Maine Motif Issue 2, Vol. II (Winter, 2018) | Page 21

K: There are a million different ways to write learning targets! There are great
resources through various websites. The targets I use are derived from the tuneful,
beatful, and artful concepts of First Steps, but are not directly from the curriculum
itself. I try to keep consistency between grade levels, so I choose to have the learning
targets all have a similar framework. I use four overarching concepts: Tuneful,
Beatful, Artful, and Musically Literate.
The initial statement of the target is always “I can be ______,” with one of those
words inserted. Following the concept, there are specific indicators of what we might
be working on in that class and/or concepts for further discussion. Finally, next to
the target is a brief agenda of songs or activities that we will participate in during
that class to help us accomplish our target. For example, here is the first grade
tuneful target you saw:
I can be tuneful. I can use my most beautiful and healthy singing voice to sing echo
songs, simple songs, and call and response songs by myself and with my friends.
“I can use my most beautiful and healthy singing voice” is an indicator to remind
students that throughout our class we’re using head voice; we’re not shouting or
speaking.
Next, we have been discussing the differences within the form of echo, call and
response, and simple songs. And finally, “by myself and with my friends” is a bit of a
reference to how those types of songs may be performed, but also implies that
singing/music is a collaborative and community activity. You can choose to do it
alone, but there is something special about singing with others and for others.
C: And it’s more kid-friendly than singing alone and with others! I loved your kid-
friendly language around artful and use of the word “magic.” I think that really helps
to bring artful to life for them.
K: Yeah! And it’s the wonder and the awe that children don’t necessarily always get
to experience. You know, they, they’re not…
C: They’re not all getting that at home.
K: Unfortunately not all students have that opportunity at home. There may not be a
lot of focus on… purposeful play. And, I guess that’s what I like the best about First
Steps, is it’s purposeful play. What we’re doing has meaning and the kids get it - and