Align, Plan, Deliver: How Rubric A-1 Shapes Effective Educators

In this installment of our EPiC Implementation Series, Rubric A-1: Planning Standards-Based & Content-Specific Instruction emphasizes the importance of thoughtful, aligned lesson planning and sets the stage for effective teaching.

Have your candidates watch this short video with practical tips and reminders. Whether they’re planning their lessons now or preparing to upload their final submission, this video reinforces what strong planning looks like in the context of the EPiC Key Assessment.

📽️ Watch: Tips for Rubric A-1: Planning Standards-Based & Content-Specific Instruction 

Key Takeaways from the Video:

✅ Use the Approved Lesson Plan Template (if required) If your program has a designated lesson plan format, make sure candidates use it. This will ensure that all required components are included and align their work with your program’s expectations.

✅ Think in Mini-Units, Not Isolated Lessons Encourage candidates to view their three-day sequence as a cohesive mini-unit. Lessons should build on each other to deepen understanding, not function as disconnected experiences.

✅ Align Standards and Objectives Clearly Each lesson should include explicit learning targets that are directly connected to the standards. Rubric A-1 emphasizes this alignment, so objectives should be specific, measurable, and instructionally relevant.

✅ Differentiate the Learning Candidates should avoid having every student do the same thing at the same time, day after day. Instead, they should plan for differentiated activities that reflect student interests, readiness levels, or learning profiles.

✅ Skip the Worksheets Worksheets shouldn’t be the backbone of a work session. Instead, encourage candidates to incorporate active, hands-on, and collaborative tasks that support deeper learning.

✅ Keep It Student-Centered Rubric A-1 is about planning instruction that prioritizes students. That means limiting lecture-style delivery and promoting active engagement, student voice, and opportunities for choice.

By guiding candidates to reflect on these elements before they submit their plans, you’re helping them demonstrate the thoughtful, student-focused instruction that EPiC values—and more importantly, setting them up for real classroom success.

Up next in the series: Tips for Rubric A-2 – Meeting the Needs of All Student Populations.