Embracing the Chaos - Planning for Lessons and Events

Master Binders

Control Binders - where the really organization happens

If you have heard of the FLYlady...how I use binders is similar. The idea is to create a master plan contained in a binder. It has originals of all documents as well as a checklist/timeline to follow.

Some examples:

Event Binders

For those annual events - a binder is a great idea.

Include a master list of tasks with timeline if possible. My binders tend to evolve over time. Each year I add something more.

For example..

The Squeak and Squawk Binder includes

a checklist with a timeline
- book clinicians
- reserve spaces
- email staff about event
- copy packages for clinicians, students, and student mentors
- make nametags
This year's itinerary and contact information to book clinicians
Hardcopy of letter sent home to parents
Copy of thank you card
Clincian information including a map, and copy of student handouts
Student Mentor Packages
Originals of packages for each instrument
- maintenance instructions
- a first lesson

Master Spreadsheets

I love spreadsheets as much as I love binders....I create a master spreadsheet for every major event I need to plan in a year....I share it with staff involved and use it as a means of communication as well as organzation..

Below is an example of my Master Plan for a Band Concert

The tabs along the bottom help me keep all the information in one sheet.

Copy of Winter Band Concert 2022 - Master Plan

Lesson Planning

The BEST free Online Multiplatform Planbook is Planboard Chalk

The paid version syncs with your google calendar and allows you to plan with other teachers but the free versions does a LOT

They have just began partnering with PowerSchool - but I have yet to explore those options.

Input your Timetable

super flexible and easy to make it your own.

Create your Lesson Plans

I prefer the weekly view, but you can view by the day or just see the class.

Plan each Lesson

copy to other lessons if you teach more than one section of the course
Embed links and attachments - it works with Google drive and classroom
Save to units which you can print later

Select Standards Covered

For free - all the Alberta Curriculum Standards are loaded.

This allows you to easily track what you have and have not covered

If you prefer a spreadsheet to track this click here and download and make a copy of my google sheet outcome tracker for K-6 General Music.

Sub Plans Made Easy

create a pdf of your lesson by individual class or by the day.

Print the whole day, or just a class

All embedded links and attachments are shared with it.

Google Sites for Lessons

I use the Planboard planner to record what I am covering - but it's point form unless it'a sub plan. I use it more for tracking standards and record of what I covered when.

My actual lessons exist on a google site so I can embed all my links and videos and teach with less tabs open.

I also have things embedded that I use every day - like the link for zoom announcements

Google Sites for Elementary Music Lessons

Example of a Kindergarten lesson page

Example of a Grade 5 Lesson Page

I create the page to support multiple lessons. I embedd the printables, assessments, and videos so that everything is one place.

I create a new page each year because I never quite do things the same way...but copy and paste makes it easy to add past content to the current year.

For organizing my whole program and sharing resources with my co-teacher

We have created a joing google site to share our resources. Many people simply share folders in google drive etc...but I like to see things....and this is a great way for us both to contribute and share.

The Main Page acts as a table of contents.

We have sections for each of the grades we teach

Each section of course has subpages

These are organized by unit or event or time..

Below is are screen shots from out Grade 6 Band lessons and resources for September

Daily Lesson Slides, Music Moments, and other Printables we will hand out that month

Copies of Communication with Parents.

We compose class wide emails in a google doc and copy and paste them into our email. Some things don't change a whole lot from year to year so it has saved a lot of time and mental energy having to compose things from scratch each year.

Copies of Communication with Homeroom Teachers

We send a monthly "What's Happening in the Music rooms" to our homeroom teachers. We also share printables or things they can use if they choose...above is the parking tickets for instruments not stored where they belong.

Digital Copies of Music and Warm Ups

We use a lot of amazing free warm ups by John Mcallister

Because students are responsibile for their parts I use a pdf spliter to upload each part. This we share on google classroom. It also saves time if I need to print a flute part, because it's ready to go.

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