How to Plan a Group Class

In March 2012, I published a popular article about how I plan a group class. Recently I recorded and aired two podcast episodes about the subject of group classes. The first episode discusses the benefits of group classes from the teacher, parent, and student perspectives. The second episode discusses the components that I generally include in my group class lesson plans and the many different types of resources that I might include in a group class lesson plan.

Here is a link to that earlier blog article: How to Teach a Suzuki Group Class.

Here are links to the Podcast episodes:

• Why Group Classes?

• How to Plan a Group Class

In my group class podcast episodes, I discussed many resources that I have found helpful for planning and structuring group class activities. Here are a few of those resources:

SHEL SILVERSTEIN BOOKS

Where the Sidewalk Ends

A Light in the Attic Special Edition

Falling Up

MY FAVORITE DR. SEUSS BOOKS

Go, Dog Go! (Do you like my hat?)

Oh, The Places You'll Go! (and be sure to read the book while listening to John Lithgow read it! (click here for the video)

Dr. Seuss's Beginner Book Collection

Dr. Seuss's Second Beginner Book Collection

OTHER BOOKS AND RECORDINGS

Richard Scarry's The Gingerbread Man

Story of the Orchestra by Robert Levine

Carnival of the Animals (Camille Saint-Saens music/Ogden Nash verses)

Pictures at an Exhibition (Mussorgsky)

Peter and the Wolf (Prokofiev/Gielgud narration)

The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra (Britten)

MY FAVORITE GROUP CLASS TEACHING BOOKS AND ITEMS

Group Lessons for Suzuki Violin and Viola by Carolyn McCall

I Know a Fox with Dirty Socks by William Starr

Plastic Halloween Eyeballs (balance these on the hair and the bow stick)

Rhythm Activity Sticks

LINKS TO OTHER VIDEOS, PODCAST EPISODES, AND BLOG ARTICLES

Episode 15: Asking the Right Questions (the power of the "what" and "how" questions)

Music Listening Resource List Article (building your child's home listening library)

How to Teach a Suzuki Group Class (blog article)

Recipe for Suzuki Review (YouTube) (how to build a consistent and regular Suzuki review program)

The above links are affiliate links, which means that if you click on them, the podcast and blog may receive a small benefit. You are never under any obligation to purchase anything, but if do choose to purchase something and use these links, I greatly appreciate it and your support.

If you are interested in my simple group class planning form, click here for my Group Class Planning Template.

I hope you enjoy these articles and podcast episodes. I love my group classes!

Until next time,

Happy Practicing!

----- Paula -----

© 2017 by Paula E. Bird