Biology course planning-ahead of time.

[Missy Lectron]

I've got a year of classes and my student teaching semester left before I get chucked out into the real world of biology teaching, but I am starting to wonder if it would be wise to look into course planning before the inevitable day of chucking? I'm rather intimidated by the prospect of having to create an entire year's worth of lessons! I know that many schools have their own books, content guidelines, etc., so I am wondering how practical it would be to begin crafting lesson plans prior to actually being hired somewhere?

The immediate nature of things during the first year of teaching is a terribly daunting thought! I'm starting to think with an "anything to ease the burden" mindset...:p

[Mr. H]

I think this is a problem presented in all subject areas for any teacher going to a new school. One of the schools here in town hired someone a month before school started. He had 15 years of experience, but came to a school with a different text than he had ever seen. His first year was pretty book-heavy with bits and pieces of his former "stash". The second year was a lot more free-form. I wouldn't prepare the entire year, but you might want to make up a skeleton framework for what you want to do... General ideas of activities etc that can be structured within the schools own frameworks.

[Mindilynn]

I totally agree. It's hard to figure out the pacing, so it is probably out of the question to do day-by-day lessons that far in advance (plus you don't know if you will be on a traditional or block schedule). But developing a stash of "good labs" and even trying them out ahead of time if possible would be good, also developing good in class activities/PowerPoints on particular topics would also help you down the road ;)

Good luck! :)