Reflection Week #15 - Where am I heading?

I believe that I am heading in a positive direction with the arts and arts integration in the classroom. This semester I have really been able to see how powerful the arts are as a learning tool, and I cannot wait to try some of the things I have learned with my own classes. I believe that integrating arts can solve a lot of the problems that are faced in today's classrooms. The arts help children learn so many valuable and useful lessons not only about the core, but about life as well.

I will not be one of the teachers who prints off an outline of an art project and has the kids create something that looks exactly like the example. I want my students to know the joy of creativity. I know from experience how powerful the arts are and I want my students to be able to experience all forms. I have loved being able to learn about them this semester and I am so glad to have the toolbox I have created this semester. I know the lessons that have been learned this semester will help me to be a better teacher.

Reflection Week #14 - Art Integration in Teaching

Art Integration while teaching was not something I got to see very much of during my field experience. My cooperating teacher often stated that there just wasn't enough time in the day to use the arts. Even though I have not yet had the chance to observe someone using the arts I believe in the power that it holds. The arts were something that I loved while I was growing up, and when I look back on those years the things I remember most are the ones I learned while participating in the arts. I believe that if we use arts in teaching it reaches more students, and puts them on the same level. The arts turn learning into more of an experiential experience for the students. Instead of sitting in their desks completing worksheets or taking notes on lectures they become actively involved in the process and in the end they learn more.

One thing in particular I learned about art integration this semester is how long it takes to plan a lesson where the arts are integrated. If you do not have resources I can only imagine how much longer it would take. In order to integrate the arts in a meaningful way it takes a lot of time to plan. The time that is spent planning though returns full force in the understanding and learning that takes place. I want to fully integrate the arts in a meaningful way into my classroom. In order to make this easier for myself in the future I am going to continually create and search for resources. I am going to make my art journal one that will be beneficial in the future. I know how important the arts are, and I don't think it is fair to students to leave them out of the classroom so I am going to do my best to learn how to integrate them now. I am glad to have had the training that this semester has provided, but I know there are multiple resources out there. Teaching is a collaborative profession.

Reflection Week # 13 - Final Field Experience

This week was a short week, but it contained our last two days of field work. Since we had finished our unit we just observed the class and helped our cooperating teacher with tasks she needed help with. There was very little art going on in the class instruction, similar to how it had been before we came. I was not surprised with the lack of art though because that seems to be the style of our teacher.

The students did get to complete on project. It was a simple project where the students were given an outline of a turkey and it's feathers. They were asked to color the turkey and the feathers and write things that they were grateful for on the feathers. They were then supposed to cut out the pieces and glue them together. As far as the Utah Core Curriculum for Art goes I felt like the activity had little purpose. It was very lacking in creativity and I felt like the majority of the students felt like it needed to look exactly like the example. Some even went so far as to copy what the example had written on its feathers. There were a couple students that took creative liberties on the project though and that was really fun to see. One student in particular took the feathers and on each drew a turkey holding up a sign, and on the sign were written various things he was thankful for. It was a very different take, and it was fun to have a window into how his mind works. This particular student was one that struggles a little in school. He is always drawing and doesn't want to have to stop to listen or do other work. He was one of the students who enjoyed this little art project the most, and I could see how doing more art would really help him show what he knows.

My field experience was a very enlightening one. I for the first time realized just how hard it is to integrate the arts into the classroom. There never seems to be enough time in the day, and it seems like it takes a lot more work to use the arts. I realized though after using the arts we did in our lessons that the arts are not something that can be removed from the classroom. It is a way to connect all of the students and a more enjoyable way for them to show what they know. The only way that art integration will become easier is by practice, so I will look for ways to teach and create lessons plans with the arts so that when I become a teacher I will have the skills I need to effectively integrate the arts.

Reflection Week #12 - Field Work 3

This week was pretty cool as far as arts in the classroom. We got to teach our lessons and we integrated the arts for two of them. It was really fun to watch how the students reacted.

For our first integration we created a song about the Native Americans. We wanted the song to be a review for the assessment we were doing the next day. We taught it to them using the Whole to Part, and they really enjoyed it! The students that aren't normally engaged really seemed to connect to the song. It was so fun to hear them singing it even after we were done, and during the assessment. It really showed me that music is a powerful learning tool. It was pretty simple creating the song, and it really inspired me to want to use that tool in my classroom.

