Writing Objectives

Some days, I am positive I learn more from my students than they learn from me.  Today I taught a lesson about how to write objectives for a lesson plan.  It was not my intention to teach today: I had made an assumption that my education majors had already discussed writing objectives.  In a way, they HAD discussed it in another class, but I should know better.  Writing objectives for a music class or a rehearsal is very different than other classes.  

So, I learned a GREAT deal today.  Sometimes I have taught something that my students have already discussed in another class, and this has not been the most efficient use of our time.  We have so many concepts to get through that I want to make the best use of our time.  

However, writing objectives is important.  And so today, I taught (or retaught) how to write an objective.  I remember objective writing being the ban of my existence in undergrad, but it was incredibly helpful for my teaching.  

And today, I was asked great questions.  We create objectives, and my students were inspired to re-write lesson plans.  And I was inspired to create better lessons and rehearsals.

I wish that I was done with my thesis document.  I spend time having to work on that document that could be better used designing stronger lesson plans or activities.  I have not spent the amount of time on my music that I would normally want to.  Soon I will be able to spend more time on this, however.  

So, objectives.  Writing strong objectives.

Recruitment and Honors Contract

One of the most exciting new developments...

I have a student who has contracted Chorus (my non-auditioned Chorus) for an Honors class.  She is an Honors student and a business major.  So, we have decided that she would help with the promotion of Chorus around campus. 

Her job will consist of a few things:

1) Promoting Chorus around campus, both the as a class and their performances.

2) organizing "promotional" events (things such as a flash mob and social media)

3) reporting on, at the end of the semester, what prevents people from joining Chorus and how to overcome those hesitancies.  

I am hoping that this will serve multiple purposes.  It will give her an honors contract, it will provide continuity between multiple choirs and their visibility, and hopefully provide new and innovative ideas for recruitment.