How to Create a Business Lesson Plan for Special Education Students

Creating business lesson plans is increasingly important in the 21st century. All students need to be prepared for, and aware of, basic business practices. Teaching these skills to all students will help us create healthier economy.

Things You'll Need

• Enough play or real money for each student
• Art supplies
• Video cameras
• Computers
• Pens
• Paper

Instructions

1. Build on what they already know. While this is important for all students, it is especially important for special-education students. Review topics that they have already learned about. Discuss what "business" means to them. Go over facts you expect they will need to know for the lesson.

2. Break it down. If you are teaching a process or formula, break it into the smallest steps possible. If you are teaching a concept, start with the smallest idea and grow slowly.

3. Use the real world. Link your lesson to the students' experiences. For example: visit a local business that pertains to your lesson, set up a class store, and read and discuss economic stories in the paper.

4. Give concrete examples. Act out the formula or concept and/or find examples of it in real life.

5. Make connections explicitly. Connect the new concept to ones they've learned in the past and the real-life examples you've presented. Regular education students will often come up with these connections on their own, but special-education students usually need to be taught the connections directly. Emphasize them throughout the lesson.

6. Provide lots of guided practice. Have the class do business math problems together (if that's your topic), then in small groups, then in pairs. That way you can observe how they are doing and hear their thinking as they work on the topic.

7. Assess their knowledge. Allow for an independent practice at the end of the lesson, then correct it together so that you can see who understands the lesson and who needs more practice. As you correct it together, have students explain or show their thinking as much as possible. Not only will this help you assess their knowledge, it will help them understand their own thinking.

Tips & Warnings

• Take your time. If you go slowly and build on prior knowledge, you can teach anybody practically anything.

• Business is a broad topic. Narrow your lesson down into an aspect of business so that your students don't become overwhelmed.

Resources

• Business Lesson Plan Resources