What are the components of scheme of work and their importance to the academic system of the school. A scheme of work is a kind of plan that outlines all the learning to be covered over a given period of time (usually a term or a whole school year).
The scheme of work is usually an interpretation of a specification or syllabus and can be used as a guide throughout the course to monitor progress against the original plan. Schemes of work can be shared with students so that they have an overview of their course.
The ultimate source of the specification or syllabus is a curriculum. Curricula are typically defined by Government and hence by law and/or regulation.
Better schemes of work map out clearly how resources (e.g. books, equipment, time) and class activities (e.g. teacher-talk, group work, practicals, discussions) and assessment strategies will be used to teach each topic and assess students’ progress in learning the material associated with each topic, unit and the scheme of work as a whole.
As students progress through the scheme of work, there is an expectation that their perception of the interconnections between topics and units will be enhanced. Schemes of work may include times and dates (deadlines) for delivering the different elements of the curriculum.
Components of Scheme of Work and Their Importance
Having discussed extensively what scheme of work could mean and the essence of it in relations to the curriculum and the school as a whole, let us identify some of the components of scheme of work and their importance:
Lesson Sequence
The procedure is the step-by-step guide for the lesson. It should show the progress of the lesson. This means it tells what should be taught first and what should be taught second accordingly till the last activity of the lesson. Using the same topic as above with ESA methodology, a simple procedure may be as follow.
First, get students to think in English about what they like to do. Second, ask students questions like what they ate yesterday. Third, filling the blank activity about student’s dinner yesterday. By looking at the procedure of the lesson plan, the teacher should be able to know what to do at each stage of the class.
Objectives
Write what you expect your students will do by the end of the lesson e.g. by the end of the lesson, students will be able to pronounce, identify, put words in sentences, change into passive, compare, answer, use, match, etc. or any verbs that can be observable and measurable in the classroom.
Preparatory Explanation
Revise the previous lesson, check homework orally, correct common mistakes, etc. or any other activity that can activate students and prepare them to receive the new material.
Presentation
Present the new material using the suitable techniques, and write the procedures that you will follow to explain the new material.
Practice
It is the work done by the students whether it is controlled, guided, or free. Students answer some exercises based on the material presented. These exercises are often there in the set book.
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Time Management
Time management is very important in the lesson plan since teachers have limited time to cover the materials. The teacher must plan their class time carefully, so they don’t run out of time or finish the class too early. For example, a 50-minutes ESL class using ESA methodology can be arranged as follow. 10 minutes on the engage phase, 20 minutes on the study phase, and 20 minutes on the activate phase. It can be broken down into more if necessary.
Assessment
Write some sentences on the board or distribute printed papers to see whether the objectives were achieved or not and to check whether students learned or not according to the objectives. If not, you should reteach the lesson using different techniques.
Importance of Scheme of Work
Here are the importance or the benefits of the importance of the scheme of work in the education system:
- It Activates Background Knowledge
Set the stage by tapping into your students’ background knowledge—previous life experiences, prior learning, or both—to prepare them for the new concept you’re about to introduce. The point is to make connections between what your students already know and what you’re going to teach them.
- It Helps You Know Your Class Objectives
What exactly do you want your students to be able to do by the end of the lesson? This should be clearly communicated to your students verbally at the very beginning of the lesson and posted in a highly visible location in your classroom.
- It Instructs
This is the “meat” of your lesson plan. It’s where you present the new concept that is included in the lesson objectives. Prepare your students for success by pre-teaching key vocabulary words that are essential to understanding the concept or text you will introduce to them.
When students know these key words in advance, they can focus more of their energy on learning the concept or understanding the text.
- It Helps You Realize Your Materials
What will you need to teach this lesson? This includes student supplies as well as your own. Don’t forget about technology such as your document camera and laptop.
Make sure you have everything situated so you’re ready to roll when your students arrive. You don’t want to be scrambling around in the middle of a lesson trying to locate the protractors which you thought were in that bottom cabinet, only to realize at the last minute they’re not there.
