Assessment of the English Language Teacher’s Lesson Plan/Note in the Teaching and Learning of Drama Amongst Junior Secondary School Students in Lagos Island

This study assessed the English language teacher's lesson plan/note in the teaching and learning of drama among Junior Secondary School students in Lagos Island, Lagos State, Nigeria. The study was motivated by concerns over Junior Secondary School students' low academic achievements and limited interest in drama as a sub set of literature in English as a subject, which may be associated with the quality and effectiveness of teachers' lesson planning. Specifically, the study examined the extent to which English language teachers prepare and utilize lesson plans/notes for the teaching and learning of drama, the influence of lesson plans on students' learning outcomes, and the challenges encountered by teachers in preparing and implementing effective lesson plans/materials. A descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The target population comprised English Language teachers and Junior Secondary School students in selected public secondary schools in Lagos Island. A sample of respondents was selected using a simple random sampling technique. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and a lesson plan assessment checklist. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages, mean scores, and standard deviation. The findings revealed that the use of well-prepared lesson plans/notes significantly enhanced the teaching and learning of drama by improving lesson organization, instructional delivery, students' participation, and understanding of dramatic texts. The study also found that teachers who consistently prepare detailed lesson plans are more effective in achieving lesson objectives than those who do not. However, challenges such as inadequate instructional materials, limited time for lesson preparation, heavy workload, and insufficient professional development opportunities hinder the effective preparation and implementation of lesson plans. The study concluded that effective lesson planning is a vital component of successful drama instruction at the Junior Secondary School level. It recommended that English language teachers should consistently prepare comprehensive and effective lesson plans, school administrators should provide adequate instructional resources, supervision and enabling environment while governments and other educational stakeholders should organize regular training, seminars and workshops to enhance teachers' lesson planning and instructional skills in drama teaching and learning.