Brainball

Mickey Kolis is the author of six books and a veteran public school teacher; he is currently a university professor. Making learning relevant is his highest professional aspiration.Sarah Olson grew up in Appleton, Wisconsin and attended the University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire. She currently teaches choir at Delong Middle School and serves as the school’s behavior interventionist. Benjamin H. Kolis is an actor and theater devisor in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Brainball (ME) is more than a game—it reimagines the music classroom experience. Kolis, Kolis and Olson draw connections between athletics and music, where teachers (coaches) facilitate experiences that awaken a thirst for learning from all students, instead of a select few. Packed with resources and sample lesson plans, this book will change the way you teach. If it doesn’t, then you’re not playing the game. Are you ready?

• ForewordAcknowledgementsIntroductionSection 1: Brainball (Music Edition) - Why Music MatterChapter 1: Brainball (Music Edition) – The Point of the Game is LearningChapter 2: The Big Ideas: Product, Process, and Community aligned with PurposeChapter 3: Brainball (ME) Beliefs (Dispositions)Chapter 4: Brainball (ME) Key Knowledge CategoriesChapter 5: Brainball (ME) SkillsSection 2: Preparing to Coach the GameChapter 6: Tip 1: Keep the End-in-MindChapter 7: Tip 2: Play the GameChapter 8: Tip 3: Competitions as EvaluationsChapter 9: Tip 4: Sequences matterChapter 10: Tip 5: Explicit CommunicationsSection 3: Day-to-Day Lesson Plans: Brainball IlluminatedLesson 1: ObservationsLesson 2: ObservationsLesson 3: ObservationsLesson 4: ObservationsLesson 5: Curiosity Lesson 6: Gathering InformationLesson 7: Gathering InformationLesson 8: Action Plan – Criteria DayLesson 9: Skills and ApplicationLesson 10: Skills and ApplicationLesson 11: Skills and ApplicationLesson 12: WorkdayLesson 13: WorkdayLesson 14: PresentationsLesson 15: PresentationsLesson 16: Final ReflectionsConclusionAppendicesAppendix A: S.C.A.M.P.E.R.Appendix B: Making the Most of ObservationsAppendix C: Stand Up- Hand Up- Pair Up Morning MeetingAppendix D: Student Outcome Engagement IdeasAppendix E: Classroom RolesAppendix F: My Brain is Already FullAppendix G: Student “Teach To...”Appendix: H: Blank PagesAppendix I: Composition ProjectAppendix J: How are central concepts used in composition?