Lesson Plan Non-Negotiables (via Edutopia)

1. Essential Question ~ can students answer this at the end of the period? Post it. (See #8)
2. Activating Strategy ~ active thinking + connection to prior knowledge
3. Relevant Vocabulary ~ academic; content (post/ discuss)
4. Limited lecture ~ age + 2 or 3 minutes, then check for understanding
5. Graphic Organizers ~ how will students organize/ conceptualize/ categorize knowledge? (RT chart,
Cornell notes, graphic or linear paragraph outlines, response or dialectical journal, foldables, guided
annotation, brainstorming or hypotheses generators, study guide, outline)
6. Student movement ~ once per period (gallery walk, post-it on door/ Q-wall, small groups, stand-pairshare, post-it exchange, response wall, line-up, stand to recite, quiz-quiz-trade, roll of dice, to small
whiteboards, to Smart Board, etc.)
7. Higher order thinking questions (HOTs) ~ on paper, in discussion, in pairs, for HW
8. Summarize for closure ~ can they answer the essential question?
9. Text-based Rigor ~ brisk, challenging = specific activities + HOT Qs + text-based evidence
10. Student-centered ~ how will this lesson lead my students to become lifelong, critical thinkers? How
will they demonstrate the skills of independent and interdependent learning?

1. EQ

2. Act

3.Voc

4.LLec

5.Org

6.Move

7. HOT

8.Sum

9.Text

10.Stu

EQ: What is the purpose of a business letter and how do I write one?
1. Have students come in and work on the bell work that is already up on the board.
Write down three differences between a friendly letter and a business letter.
2. Discuss student responses and go over differences.
Salutations
Business letters are usually written on letterhead. Friendly letters can be written
on any kind of paper.
A colon follows the salutation in a business letter, whereas a comma follows it in a
friendly letter.
The purpose of a friendly letter is to communicate in a non-formal manner,
whereas a business letter is more formal and you want to convey a sense of
professionalism.
3. Segue from the topic of professionalism to a discussion of when a business letter might
be necessary. Ask students to think about this for a moment. They will then turn to their
partner and discuss their ideas.
Letter of complaint
Letter of recommendation
Announcements in the work/professional setting
Letter of Resignation
Letter of Inquiry

4. Ask students to get out list from the previous day and use it to fill out the outline.
5. If the majority of students finish early, put them in pairs to edit each others papers.
6. Go over formatting with students.

7. For closure, ask the students to name a situation where they may write a business letter
in the future. This will serve as a ticket out the door.