4 Ways to Record a Lesson

4 ways to record a lesson

Summary: There are four places in the system where you can start recording a lesson: from a planned lesson, from Quick Add, from the Journal, and from the Student Cards page. Every one of them opens the same Record Lesson form, so the entry you create is identical no matter where you begin. The only difference is the starting point — you simply pick whichever is most convenient for where you already are in the system.

Who can do this

Any teacher can record a lesson for the children in their classroom. No special role is required.

Step-by-step

Each method below opens the same Record Lesson form, where you fill in the details and save the entry. Pick the one that fits where you are working.

1. From a planned lesson. Open or select a lesson you planned in advance, then click Record Lesson. This opens the Record Lesson template, where you fill in the details and save. See "Recording from a planned lesson" below.
2. From Quick Add. Click the Quick Add button at the top of the screen, then choose Record Lesson. The same Record Lesson template opens for you to complete and save.
3. From the Journal. Navigate to the lesson by choosing its category and subcategory, or by typing part of the lesson name into the search. Select the lesson and click Record, then enter the details. See "Recording from the Journal" below.
4. From the Student Cards page. While viewing lessons under a child's card, click the Add button. The same Record Lesson form opens, already tied to that child.

Recording from a planned lesson

If you planned the lesson ahead of time, the lesson already exists as a plan. You just open or select that planned lesson and click Record Lesson to turn the plan into a recorded entry. This is the natural finish to the planning workflow: plan it, present it, then record it from the plan.

Recording from the Journal

The Journal lets you find any lesson in the curriculum and record it. You can drill down by choosing the category and subcategory, or use the search box and type part of the lesson name to locate it quickly. Once you have selected the lesson, click Record and enter the details.

The Journal also offers a Batch Entry option, which is useful when you want to record more than one lesson at a time.

Why the form is the same everywhere

No matter which of the four starting points you use, the Record Lesson form is consistent throughout the system. You are always filling in the same fields and saving the same kind of entry. The four methods simply give you different on-ramps, so you can record a lesson from wherever you happen to be — the planned lessons view, the top of any page, the Journal, or a child's card.

A few things worth knowing

• The recording form is identical across all four methods, so there is no "right" place to start — choose whatever is closest to hand.
• Recording from a planned lesson is the simplest path when you planned the lesson in advance.
• The Journal's Batch Entry option is the most efficient way to record several lessons at once.
• Starting from a child's card on the Student Cards page is handy when you are reviewing one child and notice a lesson to record.

Related articles

• Record a lesson using Quick Add
• Plan a lesson using Quick Add
• Use the Student Cards page to track activity per child
• Edit or delete a recorded lesson, tracker, or observation

Watch the video

Here is a short video covering this topic for additional reference.