The second lesson we did that was integrated was as a final experience. We wanted the kids to connect to the legends that Native Americans teach so we found a book called Night Dancer. It is about a spirit that plays flute music in the night and all of the animals of the desert join him in his song. We wanted to integrate drama so we played flute music in the background and had the students visualize themselves in the story. We wanted to do more dramatic activities, but there just wasn't enough time. It was harder to fully get into the drama, but the little we were able to do seemed to connect well with the students. It was a great experience, and I hope in my next field experience I will be able to continue to integrate the arts.

The chance I got to use the arts in the classroom really showed me how powerful they are. The students remember the material better, and I could tell they loved the variety it brought to their day. I loved the arts as a kid, and so it is not surprise to me that students today still love them. I really like the integration movement and can see that it will really be more beneficial then the random frilly projects I did in elementary school. I cannot wait to learn more about the arts as I prepare for my own classroom and students.

Reflection Week #11 - Field Work 2

This week in our field we were able to spent the majority of the week in the classroom. We are starting to know all of the students names and are learning more about their individual personalities. It is fun watching them as they are learning about new subjects, and seeing how they respond to the different activities the teacher has them do. The students are starting to trust us and enjoy having us in their classroom. I love listening to them tell us about their days, and getting hugs from them as we leave.

There was a substitute for two of the days we were there this week, and we learned A LOT from that experience. We weren't planning on teaching anything, but the substitute wanted our help because we had seen how Mrs. Ericksen teaches so we ended up teaching quite a few of the lessons. Our teacher left a ton of worksheets for the students to do so they wouldn't have "free time" where they could get out of control. By the end of the second day of worksheets though the students were sick of doing them and complained that they weren't really doing science. :)

We are starting our unit on Monday and I am excited to see how the students respond to the lessons we have planned. From our observations so far it doesn't seem like the arts are used very often so I am most excited to see how they respond to the lessons we have planned that incorporate that. We have an arts lesson and a dance lesson planned and hopefully they will both go smoothly.

Reflection Week #10 - Field Work 1

This week was my partner and I started our field work experience. It was so fun getting to meet the students and to be able to practice what we have been learning in our courses these past months. We are in a fourth grade classroom at Winsor Elementary school. Our teacher when we first met her stated that she isn't very creative and doesn't incorporate art very often. So far in our experience she has not used any type of art even though there are places where I think it could have been useful. One experience in particular was when the students were learning about the order of operations in math. Her students were really struggling remembering it, and I believe that if she would have used a song it would have really helped them. The class we are in is in a lower socioeconomic area so a lot of the students struggle, and I think that our cooperating teacher would really benefit from integrating arts into her curriculum. Hopefully we will be able to share some of the techniques we have learned with her.

When my partner and I introduced ourselves we decided to sing a song with the kids. It was interesting to watch their reactions. One of the students kept looking at us like we were crazy, but the majoring of the students really enjoyed the activity. We didn't have the time to teach them how to sing it well, but we did use the whole to part model and sang it for them a few times before they started joining in. I thought I would be really nervous doing it for the first time, but it really went well.

I never really realize how important it is to use the arts in the classroom. I hope that when I have my own classroom I will be able to remember the techniques I learned, and use my art journal to fully integrate the arts. I believe the benefits are incredible, and as teachers we should capitalize on those benefits. The arts put kids on a more level playing field and give them a chance to be kids. Being in the classroom this week has made me want to search continually for unique and fun ways to integrate the arts so that when I have my own classroom I will be able to use them to my student's benefit.

Reflection Week #9 - Music Presentation

What 
This week my experience creating and presenting our music lesson was similar to my experience with the other art forms we have done this semester. I always start out very nervous and then end up loving it. I was the member of my group who created framework for the lyrics we used. I was surprised at how easily it came. I was just thinking about our topic and songs and the lyrics for the first verse popped into my head. I guess all of the musical training in my K-12 education will apply to my career as a teacher.

So What 
Some of my heroes in education are those teachers, like Dan Clark and Erin Gruwell, who use creative ways to reach those students who otherwise would be left behind in the dust. Using the arts in the classroom is a way to level the playing field and allow the students to have fun while learning. I think music is one of the most powerful communicators, and by utilizing it in my classroom my students will learn the information they have to learn and will be able to remember it for years to come. I still remember the songs I learned in elementary school and knowing those songs helped me to ace many tests I had to take afterward.

