Syllabus

 

Methods of Teaching Dance

TERM: SPRING – 2026

 Jan 12 –  Apr 27

 

DAN 385 – F (6768) Methods of Teaching Dance (K-12).

Credit Hours: 3

Content: Teaching dance in a variety of settings including public schools 

Requirements: Dance Minor.

Professor: Jorge Luis Morejón

Location: Wellness Center: Studio Multi B  

Email: j.morejon@umiami.edu

Office Hours: Monday/Wednesday 11:20 - 12:20 pm

Meeting Days and Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays / 1:45 – 3:00 PM

 

Course Description and Purpose:

In DAN 385 – F, students will acquire theoretical and practical experience in methods of teaching dance in a variety of settings including public school’s grades K-12. It is preferable, but not essential, that students have previous training in some form of dance. Basic dance terminology and dance concepts that underlie all forms of dance will be covered during the semester.  Reading assignments, written lesson plans and teaching demonstration will be used for evaluation of learning. This course is required for dance minors.

 

Overview of the course:

·      Students will acquire the vocabulary of dance and use dance concepts creatively.

·      Students will learn how to build lessons for dance for children at varying developmental levels.

·      Students will learn to integrate dance concepts into content areas in curriculum.

·      Students will learn how to structure a dance class and facilitate group interactions through dance.

 

Required text

·      Creative Dance for Learning: The Kinesthetic Link by Brehm & McNett

Suggested Texts

Boufoy-Bastick, Beatrice. The International Handbook of Cultures of Teacher Education

Making Better Use of School Buildings. Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development.

Optional texts – for serious students!

·      Creative Dance for All Ages by Anne Green Gilbert

·      First Steps in Teaching Creative Dance by Mary Joyce

·      Brain Compatible Dance Education by Anne Green Gilbert

·      Teaching Dance in Arts Education by Brenda Pugh McCutchen

 

Requirements, Assessment, and Evaluation Methods

Attendance Policy

·      Class attendance is mandatory.  

·      All students receive 1 absence without a make-up requirement.

·      Your grade is based on your attendance and participation in class. Attendance in this class counts for 30% of your grade. For each absence your attendance grade is lowered by 1/3 of a letter grade.

·      Students with 5 or more absences for a 1 credit course will receive a failing grade. Students with 10 or more absences will receive a failing grade.

·      Absences can be made up. A maximum of 3 absences may be made up.

·      Attendance policy begins on the first day of classes. Classes missed due to late enrollment, Religious Holy Days, graduate school interviews and illness must be made up to earn credit for attendance and may exceed the make-up limit if granted by the professor.

·      Tardiness will impact your grade. Students arriving more than 15 minutes late will not be allowed to participate and will receive 50% credit for observing the class.

·      If you are injured and cannot participate you will receive 50% credit per day for observing the class.  After two weeks you will need to drop the class. For injuries you must have a doctor’s excuse to sit out and release to return to activity.

Participation policy:  You don’t have to be “perfect” but you do have to try all of the activities in class.  You will be graded on your in-class projects.  Make use of all of your time.

Assignments:  You will be asked to prepare for this class with reading assignments so that you are able to develop and understanding of dance methodology.  Assignments will take the form of creative projects, a lesson plan notebook, teaching demonstration, a 5 page paper.      

Assignments

            1. Flyer (10 %) 

Design a flyer/brochure/power point about the importance of having a dance program in school. Include benefits of dance; how it enhances education; your philosophical view as a teacher; pictures/layout easy to read.

            2. Dance Combination (10%)

Choreograph a dance 2-3 minutes; determine age group and select appropriate music and movement; use elements of dance; use expression, artistic and aesthetic quality

            3. Teaching Demonstration (20%)

Demonstration of Teaching a Dance Class with groups of 3 or 4 students; this is an oral presentation; you will be leading the class; explain your element and your lesson clearly to guide the class; relate your dance lesson to a content area (theme); bring music and visuals if needed to support your presentation; length must be 10 minutes per person.

            4. Self-Reflective Essay (10 %)

Essay: Find an article that relates to some aspect of teaching dance to children. Summarize and write your reflection on it.

Paper should be titled, double spaced, font size 12, font face/Times New Roman; Structure: introduction, body and conclusion.

