Management Plan

Dance 466
Pam Musil
Esther Hopkin

1. Mission Statement
There are many skills and techniques in dance that can help us to continue becoming responsible,
and proactive learners who make confident and deliberate choices both in and out of the dance
studio. We believe that dance is a gateway to discovering and understanding ourselves and others
from all around the world. We also claim that it is impossible to truly reach our full potential if
we never take risks or leave our comfort zone.

2. Motto
Life always begins with one step outside of your comfort zone. -Shannon L. Alder

(This poster will be hung on the wall as a visual of the motto. See Part 3, under Space
Management.)

3. Policies, Procedures, and Routines

Policies and Procedures
1. Ask students for their ideas on rules and policies before presenting them with the following.
2. The Uncomfortable Policy: If I ever overstep a students boundary in any way (touch them
while giving a correction, play a song or say something that they do not approve of morally,
etc.), they may tell me honestly so that I can avoid ever doing it again.
3. Participation Policy: Each student will receive 10 participation points for every class period.
Students are allowed 2 free observation days where they may be excused from participating
due to illness or injury. After these two days are used, they must have a note from a parent,
doctor, or school nurse. Points will only be taken off if the student does one or more of the
following:
Does not bring appropriate clothes to dress down and opts out of the clothes provided
by the teachersee #1 under Routines below (4 points).
Needs to be reminded personally more than twice to be more attentive (2 points).
Has his or her cell phone in class unless specifically asked to take it out for an activity
(2 points).
Needs to be reminded more than once to spit gum out (2 points).
Is not contributing to group work (2 points).
Needs to be reminded more than once to respect themselves, classmates, and the
teacher according to the expectations outlined by students and teacher on the first day
of class (5 points). If a third reminder is needed, all points (10) will be lost for the
day.
4. Attendance policy: Three free absences and two school-excused absences are allowed. If
students come in fifteen minutes after class begins or leave fifteen minutes before class ends,
they will be counted as absent. Two free days are allowed for observation without a note
from a parent, doctor, etc. After that, a note will be required to observe (not actively
participate), or they will only get half (5) of the participation points for that day.
5. Tardy policy: Three free tardies are allowed. I will begin taking roll one minute past the hour.
For example, if class is scheduled to start at 9:00, I will start counting tardies when my clock
reads 9:01. Every 3 tardies count as an absence.
6. Late work policy: Late work will only be accepted for decreased points in this class. For
every day it is late, it will be docked 10%. This means that for every class period it is turned
in late, 20% of the earned grade will be docked (assuming an AB schedule). If a student was
absent on the day an assignment was given, he or she has two class periods to make it up and
turn it in before I start deducting points.
7. Concert attendance: Students will be expected to attend one dance performance for every
semester they are enrolled in one of my classes. This could include a dance performance that
they are a part offor example, the school Christmas or End-of-Year Programas long as
they watch a significant number of pieces that they are not in.
8. Dress Code:
Fitted T-shirts or at least 1 strap tank top or leotard. There will be absolutely no
stomachs, chests/cleavage or backs showing. No spaghetti straps will be allowed.
Fitted pants, leggings, or shorts that you can move in. This means no denim. Shorts
must extend to at least mid-thigh.

No large jewelry. Small studs, rings, and/or bracelets will be allowed, as long as they
do not hinder movement. This means that if a student is moving extra cautiously in
order to not break or lose a piece of jewelry, I will ask him or her to take it off until
the end of class.
9. Respectfor the teacher, self, and classmates.
Coach students to always mention the positive things first when giving feedback.
Ask students for additional ideas of what they think this looks like and what they
would like to hold themselves to. I would expect this to include something about
them approaching me with respect, applauding when students perform, listening to
whoever is talking, etc.

Routines
1. If a student does not bring appropriate clothes to dress down in, he or she will have the
option of wearing the clothes from the Teachers Stashold and/or unfashionable clothes
that fit the dress code.
2. When students come in, they will circle up to take roll. Then I will give them five minutes
to change and be back in the studio, ready to dance.

Space Management
1. I expect to regularly change the facing of the class so as to not be focusing so much on how
the steps look (or how the dancers look, frankly). My aim in doing this is to teach the
importance of finding value beyond how you look on any given day. I also believe that it
hones the dancers ability to self-assess based on their own kinesthetic awareness; it trains
them to know if they are in good alignment or performing the steps right without visual
feedback. That way, they will be better prepared to perform on stage, in assemblies, etc.
without a mirror.
2. Posters on the walls of the following:
Instead of I dont get it, try:
I dont understand ________ part/step.
I dont know what ________ means.
Could you repeat ________ part/step, please?
How did you get ________?
Why did you ________?
How did you know to ________?
Class Mission Statement and Motto found above (see parts 1 and 2).
Elements of dance (Body, Energy, Time, Space, and the elements therein).
Rules that individual classes have come up with in beginning-of-semester discussion.
Dance picturescould include Modern Dance Pioneers, well-known
companies/choreographers, etc.

4. Discipline Plan
Prevention Strategies

Classroom policies, procedures, and rules:

Outlined in disclosure document (signed by students and a parent or guardian), verbal
discussion and clarification, classroom poster.
Letting students add their input into the classroom policies, procedures, and rules (see
Section 3).
Each student will receive 10 participation points for every class period. Students will be fully
aware that points will only be taken of if the student is not participating according to the
standards outlined above.
Building a healthy student-teacher relationship of trust and respect through as much daily
interaction with individual students as possible. This will include asking them about how
their other extra-curricular activities are going, if they have any fun plans for the weekend,
etc.; noticing and acknowledging successes and good behaviors in and outside of the
classroom
Quick, non-judgmental, non-attacking enforcement of classroom policies and from the very
beginning of the semester.