Now What 
In order to move forward from where I am now and be able to effectively use music and singing in my classroom I will continue looking for resources. As I create lesson plans I will look for pieces that could possibly be made into songs that will enhance the learning experience. I will also practice using these skills I have gained by creating and presenting this first music lesson plan to build upon. I am hoping to to be able to use this skill, along with the others I have gained, in my field experience and can't wait to see how it works out when done with current students.

Reflection Week #8 - Music

What 
Music is a form of expression that comes through song. It is a powerful tool for helping students not only learn and understand information, but also help them remember it. Students have a lot of information to learn, and it is important that we as teachers use creative ways to help them to do that. Music is one of the venues we can use. Music is also important for student so learn about because it is such a powerful expression of emotion. If students learn how to express themselves through music it is just one more tool in their toolbox.

So What 
My goals for using music with my future students include not only using it to help solidify and enforce the topics we learn about, but also using it in a way that teaches them how to correctly use it. I want my students to understand singing and how to do it correctly so it can be used by them to express their feelings. I also want them to understand that singing is not just screaming the words, and will use the 4 step process to help them understand that.
 
Now What  
After learning about music in our class this week my ideas about how I need to prepare to effectively teach music have changed. I feel like I need to practice the techniques we learned about how to not only teach our students the lyrics, but teach them how to sing the song.  I plan to practice the techniques we learned while also searching for new ones to use. One idea I liked that was used by one of my teachers was teaching solfege. I think that is one way that students can begin to understand how the notes of a song differe from each other. I think it is slightly more advanced so I would probably only use it with older students, but it is one example of the other techniques that I plan to find in order to help my students understand and be able to produce music.

Reflection Week #7 - Dance Presentation

What 
Having the ability to design and participate in creative dance has greatly changed my understanding of it and how it can be used in the classroom. When I first learned we would have to participate in dance I was extremely nervous, a lot like I was with drama. I was yet again surprised by how easy it was to not only create, but to also enjoy. I loved being able to esentially exercise and learn at the same time. I can definitely see how dance could be very helpful with those students that have lots of energy.

So What 
From my experience I will be taking with me a better understanding of exactly how to use dance in the classroom. There are so many things that we can help students more fully understand just by asking them to figure out how to represent it through dance. Things like obscure science topics can become fun memorable experiences, foreign people can be understood by representing them through movement, the possibilities are endless. Dance is so fun, and gets students out of their seat and moving, and that is something I would have never though of using before these last two weeks of learning.
  
Now What
I love how after learning about these topics I can easily begin to see how to use them in my future classrooms. After going to the arts conference this past Friday I realized that these creative arts methods don't have to take up an entire hour. They can be simple quick then minute a day activities. They can be used as an entire lesson of course, but they can also provide a transition from one lesson to the next, or as a way to get the students energy out while also helping them to learn something new. I am going to use these creative arts in my classroom for at least ten minutes every day because I know the arts are so valuable in the lives of children. They learn better when their entire body and mind is involved, and while they are participating in the arts that is what is happening.

Reflection Week #6 - Creative Dance

What
As we participated in dance activities and learning expereicnes this week I came to realize just how powerful dance can be in the classroom. It is such an easy way to create a fun active learning environment. I was just as nervous this week about dance as I was with drama because I wasn't sure what to expect. Growing up I took a couple dance classes, but quit because I was told over and over again that I wasn't good enough. It was refreshing to learn about techniques that don't require students to have certain abilities, and just let them experience the world of dance in a stress free environment. I really found myself enjoying what we were doing and I can definitely see how the dance activities we learned about could help students in class get their energy out while also learning valuable lessons.

So What
In order to prepare for next week and for my field expeience I will begin thinking more about how to incorportate dance into the lessons I am planning. When I am reading through books I will look for was that the text can be interpreted through the eyes of dance. I will also use my textbook as a resource to come up with ideas as far as how I can add a element of dance into the lesson plans I will be delivering during my field experience. I want to keep learning about dance and continually search for ways it can be incorporated.

Now What
In order to incorporate this knowledge and skill into my practice as a teacher I will need to keep a spirit of discovery. I will need to keep a journal of resources and ways that I can use it in my classroom. I will attend conferences and do my best to learn how to better use dance as a learning technique. I know that if I keep dance in the back of my mind while I am planning lessons and activities it will benefit not only me, but my students as well.

