Dear teacher, when lesson plans flop, do this? || Temitope Ifegbesan
pannigeriannews
2 min read
By Temitope Ifegbesan
Sometimes, lesson plans flop. That’s exactly what happened one morning at one of the secondary schools where I taught. I’d spent hours the night before, crafting the ‘perfect’ lesson on narrative writing. I had slides, some handouts, and even a creative prompt about a mysterious treasure chest.
I walked into class, brimming with excitement, but the students? They were less than impressed (teenagers will humble you. Some doodled, others whispered, and a few just stared blankly at me. My carefully prepared questions fell flat, and my enthusiasm dwindled by the minute. The energy in the room was slipping away. I even thought I might have lost my classroom management skills.
In that moment, I made a decision that changed everything. I put down my marker, turned to the students, and said, “Alright, let’s scrap this. We must learn this topic this week. I will, however, give you a choice. How would you like to learn about narrative writing?”
The room buzzed with surprise. A student raised her hand and suggested we create a class story together, one where everyone contributed a sentence. Another proposed we act it out as a play once it was finished.
Within minutes, the energy shifted. Ideas flew across the room, and laughter erupted as the story took wild, unexpected turns. Characters were invented, plots twisted, and everyone was on their feet, acting out scenes with exaggerated flair.
By the end of the lesson, the students had created a hilarious, albeit chaotic, story about a parrot who could go back in time while break-dancing. But something incredible had happened. They didn’t just learn about narrative structure; they lived it. They debated over plot points, collaborated to develop characters, and analysed what made the story engaging.
That day taught me a humbling but powerful truth: sometimes, the best lessons aren’t the ones we meticulously plan, but the ones we allow to unfold naturally. When we’re flexible enough to let students take the lead, we give them ownership of their learning; and that’s a lesson they’ll never forget.
Dear Teacher, if you’ve ever had a moment where scrapping the plan turned out to be the best decision, please share your story.
...Temitope Ifegbesan, educator, teacher development trainer and school transformation consultant, lives in Lagos, Nigeria and could be reached on [email protected] +2348073695539
