Introduction
When planning instruction, teachers frequently focus on identifying activities or materials without having a clear understanding of what students are supposed to learn. They may concentrate on which story to read, how to include a "hands-on" activity or how to integrate the topic with other areas of the curriculum. Too often, teachers spend their time organizing activities without clearly understanding what they expect their students to know or be able to do after instruction is completed.

Rationale
Writing instructional objectives provides a clear focus that results in effective teaching, learning, assessment and communication. By defining intended instructional objectives, you provide a basis for selecting the methods and materials most likely to help your students achieve the desired outcomes. Clear instructional objectives also provide a strong basis for aligning instruction and assessment insuring that you are testing what you teach and teaching what you test. Writing clear instructional objectives will also provide you with a basis for communicating about instruction with your administrator as well as your students, and their parents.

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