Reflection Week #5 - Process Drama fromText

What: 
I was honestly surprised by how much I learned from getting to develop Process Drama using text. I have always loved books and I think that they should be used in the classroom often. Never before did I realize though just how much can be learned from one book. My team's book was called Pink and Say and was a truen story about two boys and their experience in the Civil War.  While coming up with activities I was surprised by how many different topics and core curriculum objectives could be covered in one book. Not only did it cover language arts, but it also went into drama and social studies. Process Drama did all that in a fun and memorable way. It was also neat getting to watch everyone else go through their books because it gave me even more ideas on how to use Process Drama to teach various subjects. I loved the variety of topics the chosen books were on, and how much I learned from them. Process Drama is something I cannot wait to use in the classroom.

So What:
The activities that I will implement in my teaching are endless, just like the lists of possibilities in the text and on the web. I think that it honestly depends on the individual text that is chosen and what activity fits best where. I loved the 21 ideas online and I will definitely be holding onto my book because of all the ideas contained in that. One idea that I know I will probably use more than others, is using music to create a mood. I consider myself a musical person, and have participated in musical activities for a lot of my life. I love it's ability to not only create a mood but to help express feelings. Music can take you to another dimension where you can more fully experience what is being read in the text, and I know that it will help students connect.

Now What:
One thing that I have already started doing to help myself prepare to teach and integrate creative drama is to keep a list of all of the various activities I can use. There is such a huge variety of ideas, and I know there is no way  I will remember all of them. Since I know there is a place I can go to look up those ideas I will be able to use them in my own classroom. I have also started to go through the picture books I have at home and place sticky notes on the pages of the book. Those notes contain information about activities I can do in the classroom. I know that by keeping those ideas I can just pull the book out when I go to teach it and have those ideas already written down exactly where I would use them. There are just so many ways to integrate drama it blows me away. It makes things so memorable for kids that I know I will be using it in my classroom often.

Reflection Week #4 - Drama

What -

Today, and in this week's reading, we learned about using drama in the classroom. We also learned a lot of various techniques and ways to implement drama into the classroom. I have to be honest I was extremely nervous to participate in the activities in class when I first walked in the room, but I gradually became more comfortable participating in them. It made me realize that my feelings probably mirrored those that my students will have, and it made me think about how important it is to give students that safe place to express themselves. It also made me reflect on the importance of gradually getting students comfortable to drama.

So What -

Now that I have gotten the chance to experience a variety of drama activities I don't think that I will specifically focus on one in the classroom. I can definitely see myself using Teacher - In - Role a lot and activities where the students take on a character we are learning about like Hot Seating and  Collective role play. I really like the dept of learning that takes place when students are asked to take on a character they are learning about.


Now What -


I never really realized why drama should be used in the classroom and couldn't remember using it as a child except for in school plays. After learning about it in class today and reading in the book I realized it was used more then I noticed. It was amazing to me how, if used correctly, drama can be placed in just about any lesson. It enhances the learning that takes place and makes the learning fun! It not only helps the kids learn the material, but it helps them learn to control their behavior and work together. I also loved that it is proven to decrease separations and cliques in classrooms. I know that in the higher grades especially cliques are a huge problem and I know that when I face that I will use drama as a way to help solve those problems. 

Reflection Week #3 - Illustrators

What...
Most children are exposed to picture books beginning at a very young age.They listen to their parents read and are sucked into the world of the book. One of the things that draws them in are the illustrations. Those pictures are the doorway through witch they enter. Many of the books they are read become beloved favorites. They are used to seeing the creations of illustrators. They have background knowledge of the subject so it is a perfect jumping point for taking about illustrators in a different light.
 
So What....
In order to effectively prepare to teach my students about artists and their techniques/style I need to expose myself to various illustrators and their styles. Many times we stick with what is comfortable, what we are used to, but by branching out we may find something we like just as much or even more. Exposure is the key. Being willing to discover new illustrators and their styles will open the door to being able to teach them effectively.


Now What...
Students learn best when what they are learning is connected to their schema. Many will be very familiar with picture books before they enter the classroom, and even if they are not they will be exposed to them in the classroom. Art is an unfamiliar and difficult concept for many students, but when we connect it to something familiar I believe that makes it easier for them. In order to be able to create a great experience of this type with my students I will continually be looking for new quality illustrators that I will be able to tell them about when I have my own classroom.

