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.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
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.
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.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
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.
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.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
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.
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.
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