Category Archives: Assessment

be bop a lula

Posted on August 23, 2014 by mllama4

R – Back at the advent of Rock and Roll, the original host of the Tonight Show, Steve Allen, had a routine where he would take a popular song and read the lyrics as prose. The sheer ridiculousness of the … Continue reading →

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have it both ways

Posted on June 14, 2014 by mllama4

R – One of the core issues I have with High School music programs in this country is that they often pass themselves off as academic and essential while not being so in practice, placing an emphasis on non academic goals or meeting the needs of … Continue reading →

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nhmea

Posted on April 12, 2014 by mllama4

R – I had the joy of presenting two workshops and a reading session for the New Hampshire Music Educators state conference yesterday and it was a blast. Wonderful to see former students-now-teachers, friends and colleagues as we talked shop … Continue reading →

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building bridges out of witches

Posted on April 5, 2014 by mllama4

R – I had three moments this week that were on the one hand completely unrelated, and on the other completely tied into genuine fears I have about the juncture we’re at in education right now. We’re at a crossroads philosophically, but decisions are being made … Continue reading →

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the case for letter grades(?)

Posted on November 9, 2013 by mllama4

R – Jacob Shore is a literature Professor at Wagner College in New York. I came across an article he wrote for globalpost.com, in which he carries the argument that letter grades should not be banned in schools. My rebuttal is the … Continue reading →

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letter grades: the big farce

Posted on October 26, 2013 by mllama4

R – warning, lunatic ahead. If you don’t want to read a rant by someone certifiably crazy, please close this window of your internet browser now before you read any more and get sucked in. Or at least read it … Continue reading →

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flipping the music classroom

Posted on June 1, 2013 by mllama4

R – Jennifer Etter is my friend and colleague at York Middle School as Choral Director and General Music teacher grades 6 through 8. She has not only been an extraordinary partner as we continue to develop our K-12 music … Continue reading →

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leschetizky had it right

Posted on March 30, 2013 by mllama4

R – My standards based head exploded a little bit when I read a great blog post earlier this morning over my Saturday coffee which really resonated with me: are you a diametrically opposed teacher. Natalie is referring to Theodor Leschetizky (1830-1915), … Continue reading →

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grades

Posted on December 8, 2012 by mllama4

R – I hate grades. I love assessing, I don’t mind “grading”, but I hate grades. What’s the point? “I got a B”. SO? What in the world does THAT mean… As school teachers we are required to give grades … Continue reading →

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standards, assessment, blah blah blah… part 4

Posted on November 24, 2012 by mllama4

R – I have a strong conviction that standards based assessment in music begins as a mindset first and a series of actions second. If a teacher were to ask, “what should I do to make this happen?”, the answers … Continue reading →

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