Professional Learning Networks offer AOSA members access to experienced and highly respected educators to provide learning and discussion on topics important to today’s Orff educators. These virtual events allow educators to connect, communicate, and collaborate across technology taking deep dives into concepts and ideas important to Orff Schulwerk and music education. Offered as live events at scheduled times, all PLNs are recorded for future review.
Upcoming Webinars
Apply to Present
Have you ever considered presenting for AOSA? We are seeking presenters for our online Professional Learning Network (PLN) evening series. This setting is a perfect place to start presenting. If you are interested, please fill out this Google form for consideration. PLNs happen throughout the year. Applications will be reviewed on a regular basis and will be utilized as themes develop.
Previous PLN Webinars
Book Study: Movement and Dance in Orff Schulwerk
Read through Movement and Dance in Orff Schulwerk in three sessions facilitated by Sandra Kaetsu, Barbara Haselbach, and Carolee Stewart. Explore the historical and theoretical background, various content areas in which movement/dance are approached in the Schulwerk, and illustrations of movement/dance in target groups.
Levels Refreshers
Levels Refreshers! You took levels this summer, or you took levels a while ago. Now you am back in the classroom, now what should you be doing? Three presenters showcase ideas about implementing what you learned in levels courses starting with Level I. Or perhaps you have been thinking about taking Level I or continuing on to Level II or III. Then watch these videos for a Levels Refresher!
Book Study – Orff Schulwerk in Diverse Cultures: An Idea that Went ’round the World
Three-part book study based on Orff Schulwerk in Diverse Cultures: An Idea that Went ’round the World. Topics include: United States, Europe, Asia, Oceania, and South America.
Back to School: Classroom Management Tips and Tricks
Management tips and tricks for your classroom. Topics include:
- Proactive Management: Preparing Instead of Reacting
- Building Classroom Management Skills in the Orff Classrooom
- Managing the Mayhem
Book Study: Elementaria: A First Acquaintance with Orff Schulwerk
This book study is a three-session deep dive into Elementaria, a primary source about Orff Schulwerk written by Gunild Keetman
Singing in the Schulwerk: Creative Ways to Incorporate the Voice in your Orff Schulwerk Classroom
Explore the many ways to sing in the Orff Schulwerk music room. The sessions will provide fresh ideas for singing with your students in both the music classroom and a choral ensemble setting.
Timely Techniques for the Orff Instrumentarium
Sessions include: Hand Drum Possibilities, Barred Instrument Basics, Beyond the Basics
Book Study: Looking at the Roots
Book study of Looking at the Roots: A Guide to Understanding Orff Schulwerk by Wolfgang Hartman. The final session includes a guest appearance by the author.
Children’s Literature in the Music Classroom
Three sessions on using children’s literature in an Orff Schulwerk classroom. Books address SEL and include titles for primary and upper elementary grades.
Orff Schulwerk Beyond the Elementary Classroom
Learn how Orff Schulwerk music educators use the Schulwerk outside the elementary classroom.
Mondays with Music: How do we do this again? Reimagining Elemental Beginnings
Three presenters boost the beginning of your school year with reflections on the past year and teaching models to help you plan for the coming school year.
Culture and Diversity in an Orff Schulwerk Setting
This series of PLNs is intended to help teachers bring diversity into the classroom and plan lessons that help students authentically experience culture .
Mondays with Music: Teaching in Unique Learning Situations
Teachers are working in unique learning situations as we embark on the second semester of the 2020-2021 school year. This series of sessions is led by a panel of experienced teachers in Asynchronous, Synchronous, Hybrid, On-a-cart, and In-person classrooms. They will provide management strategies, lesson planning and adaptation ideas, approaches that cultivate the Schulwerk, and thoughts on programs, assessment, and grading. Each session stands alone but connects with the common thread of pursuing excellence in teaching and learning despite the challenges faced through multiple teaching delivery situations.
Navigating the Seas of Teaching and TECHing in 2020
This series of PLNs is focused on using technology to navigate Orff Schulwerk centered teaching and learning during the pandemic. The essential questions are: What do our students need at this time to be joyful and effective learners? What do we Orff Schulwerk teachers need to successfully deliver instruction under current circumstances? How can we sing, say, dance, and play?
Mondays With Children’s Literature
No matter if you’re in the classroom or on-line, children’s books are a great way to introduce musical concepts to your students.
Mondays With Music Tech
Need help navigaiting the vast amount of on-line teaching resources available? Can’t decide which apps are the best at collective musicianship? Check out Mondays with Music Tech.
Authentic Integration and Orff Schulwerk
Why do we need to integrate across disciplines? Children come to us as integrated beings but schools may be designed to dis-integrate them. It was the vision of Carl Orff that Orff Schulwerk would be a natural and integral part of the school experience for children. Join this conversation on how to plan for authentic and meaningful classroom integration that maintains the integrity of Orff Schulwerk.
Play, Sing, and Dance – An Introduction to Orff Schulwerk
Play, Sing and Dance: An Introduction to Orff Schulwerk by Doug Goodkin is used in many Orff courses throughout the nation both to introduce ideas to Level I and complete ideas in Level III. This PLN opportunity will look at the past—Orff’s initial experiments and vision, the present— the practical realization of his ideas in American schools and the future—further extensions unrealized by Orff.
Moving On to Level II
Are you contemplating the next step in your Orff Schulwerk journey? Are you considering whether to continue with Level II after completing Level I? Our next Professional Learning Network (PLN) provides an opportunity to dive into the world of Level II through a three-part series: “Why Take Level II?”, “What is Level II? (Foundations of the Schulwerk),” and “How do I use Level II? (A Practical Look at the Material).”
Classroom Management
Looking for tips and strategies to survive the end of the school year? Need a refresher on managing your classroom space and routines? Our next Professional Learning Network (PLN) series focuses on Classroom Management Strategies in a three-part series: “Responsive Classroom”, “Behavior Management Systems”, and “Classroom Routines.”
Level I – Now What?!
If you have completed Level I but still find yourself wondering how to implement the process of the Schulwerk into your daily routine and teaching, this Professional Learning Network (PLN) entitled “Level I – Now What?!” is designed to help you.
Curriculum Mapping and Assessment
Wondering how to implement the incredible tools & concepts from your summer teacher education course? Need a kickstart in updating your curriculum and tackling assessment? This PLN series, focused on Curriculum Mapping and Assessment in the Orff Classroom will engage participants in a meaningful discussion with each other and the facilitators.
Book Study: Elementaria: First Acquaintance with Orff-Schulwerk
First in the AOSA PLN series. Publisher Schott describes this primary source text by Gunild Keetman as “a fundamental and practical handbook to Orff-Schulwerk” and “a testament to her unrivalled (sic), innovative experience in children’s music education.”