When planning your residency, start by honoring the knowledge that already exists in the space. Consider these three basic elements when planning your lessons in order to build collective knowledge: routines, commonality of language, and creating a socially-just learning environment. 

Art-Form-Related Routines for Students

You can adapt existing classroom/individual routines and protocols, or create new routines related to the art form by connecting to classroom practices. 

Strategies to support this: 

• Enter the planning meeting with Classroom Professionals with questions like:
  • “I am thinking about trying ___(activity idea)___. Are your students familiar with this?”
  • “Is there any particular way to support students’ performance (e.g., with compliments, awards, point systems)?
  • When in need, are there any cooling-off techniques that your class uses?
  • Are there any specific call-and-response strategies or nonverbal cues that students are familiar with?
• Carefully observe the classroom before beginning your residency or program.
• Use physical markers to delineate the space, like colorful floor spots for individual spaces to sit.

Establish routines for transitions and calling attention, like vocal or nonverbal call-and-responses.

Language and Content Commonality

Think about how to connect your residency with content and language that Classroom Professionals use with the students each day, as well as how Classroom Professionals can utilize your art form moving forward.

For example: “Focus” is a common way to ask students to pay attention, but in theater and dance this can refer to focal points in space and your gaze. How can that overlap be helpful?

Strategies to strengthen common language and content:

• Demo the class with Classroom Professionals before the residency to expose them to the language.
• Provide a handout with a summary of key words that you will be using in the residency.
• Highlight what is working well and share commonalities out loud to encourage support.
• Discuss how you would appreciate input from the Classroom Professionals and encourage them to share connections to their other curriculum content or language in your planning meetings. 
• Develop or include the Classroom Professionals when developing residency and program goals.

Social Justice Environment

Actively create a liberated learning environment by incorporating the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) into your planning process so that all students can participate equitably, being thoughtful with your language and decisions, so that every action is grounded in equitable practices. 

Strategies to support this:

• Explore the UDL Guide in this resource.
• Explore the Creating Stigma-Free Classrooms Resource.
• Explore the Inclusive Language Guide.
• Utilize multiple modes of instruction and expression: Communicate instructions verbally, on a posted agenda, and by modeling. 
• Build a classroom ensemble with students supporting each other. 
• Develop residency and program goals together with your students.
• Consider students’ intersecting identities and how you can honor them.
• Give more energy to lifting up than cutting down.