Reflection #6 - Field

Wow!!  What a fun journey I have been on this semester in this class.  I have looked forward to coming to each class because I personally think that the arts are important, particularly music, and I have learned so many ways to incorporate the arts in my class.  I very much hope that in the future when I am hired as a teacher, I will not work at a school where the arts are hindered.  I think they're very important as studies have shown and plan on using them in my classroom.

Some of the things we did in field involved making a desktop organizer where the sixth graders were able to use their creativity a little bit and put their organizer together whichever way they wanted.  The students really seemed to enjoy that activity because it was so hands on and the students were able to pick and choose what colors they wanted and what way they wanted to cut out their cut outs.  

Another thing the sixth graders participated in during field was a theater / creative drama activity that we learned in class called "Mirroring".  The students LOVED this!  It was fun to have them partner up and use their creativity in their mirroring.  The task given to the students was to practice facing commands used in the military and other military positions with their partner who would mirror them.  Some of the boys were getting really creative down on the floor using an army crawl and some the girls were moving very gracefully with their arms.  It was so much fun to see that they were having fun.  I think that they will remember that lesson and that they had fun performing for their classmates at the end of it.

A third arts activity involved the arts and beliefs of the Japanese culture.  We taught the sixth graders how to make Japanese Origami paper cranes.  It was tricky to teaching them all together as a class, but I felt very surprised and...proud to see that almost every one of the students succeeded in following the steps I had taught for them and each had their own beautiful crane on their desks.

In the future, I definitely plan on using the activities that worked and the students enjoyed.  I think the theater games we played in class were so much fun and I think that the students would enjoy them as well.  I would have added more of them into our lessons, we just didn't have the time or leeway.  All in all, I have had a great experience in this class and I plan on continuing to learn more about teaching the arts in school which I know will only nourish my love for them as well!

Reflection # 5 - Dance

What?
I remember taking a creative movement acedemic class my first or second semester of college and I thought it was the weirdest thing ever.  But I learned in that class and in this lesson that it really works for some kids and it's really not that weird in schools when its done right.

So What?
In field, this week actually, Chris and I are planning a lesson using "flocking" with military positions used during WWII.  After spending time in our class I know that they'll really like it.

Now What?
It will take a lot of preparation and time to create lessons using dance, but I think that in the end they will be rewarding as the students will enjoy them and learn what has been taught.

And....
the group project was great.  Everyone participated and worked on our lesson.  It was fun!

Sorry this is so late!!!

Reflection #4 - Music

What?
I think it's very important that music should be included in the classroom.  Music is heard every day all over the world, I think it's important that students learn about it and how to appreciate it.  I learned a lot from creating this music lesson.  It's hard to create a song, even with the help of the tune of a folk song, and it's even harder to teach it!

So What?
I definitely plan on using lessons like these in my classroom someday.  I think it's a clever way to teach students how to remember things because we ALL know all the lyrics to our favorite songs and won't be forgetting them soon!  

Now what?
Now every time I hear a clever song with lyrics that could be used in my classroom I'm going to take note of it.  I plan on saving a bunch of cute songs to use in my classroom.  Now that I know how to use the USOE resources I'll have all the tunes for all the folk songs and can write lyrics to whatever I need to teach my students!

 And of course, it was a lot of fun working with Chris on this assignment.  She's a good worker!  She and I wrote the lyrics together using a book that I checked out from the Provo Library.  She's my field partner so we have to get used to teaching well together and I think we did great on our presentation! 

Reflection #3 - Drama

What?
The past two weeks weave learned about Drama in the classroom.  We learned a few fun and simple, Theatre Games, and what process Drama is.  I think it will be great to use these newly learned activities in the classroom because they're not hard, and they don't put pressure on the students - yet they're hands on and interactive.

So What?
I love the drama games.  I think we'll be playing "Who Started the Motion?", "Story as One" and "Alphabet Story".  Also "Mirrors" I feel is a great way to get students focused and "in tune".

Now What?
It's important to integrate drama with other curricular areas because it makes them FUN!  I think it's good for children to use creative drama while learning because it helps bring the content to life - in a literal sense.  When the actual students become what they're learning, I definitely think it will help them remember what they learn much better than just sitting and getting lectured to.

And....as far as the group presentation it went great.  It was a little tricky finding a book.  I think that we could have chosen a better book, but we made do with the one we found.  Ashley wasn't there the day of the presentation, so it was a little less interactive than we planned.  :/  But other than that, I think it went alright.  It makes reading the book so much more fun!  It really brings it to life for the students - I think students old and young will love it! 

Reflection #2: Visual Arts

What?

This week we learned about Visual Art.  It's one of the most commonly viewed types of art as...."art".  We learned of all the elements within Visual Art and how to define them, and what they can add to the artwork.  We also learned how the principles of art add to the artwork as well.

So What?

Knowing now what I do about visual art, as I teacher I can teach it too my students.  I think knowing about the elements and principles gives the artwork more depth and meaning.  I didn't know that much about visual art, and it means more now to me, so why wouldn't it mean more to my students?  Learning about art gives children a new way to express themselves, and a new way to look at life in general.

Now What?

Now that I have learned more about Visual Art and how it can be used in the classroom, I can use my Arts Journal for lots of ideas on how to incorporate it into lessons.  I've always really liked visual art, but after learning how long a person looks at a painting (only about 5 seconds!) I think it's important to point out the meaning of the artwork.  I feel like now when I look at Visual Art, I'll look deeper.  I'll actually look for the message the artist was trying to convey - because they took hours to make it, and it should be enjoyed by the world for more that just a few seconds a person.  I think it's important for students to look at Visual Art with this perspective.

And the group project went great.  Because I was quite busy this last week, the most contribution I made was the virtual handout.  I was the one who put it together.  The rest of the group met once before we presented and gave everyone assignments.  I feel that we worked great together, I just felt bad that I couldn't be there when they were meeting.  But we communicated and worked together well, definitely!  It was fun!  I would love to use these ideas and projects in class one day!
    
 

Reflection #1: The Arts and Me

What?

The arts.   I would say that the arts have always been a HUGE part of my life.  My father is a musician and my mother is a dancer, and I have inherited an immense love for both.  I took piano lessons off and on growing up and choir in high school.  I've always loved to draw and to paint too. 

The only art teacher I can remember in Elementary School, and middle school also, was Mrs. Anderson.  She was a total hippie, now that I remember!  She had long, red hair and loved her students' creativity.  She was a fun lady.  I think her unique appearance was what made me remember her, but she was always nice and encouraged us to be creative.

So What?

As a future teacher I hope to be able to incorporate my love for the arts into most of my subjects.  Music is a huge part of my life and I hope to use songs and instruments in my teachings.  Also, after having learned that students who are involved in the arts do better in all other subjects, I hope to have a time in my classroom where students can learn to express themselves through art so that they can improve in other subjects as well.

Now What?

As much as music and the arts have been a part of my life, I'm going to try and be more open to the other forms of art like drama and abstract art.  Just because music is my thing, doesn't mean that it will be my students' thing.  So I'm going to try to adapt myself this semester to enjoy all art.  I already do, for the most part, but I feel like if I can develop a love for the other forms too then I will better be able to reach out to my students and each of their individual talents, wants and needs.