Simpedia

Sue D., California

I have a small amount of students, so I don’t know if this would work for everyone, but I keep a notebook that I copy the notes from my whiteboard into — so whatever notes my students went home with, I have written in my book, and I write any other thing I want to remind myself about that group or student.

I check my notes every day for the next day’s students — see what notes I gave them last week and map out what I plan to do with them tomorrow.

The notebook is kept chronologically by date. It feels like a simple way to manage things. I am very curious to hear what other people do.

Sue C., Australia

One thing that helps me is I write each lesson in my large diary and as soon as I have time after their lesson, I record a short note next to their next lesson listing what I will do next lesson, particularly anything other than foundation song, or anything I have asked them to do. That way I don’t forget.

Robin Keehn, Washington

I plan my next week classes each night that I finish teaching. I used a lined piece of paper and write out my projects in order of importance. I check them as we accomplish them and transfer any missed or unfinished projects to the next week. This has worked really well for me.

Cindy B., Illinois

During the lesson, I mark a check next to everything we did according to my lesson plan, and an x next to things we didn’t get to. The undone things automatically go to the next lesson. Also, during the lesson I’ll jot down things that occur to me that need to be addressed in a space for next week, that’s marked with next week’s date.

Beyond that, when I sit down to do lesson planning for next week, I:

• Plan the next lesson as soon after the current one as possible
• Look at the overall areas that need to be touched on a regular basis and make sure I’m getting to every area at least every other week, ie Accompaniments, Arrangements, Playlist, Reading Rhythm/Notes, Composition/Improvisation etc., and I’m learning to base this on the priorities Neil laid out for us so clearly at the Midwest symposium.

I make sure that every week SOMETHING new is learned, whether it be talk about a concept ie “external speakers”, a new song or Accompaniment, a Variation, or an Arrangement etc.

Dixie C., Washington

I use a Teacher’s Daily Plan Book, as was suggested months ago by someone else on Simpedia. I write the students’ names or class time at the top in the space. Then I write the lesson plan in black with approximate amount of time I plan to spend. Anything new that will be introduced I write in red. I use erasible pens in case I need to change my plan. While the students/parents are writing in their Notes Books, I note anything I need to address in the next lesson in the space where the lesson plan is. (I write very,very small. I got my book at my local office supplies store. Each week is laid out on two pages & each day has spaces for 8 lessons. This seems to work well for me at this time in my teaching.