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Building a Lesson Catalog (Episode 20251113)
Every instructor has a few “go-to” lessons that just work—smooth flow, strong engagement, consistent results. But most of those gems live only in our heads or scattered notes. In this Learning Lab, we explore how to turn those one-off wins into a structured Lesson Catalog—a living library of ready-to-teach plans that save time, ensure consistency, and showcase professional growth.
By the end of this session, instructors understand what a Lesson Catalog is, how to build one, and how to maintain it as a personal or shared resource within the Mahj Life teaching community.
What Is a Lesson Catalog?
A Lesson Catalog is your personal archive of proven lesson plans—each with a clear outcome, pacing guide, materials list, and reflection points. Unlike loose notes, cataloged lessons are ready-to-teach resources that reflect tested success.
Why it matters:
- Saves prep time: Teach once, refine, reuse.
- Builds brand consistency and teaching quality.
- Enables scaling and collaboration with protégés.
- Acts as a professional portfolio of mastery.
Chat prompt:
What’s one lesson you teach so often it deserves a spot in your catalog?
What to Include in Each Catalog Entry
Using The Charleston as a model, each lesson entry should include:
- Category – the theme or type of lesson (e.g., skills, strategy, Charleston, competitive play).
- Lesson Title – what the session is called.
- Audience & Level – who the lesson is for.
- Outcome – what students will achieve.
- Tagline – a short, compelling promise that captures the transformation this session delivers.
- Value Proposition – a clear statement naming the player’s pain point and how the lesson resolves it.
- Player-Facing Blurb – a concise, inviting description that explains what the class is about and why it matters.
- Materials – handouts, worksheets, resources, or skill builders included in the session.
- Duration – the time frame and the delivery format.
- Lesson Plan – warm-up, topic instruction, application, and reflection.
- Notes from the Field – insights gained from teaching experience.
- Version Date – for tracking updates and revisions.
Think of each lesson as a recipe card: follow as written or “season to taste.”
Chat prompt:
What’s one note or insight you’d add to your favorite lesson if you wrote it down today?
Organizing Your Catalog
Structure your catalog in a way that matches your teaching volume and goals. Options include:
- By Topic: Charleston, Joker Play, Defense, etc.
- By Skill Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced.
- By Format: Workshop, Series, 1:1 Session, Online Demo.
- By Framework: Fundamentals, Foxtrot, or Signature Program.
Chat prompt:
How do you currently organize your teaching materials—paper binder, digital files, or both?
Build Your First Catalog Entry
Draft your first signature lesson:
- Choose a proven lesson you already teach well.
- Write a clear outcome: By the end of this lesson, students will…
- List the key sections: Warm-Up, Topic, Application, Reflection
- Add one insight from experience that improved the lesson.
Chat prompt:
Type the title of your chosen lesson in the chat—let’s see what’s in your growing catalog!
Examples:
Maintaining and Sharing Your Catalog
A great catalog is a living document.
- Update entries after each run: what worked, what changed.
- Add reflections or learner feedback.
- Keep a blank template for new lessons.
“Imagine if every instructor had five polished lessons to share. Together, we’d have a community catalog that could support new instructors, fill workshops, and raise the professional standard for all of us.”
Chat prompt:
What’s one category of lessons you’d love to see other instructors contribute to a shared catalog?
Reflections
- Which of your lessons is most “catalog-ready” right now?
- How would having a catalog change the way you prep or market your lessons?
- What will you name your first lesson series when your catalog starts to grow?
Takeaway:
“Lesson planning gives structure — a catalog gives continuity.
It turns your experience into assets that work for you again and again.”