Does it bother you when other teachers ask for your lesson plans?

I ask because as a veteran teacher, I have A LOT of lesson plans. I have taught all levels of English, stayed up all night to write lessons, typed them all and put them on a flash drive. No one ever helped me and I never asked for help. I have collaborated with other teachers when teaching the same book or grade or lesson.

A lot of the newer teachers ask around for "units" or samples lessons that they can use. At first I didn't think much about it, but then when I went on maternity leave, the teacher who was going to take over my classes asked me for "work." I was like . I told her "Oh, you can teach Hamlet and ask Mr. __________ (the supervisor) if he has lesson for it."

A bunch of teachers were talking and some teachers with established lessons have said they are unwilling to "lend" or "share" their lessons with teachers unless they show that they have already tried to make one themselves.

Thoughts?

Re: Does it bother you when other teachers ask for your lesson plans?

i dont mind verbally sharing ideas, but i do mind copying plans that i busted my A$$ writing!

i did it for years and my prinicipal actually got mad at me when i stopped giving the other teachers on my grade my monthly "packet". i was so taken aback i vowed never to do it again!

ETA: i never got anything back, sometimes not even a t hank you. what i did get back was so substandard, i never couldve used it!

Message edited 2/28/2010 6:09:22 PM.

Re: Does it bother you when other teachers ask for your lesson plans?

I have never shared lessons I have written because since this is my second year on the job, nobody has thought yet to ask the 'newbie' for ideas.

That said, I have asked other teachers for ideas and plans. I hope this wasn't a nervy move.. I didn't do it out of laziness. I just have found I would get into a slump where I haven't been coming up with ideas that have been effective. I have gone through bouts of losing confidence in myself as a successful teacher and I appreciate having ideas of veterans teachers to learn from. I use other peoples plans to fine-tune my own future ones. Ultimately I want to do whats best for my students so that they are motivated and learn... and if I have to branch out and seek out ideas and plans from other teachers.. so be it..

Re: Does it bother you when other teachers ask for your lesson plans?

It does not bother me in the least (as long as they say thank you). I have worked in three schools and in general each department member has always been willing to share what they make with each other. I am also on a state biology list serv and everyone on it is very helpful in terms of sharing ideas, lessons, worksheets, etc.

I spend a lot of time developing lessons. I am very thorough with developing activities and worksheets and selecting anticipatory sets. My co-workers take the same pride in their job and therefore, we always talk about what is and is not working in our classes and we all readily share materials.

Re: Does it bother you when other teachers ask for your lesson plans?

I work in a very collaborative department, and I know I'm lucky in that sense. I'm more than willing to help out new teachers and give them anything they need... but these are the new teachers who are busting their humps all the time to give it their all. There was once a teacher (who didn't last long) who would teach whatever I'd mistakenly forgotten to erase from the board because he couldn't be bothered to come up with lessons of his own. He would also ask for quizzes, but when one of my friends gave him one, he administered it to his class... and then didn't know the answers. Those are the people I really DON'T want to help. Happily, in my experience at least, they've been few and far between.

Re: Does it bother you when other teachers ask for your lesson plans?

Not at all. I am extremely grateful to my friend/coworker (who may be reading this- THANKS if you are )who very kindly has shared every single thing since I switched grades. She saved my life with this last year!

Likewise I have shared tests and anything else I create with my dept. and am happy to do so.

Re: Does it bother you when other teachers ask for your lesson plans?

It doesn't really bother me. There are only a handful of other teachers in my district who do what I do. We have collaborated to develop most of our curriculum, but if one of us adds something to it we will usually share with the others.

Re: Does it bother you when other teachers ask for your lesson plans?

It doesn't bother me at all, as long as the person I am sharing with also shares, and gives credit where credit is due if asked. I teach on a grade level where every single teacher shares. It's great. Also, my principal is big on sharing ideas.

Re: Does it bother you when other teachers ask for your lesson plans?

actually I felt kinda flattered, I guess. When I worked at my old job I had lesson plans not only saved in my own records, but my school also requested a copy for theirs. From what I understood, it was to have a copy in case in the following years I ever lost mine. Whatever. I ended up getting married and moving away. A friend of mine (who was my sub at the time) ended up taking my place. A few months later she told me that she now just follows my curriculum to the tee. At first I was kinda thinking "Wow, glad I did all the work and now you don't have to think at all" but then I realized that it's also kind of flattering that my lesson plans worked out well and she recognizes that and chooses to follow what I did before her. (I choose not to believe that she's just lazy. lol)

Re: Does it bother you when other teachers ask for your lesson plans?

