Resources for Educators

Teaching Tip

From the Teacher’s Aide Newsletter

2007 Autumn

Business Course Preparation

The first stage is preparing your course. Your school might provide you with a full lesson plan or simply give you the course objectives. The following preparation steps come in handy whether you are essentially starting from scratch or adapting pre-designed curriculum:

• Review the curriculum, noting topics where you lack sufficient knowledge or interest and arrange guest speaker(s) for those topics.
• Read the textbook(s) and other material that are required for the course.
• Peruse other books and articles that address the course topics.
• Review the teaching materials supplied by the textbook publisher and the school.
• Compile research on current statistics, trends and regulations.
• Create a recommended reading list.
• Assemble ancillary teaching materials.
• Order freebies for students (e.g., sample preprinted marketing materials).
• Identify ways to teach using active learning principles and techniques.
• Review notes from times you’ve previously taught this course and incorporate changes.
• Finalize your lesson plans.