Reflection Week #2 - Visual Arts

What? 

This week I learned about the different aspects of visual art: shape, space, color, value, line and texture. In class I was able to experiment with all of the aspects, and experience them first hand through various mediums.  In the textbook one of the things covered was ten building blocks of art integration, and how they related to visual arts. The first two building blocks focused on why it is important to integrate and discussed the skills I would need to teach it. The rest of the blocks provided ways for me as a teacher to integrate it into the classroom. One specific part of the reading that really fascinated me was the snapshot that talked about how a teacher introduced a unit on fantasy. I loved how he slowly revealed the painting and had the students discuss the painting with each other. As I read through chapters it amazes me how many various ways there are to integrate art into the classroom, and it makes me wonder why it isn't done more often.

So What?

As a future teacher, learning about visual arts and how simple it is to integrate them into everyday learning has made me want to continually search for ways they can be used in conjunction with the curriculum. The things that I remember most from elementary school are the times we did art projects. There are only a few however that I recall going along with what we were learning. 

I never thought that I was "good" at art, and that is probably because I was taught to imitate not create. There was always a sample of what I was supposed to produce, and mine never looked just right. I loved the suggestion in the book to encourage students to try. I am sure that in the classroom I will hear the saying "I'm not good at art," especially since I even heard it in our class while we were completing the various elements of art projects.

Now What?

In order to effectively prepare to teach my students in the future I will keep all of the ideas that I am discovering in an area that is easily accessed like a Google Doc or an art journal. I don't want the time I spend in this course, and the things I learn to be forgotten. I never realized how easy it is to integrate art into the classroom until I read the textbook. It amazed me how many places there were that art could be used as an aid. I had not considered it an effective tool for assessment until I realized that both drawing a picture and writing a paragraph were just different ways of showing what you know. Our students are brilliant, but they are smart in different ways. Art is one of those areas that students may excel in if we let them.

When I teach art something I will make sure to stress is that it shouldn't look the same. Art is a form of expression and no two people express things in the same way. There is no "good" art and "bad" art, just art. I want my students to feel free expressing themselves through the medium of art. I know what it felt like to feel like my art had to be perfect, and I don't want my students feeling those same pressures.

Reflection Week #1 - The Beginning

What: 

My personal experience with the arts began at an early age. I was first introduced to singing by tapes my mom would purchase for us that we would sing and dance to as kids. I took violin lessons for a little while and then switched to piano, and finally fell in love with singing. I was in choirs all throughout my K-12 experience, and still love music today. I also loved to color, and use the computer to design projects. I once thought that the field of graphic design was something I wanted to go into, but soon discovered that my true passion was in the field of education.

While I was in elementary school the things that I remember most are lessons that were integrated with the arts. In almost every grade I can think of something that we did that involved the arts. We made books about our science projects where we drew pictures and wrote text. We had a real life pioneer city when we learned about the history of Utah, and we learned to be good citizens by singing songs about our country. These experiences taught me what I needed to learn in a very fun memorable way.

Before reading this chapter I had never considered using the arts in ways like the teacher did while reading about slaves. I loved that she had them act out what she was talking about so that they could have an experience similar to those of the slaves. I also liked the idea of using background music. Music is such a powerful way of creating and expressing feelings, and can add dept to just about any area of instruction.

So What:

Having the arts be a constant part of my life growing up I believe was one of the reasons that I did so well in school. I was a shy student, but the arts gave me a way of expressing myself that I felt comfortable doing. When the arts were integrated in the classroom it also helped me to retain the information. My most favorite teachers in elementary school were the ones that frequently used the arts in their classroom. They were the classrooms in which I felt most comfortable. My least favorite were those that focused more on oral presentations, and book work. Because of this fact I want to be a teacher that frequently integrates art with the curriculum. I know the power it can have to give a child confidence, and that is something I want my students to be able to develop.

Now What:

Since I want to be a teacher that frequently integrates art I need to be creative and learn ways that I can effectively use the arts in a classroom. I need to be willing to go outside of the box and test new ideas that I may come up with, and not be afraid to fail. I want to learn all I can from those that are currently experts in art integration sot that when I have my own classroom I will be adequately prepared to give my students the best experience I can give.