Last week, I discussed how I organize my self. Today, we're going to delve into how I organize my students.
#1 Lesson Planning Sheets
I touched on lesson planning sheets in my last post. Here's a little more detail about the sheets themselves and how I use them.
A few years ago someone (I wish I remember who...if you know please tell me in the comments!) posted some new lesson planning sheets that looked like they would be the answer to all of my organizational prayers! I printed them out and started planning, but it just wasn't quite right.
There were many things that I didn't use and no where to put the things I needed. So I tweaked it a few times to fit my needs.
I do all of my planning on Friday. Most of my lessons from early in the week are still fairly fresh in my mind and it leaves me plenty of time to make changes before their lesson. I print one of these out for each student, write their name in the top right corner. If I'm doing one of the special activities listed in the middle, I circle it and write the title or specific detail about it on the line below.
Games has it's own line because of how often I use them with all of my students. Maybe it's just my kids, but they tend to learn and absorb quicker through playing games. It also makes applying the concepts to their pieces that much easier.
Once my planning is done, these sheets go into the appropriate day folder and await their next lesson.
#2 Practice Logs
If there's one tool that you can find an abundance of online, it's practice logs. And I've used them all!
There's the Blues Clues tracker, Lesson Notes, Comic Assignment Sheets, Popcorn Practice Chart, Zero In Sheet, Weekly Planner, Elementary Record, Notes & Assignments, Seasons Practice Assignment Sheets....the list goes on, but you get the drift.
They are all so cool in their own ways, but the thing is; I've never stuck with one for more than a few months. Just like the planning sheets, they had their useful bits, but they weren't right for me.
Last year, I created a practice log for 1 student in particular. She didn't need much and was getting overwhelmed by all the extras other practice sheets offered. All she needed was somewhere to organize her assignments and track her practice. My design inspiration came from Andrea and Trevor Dow over at TeachPianoToday.com and Sara at SarasMusicStudio.com.
After a couple of months, I started handing it out to other students and by January every student was using it.
I've updated this once again to reflect my students' needs. This year's version has seasonal images for students to color each time they complete all of their assigned pieces.
Edit: I've been trying to add a download to this post, but I'm having some trouble. I'll get it up for you as soon as I can!
What I love about this sort of practice log is the simplicity and the fact that it's black and white (being able to print in black & white draft mode is huge for me). These practice logs also save paper! When printed double sided, each month is only 1 page long. My students also like that they get to add the color themselves!
#3 Scheduling
When I opened this academy this March, I started using software other then the calendar on my phone to schedule students. I did a lot of research beforehand and decided that MyMusicStaff.com was the right system for me.
This system has a place for everything:
- Lending library database
- Student and family info
- Scheduling
- Invoicing (which I don't use since all tuition is automatically paid on the first of the month)
- An email & text are sent to parents 24 hours before their lessons
- I can track all student lessons & events for all teachers
All in all, I've been quite please with this system.
Note: I have not been asked or paid to endorse this product, I actually use it and like it.
So how do you organize your students? Do you have other systems/software that you use? Let me know in the comments below!
Up next week is the final installment of my organization series: The Library!
#1 Lesson Planning Sheets
I touched on lesson planning sheets in my last post. Here's a little more detail about the sheets themselves and how I use them.
A few years ago someone (I wish I remember who...if you know please tell me in the comments!) posted some new lesson planning sheets that looked like they would be the answer to all of my organizational prayers! I printed them out and started planning, but it just wasn't quite right.
There were many things that I didn't use and no where to put the things I needed. So I tweaked it a few times to fit my needs.
I do all of my planning on Friday. Most of my lessons from early in the week are still fairly fresh in my mind and it leaves me plenty of time to make changes before their lesson. I print one of these out for each student, write their name in the top right corner. If I'm doing one of the special activities listed in the middle, I circle it and write the title or specific detail about it on the line below.
Games has it's own line because of how often I use them with all of my students. Maybe it's just my kids, but they tend to learn and absorb quicker through playing games. It also makes applying the concepts to their pieces that much easier.
Once my planning is done, these sheets go into the appropriate day folder and await their next lesson.
#2 Practice Logs
If there's one tool that you can find an abundance of online, it's practice logs. And I've used them all!
There's the Blues Clues tracker, Lesson Notes, Comic Assignment Sheets, Popcorn Practice Chart, Zero In Sheet, Weekly Planner, Elementary Record, Notes & Assignments, Seasons Practice Assignment Sheets....the list goes on, but you get the drift.
They are all so cool in their own ways, but the thing is; I've never stuck with one for more than a few months. Just like the planning sheets, they had their useful bits, but they weren't right for me.
Last year, I created a practice log for 1 student in particular. She didn't need much and was getting overwhelmed by all the extras other practice sheets offered. All she needed was somewhere to organize her assignments and track her practice. My design inspiration came from Andrea and Trevor Dow over at TeachPianoToday.com and Sara at SarasMusicStudio.com.
I've updated this once again to reflect my students' needs. This year's version has seasonal images for students to color each time they complete all of their assigned pieces.
Edit: I've been trying to add a download to this post, but I'm having some trouble. I'll get it up for you as soon as I can!
What I love about this sort of practice log is the simplicity and the fact that it's black and white (being able to print in black & white draft mode is huge for me). These practice logs also save paper! When printed double sided, each month is only 1 page long. My students also like that they get to add the color themselves!
#3 Scheduling
When I opened this academy this March, I started using software other then the calendar on my phone to schedule students. I did a lot of research beforehand and decided that MyMusicStaff.com was the right system for me.
This system has a place for everything:
- Lending library database
- Student and family info
- Scheduling
- Invoicing (which I don't use since all tuition is automatically paid on the first of the month)
- An email & text are sent to parents 24 hours before their lessons
- I can track all student lessons & events for all teachers
All in all, I've been quite please with this system.
Note: I have not been asked or paid to endorse this product, I actually use it and like it.
So how do you organize your students? Do you have other systems/software that you use? Let me know in the comments below!
Up next week is the final installment of my organization series: The Library!
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