comprehensive musicianship through performance


4. Creating teaching strategies that help students achieve those outcomes; strategies that engage students in different ways. One example would be to ask students to evaluate the quality of their performance – as I like to remind my students, “Never underestimate the importance of personal responsibility.” Hmmm... maybe that could be our building theme next year...


5. Devising assessment tasks to see if the students are learning what I think (hope, intend) I am teaching. While I work diligently to observe and evaluate student learning, it reveals only a portion of what students are actually learning. This information, then, guides the planning process.


I’d like to share with you a CMP plan that I have created so you can see a more complete picture of the teaching and learning taking place in my classroom. It describes each of the points in detail, and I know the students would love for you to visit and share what we are doing on a daily basis. I’ll put the teaching plan in your mailbox for you to look over, and perhaps we can chat about it before my evaluation in the spring. I think you will find that much of our work also relates comfortably to the standards adopted by our district. I like to think of it as teaching with intention, and performing with understanding.


When you came to our concert, I hope you noticed how the students shared the curriculum being taught in an entertaining and educational manner. By having the students compose program notes, and printing some of those comments in the program, students have an opportunity to share what they are learning about the music we are studying. And they are really enthusiastic when they got to read their comments at the concert! We would love to invite you to come to a rehearsal to get a more personal, detailed view into what we are doing in band – more than you might imagine!


Thank you for your support of music in our schools. By working together, we can create an exceptional educational environment for our students in which their music learning will impact their lives long into the future.


Musically Yours, Laura Sindberg


Practical Pointers


~ Kevin Thays


The new digitally published version of Wisconsin School Musician offers a variety of features and benefits complementing the print version. Here are a few tips for using WSM online:


- When reading articles you want to reference in the future, use the bookmark feature to make returning and finding them that much easier.


- Using the highlighter tool, highlight specific editorial and then make corresponding notes to your highlights for future reference right in the issue!


- Customize the way you view the magazine to your personal preference using the flexible viewing options.


Go to www.WSMmagazine.org to view this issue online! Wisconsin School Musician 19


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