My background

Theresa Thomasulo

Theresa Thomasulo

I am the type of teacher who will go to great lengths to minimize transitions.  Because I love to keep things moving, I try to equip students with helpful resources ahead of time.  In my choir classes, one way I do this is by providing each student with a choir binder pre-filled with helpful information about the structure of our class, my expectations, music theory reminders, and general tips for success.

However, as I spent the last few weeks preparing for my incoming crop of middle schoolers, it dawned on me that my binder materials could use some refreshing.  I realized that the resources I’ve included in the past have been disorganized and, at times, redundant.

Evaluating my resources

In a Marie Kondo approach to binder review, I considered each type of resource and examined each document carefully.  Did it bring me joy? Would it bring my students joy? Did I want to keep it, or was it time to thank that resource and move on?

Below are some of the documents I kept, and some that no longer spoke to my heart.

  • Welcome letter – Kept it!

    The welcome letter sets the tone for the rest of the year.  I would like to think that my tone is joyful but productive.  This letter also serves to establish my boundaries. (I’m available if you have questions or concerns!  However, you should schedule a time to meet with me so that I can give you my full attention.) It makes my objectives for the course clear and states that I respect and value students’ personal musical goals, as well. 

  • Marie Kondo with her choir binder.

    Syllabus – Kept it!

    The syllabus outlines our curriculum, addresses concert attire and expectations, details the grading policy, and lists important calendar items.

  • Expectations – Kept it!

    I find that a visual reminder of my classroom expectations is helpful for everyone.  I place it in the back sleeve of the binder so that it is always visible.  

  • Procedures – Kept it!

    How we enter and leave a space matters.  I have cultivated a calm, structured, and mindful environment, and new students have found it helpful to have a reminder of our routines.  

  • Rubric – Kept it!

    Our school’s performing arts department uses a shared rubric to assess daily participation and behavior.  This four-point rubric (available for free on Teachers Pay Teachers) considers citizenship, engagement, adherence to classroom expectations, and work habits.   It outlines a clear path to earning 4/4 points each day.

  • The Basics – Kept it!

    This document goes over basic choral concepts like common voicings and ranges.  At this point, you’re probably starting to think that this story has a twist, and that I’m not cutting anything.  However, I really do find this document crucial. Sometimes I assume prior knowledge, and students won’t always tell us what they don’t know.  This document quickly brings students up to speed on the basics.  

  • Elements of Music – Kept it!

We do a LOT of work with this early in the school year.  I dedicate lessons to pitch, rhythm, timbre, and dynamics, and we explore these elements through movement, body percussion, speech, instruments, and in our listening journals. 

  • Sing at First Sight Reproducibles – Kept SOME of it.  

    • Curwen Hand Signs – Cut it. 

      There are Curwen hand sign posters with accompanying solfege syllables hanging on my wall.  They are beautiful, they show diversity of skin tone, and they are in clear line of sight. Students don’t need a black-and-white photocopy.  

    • Bass Clef/Treble Clef Notes – Kept it.

      Students are coming to my class with many different musical experiences and, for some of them, this document really helps bridge the connection between piano keys and notes on the staff.  It also helps them understand vocal ranges.  

    • Rhythmic Values – Kept it.

      This is a great resource for students who don’t have sightreading experience. 

    • Dynamics – Cut it.

      These are posted on the wall.  Plus, we talk about them often and perform dynamic warm-ups.

    • Articulation – Cut it.

      To be honest, I just didn’t use this document very much last year.  

    • Tempo – Cut it.

      See Articulation.

  • IPA Chart – Cut it!

    I teach the International Phonetic Alphabet in 7th and 8th grade, but we don’t get to it until January.  This seems unnecessary at the beginning of the school year.

    Oh The joy!

  • Listening Journal Pages – Kept it… with reservations.

    Traditionally, I have kept journal pages in student binders for self-reflection and analysis.  I kept a few pages, but my students have 1:1 Chromebooks and much of their reflecting will probably be done on devices. 

  • Choir Rent Explanation and Due Dates – Kept it!

    “Choir Rent” is our monthly homework assignment.  Choir Rent could probably be its own blog post, but essentially, students submit a monthly audio recording for my review.  I’ve found this assignment to be a valuable documentation of student learning and progress. This resource explains Choir Rent and lists the monthly due dates.  It is posted online for parents.

  • ‘What Can I Do When I’m Not Singing?’ Guide – Kept it!

    This document contains helpful reminders to students that there is plenty to do, even when the focus is on another voice part. 

  • Essential Questions – Cut it.

    Our essential questions are posted on the classroom door, in the syllabus, and online.  We don’t need them in the binder.  

  • Coloring Page – For some reason I kept this.

    What can I say?  It was cute and it sparked joy. 

  • Sheet Music – Kept it!

    Sheet music is numbered and assigned to the student with the corresponding number in each grade.

  • Pencil – Kept it!

Reflecting

When I started this task, I envisioned my binders pared down to just the essentials.  I thought a minimalist approach would help make the important information pop.  These binders are fuller than I imagined, but I feel good about them.  Each item has been chosen with intention and serves a specific purpose.   Most importantly, my students can feel secure knowing that inside these binders they have all the information they need to get off to a great start in Choir.