Why Some Teachers Won’t Share Their Lesson Plans (And Should You?)

Dear Teaching Expertise,

I have to admit, I’ve always been a little protective of my lesson plans. Every single one represents hours of thought, creativity, and adjustments to meet my students’ unique needs. 

So when someone asks, “Can I borrow your lesson plans?” I hesitate. 

Am I being unreasonable for wanting to keep some things to myself?

It’s not that I don’t want to help, but sharing them feels like giving away part of my hard work. 

The Dilemma: Why Sharing Feels Like a Loss

As teachers, we spend countless hours crafting our lessons, tailoring each one to fit the unique needs of our students. For many of us, lesson plans aren’t just paperwork—they represent a personal investment of time, creativity, and effort. That’s why the idea of sharing can sometimes feel like losing control of something we’ve worked so hard to build. But is there a middle ground? Can we collaborate with colleagues while still feeling like our contributions are valued?

Let’s explore some key insights and strategies that can help navigate this dilemma.

1. Lesson Plans Are More Than Just Papers—They’re Personal Efforts

Lesson planning isn’t just about putting some materials together and calling it a day. It involves emotional investment, time, and creativity. Every lesson reflects a teacher’s unique approach to their students’ needs. This is why many teachers feel reluctant to share their lesson plans—it’s like handing over a part of themselves. The time spent revising, the careful thought behind each activity, and the energy poured into making sure the lessons engage and challenge students are all intensely personal.

One teacher summed it up well: “I’ve spent untold hours creating curriculum over the past 30 years. Whenever we hire a new teacher, I always offer to share and encourage them to adapt my work to their style.” Sharing can feel like giving away something you’ve built from the ground up, and that hesitation is understandable.

However, it’s important to remember that lesson plans can evolve through collaboration, and sharing can lead to positive feedback and new ideas that improve the work you’ve already invested in.

2. Sharing Builds a Stronger, Collaborative Community

Sharing doesn’t mean giving away your hard work without gaining something in return. In fact, sharing lesson plans can build a stronger community among teachers. It fosters collaboration, where everyone benefits from each other’s strengths. When you share a lesson plan, you might receive feedback or ideas that hadn’t crossed your mind. Plus, you might save time by using a resource someone else has perfected.

Collaboration also lightens the load. When teachers come together, they can divide up the planning, ensuring that no one is shouldering the burden alone. As one commenter put it, “What comes around goes around. If you share, they will too. If you help, they will too.”

Additionally, sharing doesn’t only benefit teachers—it also enhances the learning experiences of students. When teachers collaborate, students gain exposure to more diverse and enriched lesson plans, resulting in better learning outcomes.

3. Shared Doesn’t Mean Stolen—You Can Adapt It to Fit Your Style

One of the biggest concerns teachers have when sharing is that their work will be used as-is without thought or customization. But sharing lesson plans doesn’t mean that you—or anyone else—have to use them exactly the way they were written. In fact, the beauty of collaboration lies in adaptation. Each teacher can take a shared lesson plan and adjust it to fit their own teaching style, classroom needs, and student dynamics.

As one teacher shared, “Whenever I share plans, I always tell them to tweak it and make it fit their own style and students’ needs.” This flexibility allows teachers to take inspiration from one another while maintaining their unique teaching identity.

This process also helps avoid unfair comparisons. Customization means that each teacher can preserve their individuality in the classroom, using shared materials as a foundation rather than a finished product.

4. Access and Share Through Open Educational Resources

If sharing with colleagues feels too personal, teachers now have access to global platforms where sharing is encouraged and facilitated. Open Educational Resources (OER) offer free, legally licensed lesson plans that educators worldwide can use, modify, and share. These platforms make it easier for teachers to find high-quality resources and adapt them to their classroom needs.

By using OER, teachers can reduce planning time, access diverse materials, and contribute their own lessons to a broader network of educators. The best part? OER promotes a culture of sharing without the pressure to reveal personal, hard-earned resources. Edutopia highlights how OER can save time and improve the quality of lessons​.

5. Team Planning Makes Lesson Creation Easier

In many schools, collaborative lesson planning is an expected part of the teaching routine. Teachers often meet regularly to discuss upcoming units and share ideas or materials. This approach not only improves the quality of lessons but also distributes the workload across a team, reducing individual pressure. When teachers collaborate effectively, they contribute their expertise in different areas, whether it’s activities, assessments, or creative teaching strategies.

One teacher shared their experience: “We all contribute a plan and share it. Others tweak and share. It makes life easier for us all.” Through team planning, lesson creation becomes more efficient, and everyone benefits from the collective expertise of the group.

Collaborative lesson planning doesn’t just relieve the burden—it also fosters a culture of trust and teamwork. Teachers who work together are often better equipped to handle challenges and support one another.

6. You Don’t Have to Share Everything—Set Boundaries

While collaboration is essential, it’s also okay to set boundaries. Just because sharing is encouraged doesn’t mean you have to share everything. Teachers can decide what they feel comfortable sharing while still contributing to the team. Maybe you have a few lessons you’re particularly proud of and prefer to keep them personal. That’s perfectly fine.

The key is finding a balance. Share when it feels right, and protect your hard work when needed. As one teacher mentioned, “I share everything, but I understand why some teachers prefer to keep their work to themselves.” It’s about feeling empowered to share on your own terms, not out of obligation.

Here are some ways to establish boundaries:

• Decide what types of lessons or materials you feel comfortable sharing.
• Set clear expectations with colleagues about how shared plans should be adapted.
• If you prefer not to share certain lessons, offer alternatives that help maintain collaboration without compromising your comfort level.

Conclusion: Sharing as a Tool for Growth, Not a Burden

Sharing lesson plans doesn’t have to feel like giving up ownership of your hard work. Instead, it can be a way to build a supportive community where teachers help each other grow, learn, and improve their teaching. At the same time, it’s important to remember that sharing is a choice—you’re allowed to set boundaries and protect the lessons that are deeply personal to you.

Collaboration is a powerful tool that, when done right, can reduce workload, inspire new ideas, and ultimately improve the quality of teaching for everyone involved. So, the next time you’re asked to share your lesson plans, think about the potential benefits. But also remember, it’s okay to say no when you need to.