First Day Of Class
The dialogue I will have with the class is written in italics within quotes.
Timeline of the Hour for
the First Day of Class
5 minutes: Music & Me, Intro
10 minutes: Warm Up
15 minutes: Handbook
10 minutes: MVP/R
18 minutes: Sing!
2 minutes: End of Class
10 minutes: Warm Up
15 minutes: Handbook
10 minutes: MVP/R
18 minutes: Sing!
2 minutes: End of Class
Prepare The Classroom:
- Decorate the outside of the door with music notes, my name, and a sign welcoming students to choir.
- For the first day, project the seating chart at the front of the room. Click here for an example seating chart format.
- Have directions written on the whiteboard, next to the projection of the seating chart. The directions will tell the students to take a handbook, the Music & Me assignment, and a copy of First Day of Choir (or other song) from front of class. They will also direct the student to find their seat on the seating chart, sit there, and complete the Music & Me assignment quietly.
Greet Students:
- Stand outside the door and welcome students to class with a handshake.
- Introduce myself and the class to make sure the student is in the right place.
- Tell each student to check the board to find out where they should sit and for further directions
Seating Arrangement:
- Choirs of returning students, assign seats based on voicing. Do voice testing during the second week of school to re-evaluate placement.
- Choirs of new students, place in alphabetical order until voice testing is done.
- Click here to see an example seating chart format.
Music & Me:
- Have these sheets at the front of class next to choir handbook for students to pick up.
- Click here for an example document.
- Collect document when this warm-up activity is done, after the first few minutes of class.
- “Pass your papers to the right to the person at the end of your row. The four collectors should neaten the piles and pass them forward to me.”
Introduction:
"Welcome to the start of a new year! My name is Miss Cleveland and I will be your choir teacher this [year/semester].
I am looking forward to building our choir family as we develop our musical skills together. My goal for this class is that we will join our individual voices together and work hard to make some really wonderful
music.
Now, I cannot wait to hear you sing, so let's warm up our voices! Stand please!"
I am looking forward to building our choir family as we develop our musical skills together. My goal for this class is that we will join our individual voices together and work hard to make some really wonderful
music.
Now, I cannot wait to hear you sing, so let's warm up our voices! Stand please!"
Warm Ups:
These are sample warm-ups. They will be used throughout the year along with other warm-ups, which will be introduced during daily warm-up time throughout the year. These warm-ups can be done with male and female students of any age.
The first three warm-ups will get the students physically warmed up and mentally engaged. The next four warm ups will focus on the students’ voices. Since it is the first day, my goal is to have the students to learn how to sing each warm-up. I will wait until the second or third day of school to slowly introduce a focus on the technique of each warm-up.
Once learned, these warm-ups could be done in about 5 minutes. My timeline allows 10 minutes for this activity in case it takes students a longer time to understand a warm-up. If it takes less than 10 minutes, I will proceed to the next activity planned. If we do not get through all of the warm-ups within 10 minutes, I will move on to the next activity and can cover the leftover warm-ups on day 2.
The first three warm-ups will get the students physically warmed up and mentally engaged. The next four warm ups will focus on the students’ voices. Since it is the first day, my goal is to have the students to learn how to sing each warm-up. I will wait until the second or third day of school to slowly introduce a focus on the technique of each warm-up.
Once learned, these warm-ups could be done in about 5 minutes. My timeline allows 10 minutes for this activity in case it takes students a longer time to understand a warm-up. If it takes less than 10 minutes, I will proceed to the next activity planned. If we do not get through all of the warm-ups within 10 minutes, I will move on to the next activity and can cover the leftover warm-ups on day 2.
- Jumping Jacks (physical)
- Mirror Clapping Game (physical and mental)
- Stretching Tall/Hanging Like Willow Tree (physical)
- Siren/Gooey Gumdrops (extends range, emphasis on head voice)
- Low to high
- HeHoHeeeee (emphasis on breath)
- High to low
- 1-3, 2-4, 3-5, 4-2-1 (emphasis on vocal agility)
- Low to high
- Lu, Ma, Di, Zu
- I Love To Sing Yes I Do (extends range, emphasis on mixing registers)
- Low to high
Handbook:
- Ask students to pull out the choir handbook they picked up and follow along.
- Talk through the calendar of concert dates, which are mandatory.
- Explain the uniform policy for when the choir performs.
- Point out the grading scale and the process for determining the grades.
