Color-coded goals and objectives sounds like something we’d be doing in preschool, am I right?

Hear me out though.

I’ve started working with some new clients in Pennsylvania who have funding through the PA Waiver Program.

This allows adults with intellectual disabilities to receive music therapy services free of charge.

Being a waiver provider means my documentation and reports will be checked to ensure compliance and to ensure there is a continued need for service.

To help keep things crystal clear for myself as I am session planning, documenting, and writing service notes, I do color-coded goals and objectives.

Each goal and corresponding objective is assigned a color. The musical experience in my session plan that addresses that objective is given the same color.

Here’s an example from a session I led this past week:

I’m a visual learner through and through, so this helps me clearly see how I am actively addressing each goal and objective in my session.

This has made my service note writing and report writing much easier and more clear.

I have supervised practicum students and interns for almost my entire 20 year career. I think this technique could be very beneficial for students (especially if they are visual learners like me).