            5. Lesson Plan (10%)

This is an in-class series of assignments that you will complete as we progress during the semester. You will complete one Lesson Plan per element, using your creativity, a total of 4, and then one lesson plan before you teach you demonstration lesson based on the material we cover in chapter 11.

Method of instruction:  This is an experiential class with specific activities that everyone must do.  There will be lecture, some video, and weekly assigned readings.

Graded assignments will include:

·      Attendance                                                                                                                     30%

·      Participation (Journal) - (about 30 entries reflecting class experience)                        10%

·      Flyer                                                                                                                             10%

·      Self-Reflective Essay (2 pages) on your growth throughout the semester: paragraph 1 – What you learned;

paragraph 2 – how you will apply it to your own field;

paragraph 3 – How you felt during the learning process.                                                 10%

·      Teaching a 30 min. lesson to your classmates with lesson plan.                                    20%

·      Lesson plan portfolio                                                                                                      10%

Content: 3 Lesson Plans (LP)

[how to go about teaching the subject]                                 

LP 1 (3   pts),

LP2 (3.5 pts),

LP3 (3.5pts)

·      Vocabulary Quizzes 1 & 2                                                                              5 %  Each                                     

 

 

Tentative Class Schedule

TERM: SPRING – 2026

Jan 12 –  Apr 27

This schedule may be revised depending on the progress needs of the class. Any changes in the syllabus will be announced in class.

 

Date	Topic
WEEK1 Monday Jan 12	Introductions. Introduction to the course
Wednesday Jan 14	Sr.  Kenneth Robinson (Video) Do Schools Kill Creativity? https://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity   THE SAFE CREATIVE CLASSROOM   The Report Tyler, Christopher W.  Final Workshop Report: Art Creativity and Learning. National Science foundation, 2008. https://www.nsf.gov/sbe/slc/ACL_Report_Final.pdf   THE IDEAL STUDIO
WEEK 2 Monday Jan 19	Holiday / MLK Day
Wednesday Jan 21	Rediscovering Your Dancing Child/ Benefits of Creative Dance   TEACHING PHILOSOPHY Breaking Ground – Adapting the Classroom (Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development).
WEEK 3 Monday Jan 26	Principles of Dance as a Creative Art Activity   Dance as education of the self/ Kinesthetic Loop / Inner awareness/ Natural Movement   COACHING VS. TEACHING. VS. MENTORING
Wednesday 28 Jan 28	Learning Theories: A Collage   CREATIVE DANCE APPROACH
WEEK 4 Monday Feb 2	Development of Children / Ways children learn/ Multiple intelligence/ Brain Dance /Developmental patterns   TEACHING DEMONSTRATIONS
Wednesday Feb 4	The Instrument of Dance   Body warm-up/dance techniques   A MINI-HISTORY OF DANCE
WEEK 5 Monday Feb 9	The Instrument of Dance   Body warm-up/dance techniques   A MINI-HISTORY OF DANCE EDUCATION
Wednesday Feb 11	The Force Element   Force/Imagery/Improvisation   FIRST LESSON PLAN
WEEK 6 Monday Feb 16	Vocabulary / Mid-Term Quiz
Wednesday Feb 18	Visit to the Lowe: Intro to VTS   HOW TO APPLY VTS TO DANCE TEACHING
	Midterm Reporting Begins
WEEK 7 Monday Feb 23	The Force Element   Force/Imagery/Improvisation   -------------------------- The Time Element   Time/ steady beat/ tempo/ speed/pulse/rhythm/ African dance, ethnic dances tap/hip hop   CLASSROOM RULES AND REDIRECTING BEHAVIORS
Wednesday Feb 25	African dance, ethnic dances tap/hip hop   FLYER: 7 WAYS OF PROMOTING YOUR DANCE CLASS
WEEK 8 Monday Mar 2	The Space Element   Space/ levels/ pathways/direction/ Relationships in dance/folk dance work on choreography   ACTION PLAN
Wednesday Mar 4	The Space Element   Space/ levels/ pathways/direction/ Relationships in dance/folk dance work on choreography   MOVEMENT QUALITIES AND MOVEMENT METAPHORS
	SPRING RECESS (Mar 7 – 15)
WEEK 9 Monday Mar 9	Spring Recess
Wednesday Mar 11	Spring Recess
WEEK 10 Monday Mar 16	UNIT PLAN: ELEMENTS OF DANCE   DANCE LESSONS: VARIOUS AGE GROUPS   Linking the Elements of Dance   Themes / translating ideas into movement/ books/art/science/social issue
Wednesday Mar 18	The Lesson Planning Process Planning a dance session, conducting a lesson REVIEW FINAL QUIZ
WEEK11 Monday Mar 23	Teaching Mini-Lesson 2
Wednesday Mar 25	Teaching Mini-Lesson 4
WEEK12 Monday Mar 30	Teaching Mini-Lesson 6
Wednesday Apr 1	Teaching Min-Lesson 8
WEEK13 Monday Apr 6	Teaching Mini-Lesson 10
Wednesday Apr 8	Teaching-Mini-Lesson 12
WEEK14 Monday Apr 13	Teaching Mini-Lesson 14
Wednesday Apr 15	Teaching Mini-Lesson 16
WEEK15 Monday Apr 20	Teaching Mini-Lesson 18
Wednesday Apr 22	19 Closing
Apr 27	Reflective Essay Due Portfolio Due Pending Work Closing

