Weekly Lesson Log Template for Multigrade Classes

A well-designed weekly lesson log helps teachers manage two or more year levels in the same room without losing sight of individual learning needs. It brings curriculum goals, teaching activities, assessment evidence and follow-up tasks into one practical record that can be checked throughout the week.

For teachers in small Australian schools, remote communities and combined classes, the same approach can make planning more manageable. Whether the setting is a one-teacher school near Alice Springs, a small campus in regional New South Wales or a Queensland community school, a clear weekly plan gives everyone a shared view of what is happening.

Start With A Flexible Weekly Format

A useful template should include the day and date, learning area, year level, curriculum objective, learning activity, resources, assessment method and teacher reflection. Add a separate column for independent work so one group can practise while the teacher gives direct instruction to another.

The layout should be easy to print, edit and file. A landscape page often works well because it provides space for several year groups across the same lesson. Teachers may also keep a digital copy in Microsoft Word, Google Docs or a school learning platform, especially where staff work across campuses.

Map Different Year Levels Together

Begin by identifying curriculum outcomes that can be taught through a shared theme. For example, a science lesson on local habitats could involve Year 3 students classifying living things while Year 4 students explain food chains. The topic is shared, but the expected depth and vocabulary differ.

This method suits mixed-age classrooms in places such as the Kimberley, the Pilbara and Far North Queensland, where enrolments may fluctuate. It also prevents a combined class from becoming two unrelated lessons running at the same time. Record the common learning intention first, then add a separate success criterion for each year level.

Include Direct And Independent Learning

A weekly lesson log should show when the teacher is working directly with each group. A simple rotation might include a teacher-led mini-lesson, guided practice, independent reading and a practical task. Clearly recording these stages helps students understand what to do while the teacher is occupied elsewhere.

Independent activities need to be purposeful rather than filler. Use reading conferences, problem-solving cards, vocabulary tasks, peer review or short research activities linked to the week’s objective. In an Australian classroom, local content such as water conservation in regional Victoria or caring for Country can make these tasks more meaningful.

Build In Assessment Checkpoints

Assessment notes can be brief but specific. Include space for observations, work samples, questioning, exit slips and quick skill checks. The teacher might record that a Year 2 student can explain a pattern orally but needs support to write it, while a Year 5 student is ready for extension work.

A weekly log should also identify students who need catch-up teaching or additional challenge. This is particularly helpful for relief teachers and learning support staff who may need a quick snapshot of progress. Use plain language and avoid filling the page with marks that do not inform the next lesson.

Connect The Log With School Records

The lesson log should complement, rather than replace, official planning and reporting documents. In the Philippines, teachers using DepEd resources may need to align their record with prescribed school or division requirements. Staff working with Ozamiz City materials can also consult relevant administrative updates, including the employee examination schedule when coordinating wider school responsibilities.

For Australian schools, align the template with the Australian Curriculum, state or territory requirements and local moderation practices. A principal in Dubbo, a teaching principal in Tasmania or a coordinator in Darwin may use different systems, so the template should remain adaptable while preserving the essential planning evidence.

Allow For Place-Based Learning

Combined classes benefit from lessons connected to the community. Add a space for local materials, cultural knowledge, excursions and environmental observations. A class near the Murray River might investigate irrigation and biodiversity, while students in an outer Perth school could examine urban heat, native plants or coastal habitats.

Consultation matters when lessons include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, languages or cultural knowledge. Record approved resources and community guidance in the planning notes, and avoid treating culture as a decorative add-on. Place-based learning is strongest when it reflects the people and environment connected to the school.

Review The Week And Adjust

Finish each weekly lesson log with a short reflection: what was achieved, which students need support, which activity worked well and what should change next time. This takes only a few minutes but turns the document into a working tool rather than a compliance exercise.

A practical template may include these final prompts:

Download or create a weekly lesson log that matches your school’s curriculum and record-keeping requirements, then trial it with one combined class. Keep the format simple, review it with teaching staff and adjust the columns until it supports real classroom decisions.