They're tough, but worth the effort

Writing objectives are difficult to create, but worth the effort because they focus your lessons. I usually only have to write objectives for my own classes. The only real difficulty I have is finding the time to site down and really think about what I need my students to learn. There is often little time for lesson development, and even less time for reflection.

For example, when I'm creating writing objectives for my juniors (I teach 11th grade English at a public school), I often focus on the strengths and weaknesses of that individual class. Some of my lower-level students need to learn how to create a thesis statement. So, for that week, we might work things like: learning what a thesis statement is, identifying effective and less effective examples of a thesis statement, and ways to create a thesis statement. Then, at the end of the week, I'll assess my students by giving them a quiz that tests their knowledge of the three topics I taught. And hopefully, when they write their next essay, I'll remember to put that objective in the rubric.

Linda replies

Finding time to reflect on teaching is always a problem, isn't it? I'm glad you made time to do it and to share your thoughts here.

You would probably find it more efficient to prepare objectives for the course or year instead of trying to write them week by week. Since writing skill grows through practice, I find it is easier for me and my students if I sent competence goals to work toward all year.

By making thesis statement use one of my course objectives and putting that writing objective in my course grading rubric (both of which I prepare during vacation time), I don't have to take time during the course to deal with those issues.

You might want to think about that for another year.