Why Better Lesson Planning Starts with Better Questions
Why Better Lesson Planning Starts with Better Questions
Featuring Lori Cohen
Lindsey and Tasha welcome Lori Cohen, educator, instructional leader, and co-author of The Science of Lesson Planning: High-Impact Practices That Deepen Student Learning, for a conversation about what happens when educators look beyond lesson-planning templates and ask better questions about how students learn.
Lori explores the connection between intentional lesson design, psychological safety, classroom culture, and school systems. Drawing on her experience as a teacher and school leader, she challenges educators to consider not only what they want students to do, but what students need in order to think deeply, take academic risks, and demonstrate meaningful learning.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Why systems thinking helps school leaders anticipate how decisions affect teachers, students, and families
- How coalition building and impact mapping can strengthen the implementation of school initiatives
- The five phases of Lori's lesson-planning framework and why they provide a process rather than a prescription
- Why psychological safety means supporting productive struggle, not removing academic challenges
- How teachers can connect students' lived experiences to lesson content in meaningful ways
- Why classroom culture must be continually revisited instead of established only at the beginning of the year
- How cognitive load influences students' ability to concentrate and engage in deeper thinking
- Why existing lessons can often be strengthened through one intentional adjustment rather than a complete redesign
- How hinge questions provide immediate evidence of understanding and inform teachers' next instructional decisions
- Why making student thinking visible matters more than simply observing engagement or correct answers
- How relevance and curiosity influence students' willingness to engage with challenging content
- Why teachers and students must protect their own critical thinking as AI becomes more prevalent
- How Lori's experiences in supportive and compliance-focused schools shaped her understanding of instructional leadership
- Why leaders should create conditions where teachers feel known, trusted, and supported in their professional growth
- What it means to approach education as an architect of possibility
About today's guest
Lori Cohen is a K–12 educator, instructional leader, author, and professional learning facilitator. Her work focuses on helping educators strengthen lesson design and build the relationships, structures, and systems that support meaningful learning.
Her book, The Science of Lesson Planning, brings research on learning and instruction into a five-phase framework designed for teachers, coaches, mentors, and school leaders.
Connect with Lori Cohen and Explore Her Resources
- Lori Cohen Consulting: https://www.loricohenconsulting.com/
- The Science of Lesson Planning (official publisher): https://conference.ascd.org/books/the-science-of-lesson-planning?variant=126012
- Free Transformative Lesson Planner App: https://scienceoflessonplanning.app/
- Explore Lori's books: https://www.loricohenconsulting.com/bookslist
- Connect with Lori on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lori-cohen-9a447224/
Learn more about today's sponsor, Playworks:
We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.
We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.
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These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation.
Creators and Guests
Host
Lindsey Cannon
Founder of Reify Educates and an instructional leader with 22 years of experience helping schools build clear, sustainable systems that strengthen teacher capacity and improve student outcomes.
Host
Natasha Nurse
Instructional leader with 21 years in public education specializing in inquiry-driven curriculum design, literacy, deep thinking, ethical AI integration, and professional learning.