I don't mind sharing if the sharing is returned. I have two very close collegues that we share everything we have. That being said it irks me when others constantly ask to "borrow" but are too lazy to try and do their own.

Re: Does it bother you when other teachers ask for your lesson plans?

I used to work with a woman who would come into my room when I was prepping the board, take my lesson plan & worksheets that I had made off my desk, and go photocopy them to use for herself without even asking After she did this a couple of times, I put an end to it (and she had the nerve to give me an attitude).

Aside from that, no one has ever asked me for lesson plans. And I never ask anyone either.

Re: Does it bother you when other teachers ask for your lesson plans?

I'm more than happy to help/share...especially new teachers. I will often make extra copies to give to colleagues who might find it interesting or even just file it and look at another time.

Like PP said...when switching grades/subjects, colleagues should be there to help.

Re: Does it bother you when other teachers ask for your lesson plans?

As others have said - I'm more than happy to help and share. But I think that many of us have labored far beyond our job descriptions to be creative, interesting, and complete in our lesson planning. I've been burnt by people with whom I've shared, who never reciprocated anything to me and who took credit for my work. I think this is the danger in sharing.

After nearly a decade of teaching, I have three colleagues with whom I share everything. I have to build a trust with anyone else who wants lesson plans before I share with them.

Re: Does it bother you when other teachers ask for your lesson plans?

It definitely does not bother me. As a veteran teacher I think it is my responsibility to help the teachers with less experience/ability. Share the love and pass it on and the kids are the ones who benefit.

Re: Does it bother you when other teachers ask for your lesson plans?

I gladly share my lessons and worksheets. To me, its a compliment if other teachers are using me as a resource!

Re: Does it bother you when other teachers ask for your lesson plans?

Not at all! In fact I offer all the time. But teachers in my school are really wonderful and share their things with me as well.

Re: Does it bother you when other teachers ask for your lesson plans?

I can see both sides of it....I would be annoyed if someone showed a unit that I spent hours on to the principal or dept chair and took credit for it....

BUT

at the same time, I think of all the resources I got from my mentor and older teachers, and feel its my job to pay it foward.

Re: Does it bother you when other teachers ask for your lesson plans?

I thought about this thread today...we have a folder "lesson vault" on our district's network that all staff can access. It's for just that - sharing of lessons.

Re: Does it bother you when other teachers ask for your lesson plans?

Re: Does it bother you when other teachers ask for your lesson plans?

The only time it had ever bothered me was during a meeting when a director at my district was reviewing someones Unit plan and then handed it out and was raving about it, I looked and realized it was my Unit plan that I did with my co-teacher! I just felt that I wasn't getting credit and someone else clearly was for a unit I put effort into. Otherwise it never bothers me!

Re: Does it bother you when other teachers ask for your lesson plans?

Definitely doesnt bother me. I dont know how I would have survived if I didnt have lesson plans from my colleagues. To me, another teacher's plans are a guide...I could never follow someone else's lesson explicitly, but to have it as a roadmap really helps when youre teaching something for the first time. Now that Ive been teaching for awhile, I am happy to lend my lessons to newer teachers or anyone who wants them. Never hurts to be pointed in the right direction.

I just hate it when stuff doesnt find its way back to me, which happens from time to time.

Re: Does it bother you when other teachers ask for your lesson plans?

I sooooooooooo don't care.....Things like that just don't bother me at all. I'm all about sharing. I know when I needed help when I was new no one did and it really stinks!!!! I wish more people shared like me!

Re: Does it bother you when other teachers ask for your lesson plans?

Re: Does it bother you when other teachers ask for your lesson plans?

if i can help any new or older teacher i will... thats just me though... i like to share any ideas that i may have but i also like for other teachers to share anything awesome they have as well

Re: Does it bother you when other teachers ask for your lesson plans?

I don't mind sharing. Last year I was with a first year teacher and I shared everything with this person. I did get upset that when I needed a few things they would not share with me. Now I just give my ideas not the written lessons. Its all about fairness!