Top 2 Online Tools to Simplify Lesson Planning for Teachers

Lesson planning is the backbone of effective teaching, but let’s face it—it can often feel overwhelming. As I step into the world of substitute teaching, I’ve come to realize how valuable time-saving and efficient tools are for creating lessons that truly resonate with students. Luckily, with today’s technology, teachers have access to a wide range of online resources that can simplify the…

[middleschoolelateacher]

Figurative Language Pairs

Teach Metaphor and Simile at the same time,

alliteration and assonance

personification and anthropomorphism (and/or Objectification)

hyperbole and understatement

perfect rhyme and slant rhyme

antithesis and oxymoron

onomatopoeia - short lesson (on its own)

situational irony - on its own

pun - on its own

idiom - longer 'on its own' lesson.

[spedresources4all]

The Benefits of Classroom Binders

My district is a heavy user of technology and it has been a tremendous benefit for our students.  Even though our district encourages teachers to make the most of the technology, I stubbornly hung onto my classroom binder system and opted to use technology as support. I find the binder system supports executive functioning. I also found it emphasizes traditional handwritten work, which seems to…

[thisisgraeme]

ChatGPT for Educators: Using AI as a Personal Tutor and Digital Teaching Assistant (Part 3)

Ready to revolutionise your classroom with AI? Learn how ChatGPT for educators can act as a Personal Tutor for students and a Digital Teaching Assistant for lesson planning.

ChatGPT for Educators: Using AI as a Personal Tutor and Digital Teaching Assistant As AI technology continues to advance, its applications in education grow even more powerful and practical. In this third session of our series, we explore two transformative roles for ChatGPT in the classroom: as a Personal Tutor that engages directly with students, and as a Digital Teaching Assistant that…

[upallnightallday]

Me, someone who did whole 2,5 mo substitude as a special teacher in spring, doing my practical in university, having to restrain myself from yelling "who got time for that" while writing my three page long lesson plan.

I lied. This is my last practical. They get one page lesson plan if I'm generous.

[123illumineapp]

How to Plan Preschool Lessons Effectively: A Simple Guide by illumine

Planning preschool lessons isn't all about selecting fun activities — it's about building rich, relevant, and appropriate experiences that aid in early learning and development.

If you are a preschool administrator or teacher interested in simplifying your lesson planning process, this guide by illumine provides an easy-to-follow and practical step-by-step solution.

Why Lesson Planning Matters in Preschool Preschool is a time of rapid growth for young children. The right environment helps them build critical thinking, language, motor, and social skills. Lesson planning plays a key role in making sure each day includes activities that are fun, purposeful, and aligned with learning goals.

Without proper planning, classrooms can feel chaotic, and valuable learning opportunities may be missed. Well-planned lessons help teachers stay organized, reduce stress, and ensure every child gets the most out of their day.

Start with Learning Objectives The first step in any lesson plan is setting clear goals. What should children learn or experience by the end of the day or week?

These objectives should be:

Age-appropriate Aligned with curriculum standards Flexible to support different learning styles

For example, a simple goal might be: “Children will be able to identify basic shapes and colors by the end of the week.”

Build a Balanced Routine A good preschool lesson plan includes a mix of:

Circle time (storytelling, weather discussions, show & tell) Structured learning (letters, numbers, phonics) Creative play (arts, crafts, music) Physical activity (indoor or outdoor games) Quiet time (puzzles, reading corners)

This variety keeps kids engaged and allows them to explore different types of learning throughout the day.

Use Themes to Keep It Fun & Engaging Selecting themes for a week or month (such as "Under the Sea," "Colors Around Us," or "My Family") brings organization and enthusiasm to lesson planning. It enables kids to link ideas and experiences across tasks, strengthening understanding.

Themes also simplify planning for teachers by providing a framework for selecting stories, crafts, songs, and games.

Make It Interactive and Hands-On Preschool children are best taught through doing and playing. As often as possible, schedule for experiential learning such as:

Sensory bins Finger painting Sorting activities Building blocks Role playing and storytelling

Active lessons engage students to hold onto what they learn and remain engaged all day.

Track Progress and Reflect A good teacher doesn't only teach but also observes. Monitor what works the best and where children require more assistance. Utilize the feedback to better future lessons and tailor learning for every child.

With tools like illumine, teachers are able to schedule lessons, monitor student progress, and connect with parents all in one platform. This is easier and saves time, so the teachers can concentrate on what is truly important: the children.

Simplify Lesson Planning with illumine AI With illumine’s AI lesson planner, teachers can generate a complete, developmentally appropriate session in seconds—just input the lesson title, development area, age band, and a basic description.

The AI instantly transforms this into a ready-to-use lesson structure that can be customized further based on individual needs and preferences. This streamlines planning while helping educators stay focused on meaningful, engaging learning experiences.

Final Thoughts Lesson planning might feel overwhelming at first, but with a clear approach and the right tools, it becomes a powerful way to guide young minds. Use themes, set goals, and keep activities varied and hands-on. And if you’re looking to make the process easier, platforms like illumine can support your entire preschool planning process with smart, user-friendly features.

👉 Read the full blog here: https://illumine.app/blog/a-guide-to-planning-lessons-for-preschools