Submitted by Gretchen Taylor, Illinois

Idea posted May 21, 2004

My morning classes are back-to-back, and most of my afternoon classes are too. Here are a few things I've done to have everything in place and ready for each group.

First of all, I try to plan similar lessons with classes (sharing the same materials) to make things a little easier (i.e., recorders, lessons using instruments, singing, etc.). This helps ease transitions between back-to-back classes.

1. On recorder days, I have four classes in a row all doing different things. I have four different folders marked for each grade level in which I place the transparencies needed for each given class. I get these ready before the first class comes in.
2. I use three-ring binders for song books (no student texts) that contain song material for second through eighth grades in alphabetical order. I place these under the chairs before the first class.
3. I have a table up in front of my room on which the song folders, Get America Singing books, clipboards, and pencil box are located. There is also some room for various handouts, teaching aids, etc., that I may need for either the morning or afternoon blocks. I get everything out before the first class starts.
4. I use a student distribution system for passing out/collecting everything determined by chair. Each week the duty is assigned to a different chairperson. For example, when a class will be using rhythm instruments, I prepare my drum buckets (which hold enough instruments for each row). Then, I place the bucket under the designated "chair." I have these buckets in place under the chairs before the first class. If different classes are using different items, I just explain to the first class that they will be using instruments and that the next class will be using scarves. I prepare a second set of buckets with scarves in them and set them to the side of the room. When we are done with the instruments, I ask the chairpersons from group one to put the instrument buckets against the wall, and then the next group's chairperson will be asked to go get a bucket of scarves to pass out to their row.

I use my morning set-up time to get as much prepared ahead of time for the entire day as I possibly can.