 

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RUBRIC:

Lesson Plan (5 pt.)

I. (1 pt.)

Title (.1)

Theme (.2)

Art Discipline (.2)

Grade Level (.3)

Teacher's Name (.1)

Volume (.1)

II. (3 pt.)

Date (.2 pt.) 

OBJECTIVE & COMPONENT (1 pt.) 

Standard (Competency) (.3 pt.)

 Plan (Activity) (1 pt.)

Assessment (.3 pt.) 

7. Homework (.2 pt.) 

III. (1 pt.)

8. Cross-Curriculum Standards (.2 pt.) 

9. Differentiation (.2 pt.) 

10. Technology (.2 pt.) 

11. Written Component (.2 pt.) 

12. Careers Skills (2 pt.)

________________________________________________

RUBRIC:

Teaching Mini-Lesson

(15 pt. total)

 1.  Accurate Allocation of Time: Demonstrates good use of time by teaching within the agreed time frame.  Accurate use of time (20 minutes) (2 pt.)

 2.  Professional Interactions: Demonstrates professionalism in interactions. Demonstrates a positive rapport with students. Proper classroom management (move around, make sure every one is on task, acknowledge proper behaviors). (1.5 pt.)

3. Verbal Communication: Speaks clearly and understandably (e.g. pronunciation, modulation, volume, articulation). Uses correct oral conventions (e.g. mechanics of the English language as well as subject specific terms and symbols).  (1.5 pt.)

4. Non-Verbal Communication: Uses effective and appropriate non-verbal communication (e.g. eye contact, facial expressions, body language). Reads nonverbal communication and responds appropriately. (e.g.  scans class to identify students who are not engaged. Appropriate lesson content for age group (lesson and language used must be accessible) (1.5 pt.)

5. Written Communication: Uses correct written conventions (e.g. mechanics of the English language, as well as subject specific terms and symbols). Writes clearly and understandably (e.g. appropriate size and script text, legible text, layout of board work, overhead, multimedia). Use of VAKT (video, recordings, manipulatives, visuals, hands-on activities) (1.5 pt.)

6. Use of the Arts in Instruction: Creative use of visual and/or performing arts to accomplish the objective by developing hands on activities the students would enjoy and appreciate. (Use of the Arts as medium of instruction) (2 pt.).

7. Organization of Content: Follows the order of the lesson plan by addressing each and every one of the items listed in the plan.  (5 pt.)

a)         Brain Storming (.5)

b)         Video to grab attention or any other cool idea (.5)

c) Explain Activity (3)

Beginning

Middle

End

d) Provide enough time to complete task (.5)

(Time yourself) 

e) Review (.5)

f) Assess (.5)

h) Provide feedback (.5)

 

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ATENTION

In the event that the University of Miami’s campus closes unexpectedly for an extended period of time due to a hurricane, pandemic, or other emergency situation that prevents this course from meeting in person, students should be prepared to continue their learning remotely through Blackboard and other platforms.

Students are expected to check their UM email account and course Blackboard sites regularly for communications with me and the rest of the class, and to the extent feasible, continue participating in their courses from their off-campus location by the alternate means determined by me in coordination and agreement with you.

In the event that no internet or electricity is available, a course pack will be provided to students to continue working on their own until communication is restored and/or campus life is back to normal.