- Emphasize the importance of the classroom materials.
- Discuss the contract that needs to be signed by student and parent/guardian and returned by [specific date]. Click here for an example contract letter.
- Ask if there are questions or areas that need clarification.
Most Valuable Procedures/Routines:
Project these procedures/routines one at a time as they are discussed in class.
- Gather materials from your folder slot (folder, spiral notebook, pencil)
- Sit in your assigned seat and follow the directions on the board.
- "Many of you already followed this procedure at the beginning of class. Good work! We will all do
this at the start of class tomorrow and everyday thereafter.”
- When you hear it, repeat it back, stop what you are doing, and silently look at her for further instructions.
- “Let’s rehearse this. Tell your neighbor how to enter the classroom, but listen for my signal…”
- Quickly pull out these materials and hold them up.
- Miss Cleveland will check row by row to make sure everybody is prepared with their materials,
marking down those who do not.
- “Remember when we discussed the grading section in the handbook? The points under the
category of preparedness can be earned when you hold up your pencil, folder, and spiral notebook
for a materials check. You will get a folder and assigned folder slot tomorrow during class. I will
start checking for all three of the materials on Monday, so make sure you bring a spiral notebook to
class by then. You will store this notebook in your folder slot, so it can’t be used for other classes.
Even though you don’t have all of these materials today, let’s practice this with your pencil and the
choir handbook. Ready? Pencil and choir handbook!”
dismiss you.
- Every minute of class time is important, so please do not pack up before Miss Cleveland dismisses the class.
- Put your materials in your folder slot as you exit the classroom.
- “We will rehearse this at the end of class today, but who can repeat the directions or model it for
me now?”
- Entering the Classroom:
- Gather materials from your folder slot (folder, spiral notebook, pencil)
- Sit in your assigned seat and follow the directions on the board.
- "Many of you already followed this procedure at the beginning of class. Good work! We will all do
this at the start of class tomorrow and everyday thereafter.”
- Getting Students’ Attention
- When you hear it, repeat it back, stop what you are doing, and silently look at her for further instructions.
- “Let’s rehearse this. Tell your neighbor how to enter the classroom, but listen for my signal…”
- Materials Check
- Quickly pull out these materials and hold them up.
- Miss Cleveland will check row by row to make sure everybody is prepared with their materials,
marking down those who do not.
- “Remember when we discussed the grading section in the handbook? The points under the
category of preparedness can be earned when you hold up your pencil, folder, and spiral notebook
for a materials check. You will get a folder and assigned folder slot tomorrow during class. I will
start checking for all three of the materials on Monday, so make sure you bring a spiral notebook to
class by then. You will store this notebook in your folder slot, so it can’t be used for other classes.
Even though you don’t have all of these materials today, let’s practice this with your pencil and the
choir handbook. Ready? Pencil and choir handbook!”
- Dismissing the Class:
dismiss you.
- Every minute of class time is important, so please do not pack up before Miss Cleveland dismisses the class.
- Put your materials in your folder slot as you exit the classroom.
- “We will rehearse this at the end of class today, but who can repeat the directions or model it for
me now?”
Sing:
- Have students put the choir handbook under their seat and hold up the copy of First Day of Choir that they picked up at the start of class. Pass a copy out to any student who did not pick one up.
- Play a recording of the song as class follows along.
- Have class sight-read as parts are played on the piano.
- Remind them that sight-reading is best done confidently! Make loud mistakes!
- Rehearse parts separately as needed.
- Have class sing through solo lines together, wait until later date to have volunteers try it.
- Continue rehearsal until 2 minutes before the bell.
End Of Class:
- Ask class to remind you what the end of class procedures are.
- Rehearse the procedures, include that you are collecting the copy of First Day of Choir at the door when class is over. They will get the music back tomorrow when they have their assigned folders. Click here to see an example of a folder cabinet.
- When bell rings, follow the procedures and collect First Day of Choir by the door.
Between Classes:
- Place more choir handbooks and Music & Me assignments at the front of the room and reset First Day of Choir copies.
- Project the seating chart for the next class.
- Stand by the door to shake the hands of students coming in for the next class.
Prep Time:
- During my prep hour, take care of any issues that may have arisen during the day. For example, make any needed copies or make any necessary changes to a seating chart.
- If time allows, begin reading through the Music & Me assignments that have been turned in by classes in previous hours. Continue reading these after school to learn more about the students.