I want the main focus in my classroom to be improvement. Individual improvement as well as improvement as a whole. I've been thinking so much about the word "potential", that I've been missing the big picture. I cannot be concerned with potential because I believe there is NO WAY of knowing it. Because improvement is always possible. Besides, focusing on improving is dealing with the now and focusing on potential is thinking in a future sense (which is only good in small doses).
SO... I will attempt to create an environment focused on constant improvement. As players, as students... as human beings. :)
This brings me to my main topic: A Wall of Improvement - a visible representation of progress. :D It's borderline cheesy - and probably as cheesy as I'll get as a teacher - but I like it.
Here's how I think it will work:
I will have a box (or a slot... something, anyway) in the front of the room. Next to it will be slips of paper (preferably school colors).
Whenever a student has become aware of progress, he or she will write it down on one of the slips and put it in the box. (They can remain anonymous if they want to). An example might be that Johnny finally hit a G on his trombone - things like that.
I will have a set time to share the notes - probably one rehearsal a month or every two weeks. I'll just read them out loud. The students can clap or snap for each other. Then I'll tape the little notes on a wall. Not an entire wall, but a section of a wall. :)
Or maybe I'll just have sticky notes and they can post them on the wall and skip the whole box thing.
I think it will be something unique to our program. I can see it becoming a fun tradition in my classroom. If something AMAZING happens in a rehearsal, I can point to students and say "Go fill out a [blue] slip!"
I may do this every year. What will I do with the notes at the end of each year?...hmm...Maybe pile them all onto a poster board and have it laminated. :) And I can be selfish and take those posters wherever I go. They may end up in my office at a university some day.
That's enough planning for tonight. I don't need to have this completely figured out. I mean, I don't get to teach for another two years or so. :)