Intervention Strategies

Mild to serious infractions (gum, cell phone, not following the dress code/not dressed down,
mild to moderate disruptions):
Loss of daily participation points as outlined in Section 3, #7.
If all ten points are lost three days within one term, the student will be required to
write a paragraph reporting how they will change their attitude and/or behavior in
order to help create a better learning environment for all.
Severe infractions (Blatant disrespect for teacher or peers, substance abuse, violence, etc.)
Zero Tolerance Consequence: immediate phone call home and referral to school
office or security officer.

5. Disclosure Document
Class: Dance 1
Instructor: Esther Hopkin
1. Mission Statement
Life always begins with one step outside of your comfort zone.
-Shannon L. Alder
There are many skills and techniques in dance that can help us to continue becoming responsible,
and proactive learners who make confident and deliberate choices both in and out of the
dance studio. We believe that dance is a gateway to discovering and understanding ourselves
and others from all around the world. We also claim that it is impossible to truly reach our
full potential if we never take risks or leave our comfort zone.
2. Course Description:
Dance 1 is a beginning contemporary dance technique and composition class. It will
involve learning and embodying the elements of dance from the core curriculum
(Body, Energy, Space, and Time). Students will become familiar enough with these
elements of dance to regularly choreograph their own sequences of movement.
3. Course Objectives:
By the end of each lesson, students will be able to demonstrate their understanding
of the core curriculum addressed that day. They will be able to proactively learn,
create, teach, and perform movement through working with peers and/or the
teacher.
4. Required Course Materials:
Appropriate dance attire as follows:
Fitted T-shirts or at least 1 strap tank top or leotard. There will be absolutely no
stomachs, chests/cleavage or backs showing. No spaghetti straps will be allowed.
Fitted pants, leggings, or shorts that you can move in. This means no denim. Shorts
must extend to at least mid-thigh.
Although they are not required, yoga clothes work well as long as the pants do not
extend past the ankle.
5. Class Expectations:
Participation: Each student will receive 10 participation points for every class period. Students
are allowed 2 free observation days due to illness or injury without a note. After these two
days are used, they must have a note from a parent, doctor, or school nurse. Students will
lose participation points for one or more of the following:
Does not bring appropriate dance clothes (4 points).
Needs to be reminded personally more than twice to be more attentive (2 points).

Is using a cell phone, ipod, etc. in class unless specifically asked to take it out for an
activity (2 points).
Needs to be reminded more than once to spit gum out (2 points).
Is not contributing to group work (2 points).
Needs to be reminded more than once of the respect policy (5 points). If a third
reminder is needed, all points (10) will be lost for the day.

Concert attendance: Students will be expected to attend one dance performance for every
semester they are enrolled in one of my classes. This could include a dance performance that
they are a part of.
6. Classroom Policies and Procedures:
Attendance Policy: Students get three free absences and two school-excused absences. Absences
are counted as more than fifteen minutes late and/or leaving more than fifteen minutes early.
Tardy Policy: You are allowed three free tardies. You have until one minute past the hour before
you are counted tardy. For example, if class is scheduled to start at 9:00, I will start counting
tardies when my clock reads 9:01. Every 3 tardies count as an absence.
Dress:

Hair must be pulled back off the face once warm-up begins.
No large jewelry. Small studs, rings, and/or bracelets will be allowed, as long as they
do not hinder movement.

The Uncomfortable Policy: If I ever overstep a boundary of yours in any way (touch you while
giving a correction, play a song or say something that you do not approve of morally, etc.),
tell me honestly so that I can avoid ever doing it again.
Late work policy: Late work will only be accepted for decreased points in this class. For every
day it is late, it will be docked 10%. This means that for every class period it is turned in late,
20% of the earned grade will be docked (assuming an AB schedule). If you were absent on
the day an assignment was given, you have two class periods to make it up and turn it in
before I start deducting points.
7. Assessment Procedures
Points will be weighted as follows:
Participation (65%)
Assignments (15%)
Signing and returning of Disclosure Form, Attendance/Promptness, Evaluations, and
Concert Attendance (5% each)
Letter grades will be given according to the following breakdown:
A 100-93.3
A- 93.2-90
B+ 89.9-86.7
B 86.6-83.3
B- 83.2-80
C+ 79.9-76.7
C 76.6-73.3
C- 73.2-70
D+ 69.9-66.7
D 66.6-63.3
D- 63.2-60
E Below 60

Dance Disclosure Form

Ms. Esther Hopkin
Please sign to indicate that you have read the disclosure form and understand the class
expectations and policies. Completion and return of this form to Ms. Hopkin within the
first two weeks of the term is an assignment worth 5% of students final grade.
Students Name: _______________________________________Period: _________
Parent or Guardian
Name (please print):
_____________________________________________________________
Home Phone: __________________________ Cell Phone: ____________________
Email (please print):
____________________________________________________________
Please list any and all medical issues that I should be aware of:

Recently under doctors supervision?

Yes ____ No ____

If yes, please explain:

______________________________________________________________________

I have read and understand the disclosure document and am aware of what is expected
in this Dance 1 class.
Student Signature:_______________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature:________________________________________________
Date:______________________________