Reflection #15

- Where am I heading with the Arts and Arts Integration?

What:

Thanks to Escalante's final assignment to compile an Art's Journal, I will have easy access to any and all ideas we shared throughout the course of this Creative Arts class. There were quite a few presentations where I don't think I would feel comfortable attempting to have my future students learn a topic in that way (such as any of the Red Hot Process Drama Tools).

So What:

Because we worked in groups and learned together how to use these tactics in everyday school subjects, my courage and intentions to use them have greatly increased. I am a teacher who will always see the positive possibilities of incorporating the arts into my classroom each and every day.

Now What:

As this semester draws to a close, I am even closer to realizing my dream to be a teacher and make a difference with those students who are fortunate enough to have been assigned me as their teacher. The creative Arts can be used as a quick "brain booster" as the most simplistic, and then move to the other side of the spectrum and be the lesson plan for an entire unit. Learning in new and creative ways is part of RAD teaching and the students who participate will be so much further along in every academic and emotional standing.

Long Live the Creative Arts! Thanks again for a wonderful, enlightening, and fun class!

Reflection #14

Reflection #14 Arts Integration in Teaching - How have I changed over the semester?

WHAT:

I feel I have actually done a complete 180 degree turn about in my feelings about Arts integration. Before this class, my experience has mainly been to observe my children's elementary teachers in how they include art in the classroom. It mainly consisted of arts and crafts items and a few songs here and there.

There is an Arts teacher in my family's elementary school, and I have been very disappointed in what she teaches to the students. It almost seemed like the art teacher only had a few good ideas, and for the remainder of the year the students would be asked to draw a picture of a topic for the month. For example, in February, the students would draw a picture of something to do with Valentines. In March, it would be St. Patrick's day, etc.

Because the students really did nothing more than draw every time they went to art, it didn't seem like the students were experiencing much more than that. ---(maybe they should've called the art teacher a creative arts teacher??)

SO WHAT:

I now see how each students teacher can integrate art into the regular curriculum and actually provide the students with not only a greater advantage to learning and appreciating the arts, but to learning the subject being taught with the integration as well.

NOW WHAT:

I have now changed to see how important it is to actually integrate the arts in the classroom daily rather than wait until the students are sent to their "specialty" class only once a week. Studies prove that integrating the arts actually helps students learn the material for long term.

Reflection #13

What:
It was very insightful to hear each partnership share some of their success stories and some of their disappointments with the entire class this week. It is finally sinking in that teaching does not always end up as you plan it. The more flexible you can be and the more you focus only on the most important aspects the better.
So What:
Writing specific lesson plans for our Cooperating teacher was not very easy because we needed to conform to her wishes and still incorporate social studies, and art into her writer's workshop time we were allotted. It turned out fine, but we couldn't do much movement activities since the teacher wanted the students to be writing.
Now What:
Now that I am more aware of how many various creative arts activities we can integrate into so many other subjects, I will be more likely to use it in my own classroom. I look forward to that time and seeing the success in teaching with the arts.

Last Field Reflection

What:
Although it was only a three week period of time, I didn't realize I would still get attached to the students. They had just recently started learning how to play the recorder, and I would love to return and hear how they are coming along in their playing.
So What:
I am beginning to realize that even a brief experience with the arts can make a difference in someone's life. Children respond so quickly to the arts in a positive way, and as a teacher, I need to capitalize on that precious time.
Now What:
Reflections on how my future classes will experience the arts changes constantly with every fun and novel idea I come across. But, however I choose to introduce or incorporate the arts into what the students are learning, one thing remains constant. There will be many experiences learning through creative arts methods.

Reflection #12

This week in field we showed our Digital Story created for social studies and Instructional Media. The topic was "Mountain Men and Tall Tales" This story was told through music and pictures only. We chose music from the following website: http://www.schools.utah.gov/curr/FineArt/Core_Curriculum/General/songbook.htm

The students were asked to watch this digital story about Mountain Men and to pay close attention since there would be an assignment for them to write their own Tall Tale after the lesson.

We then read/told them a story about Paul Bunyan from a book which illustrations were made with a woodcut technique. This art form was briefly talked about with the class.

The students also were VERY creative with their tall tales and we were able to hear some of the stories. About 8 students were chosen to read their tall tale in front of the class. Some of the students were able to use their words to create imagery very well.

My favorite was a man who would blow cheese out of his nose and the village was able to eat for 2 weeks. They didn't mind where the food came from. He also blew some cheese to the moon to get a pesky giant rat to leave their village and it followed the cheese trail to the moon. Great creativity!! Some children also drew sketches to go along with their story.

In my future classroom, I will take every opportunity to integrate the creative arts in all aspects of my teaching. Changing things up and pointing out artistic forms will benefit all the students. They need to feel safe in trying new things and exploring unknown territory- especially in the arts! Vive la arts!

Field Reflection #11

This past week was very educational with hands-on experience teaching 4th graders in ParkView Elementary School. The class is very social and although they are getting older, they still need to have a variety of activities happening each day.

One of my favorite activities was 5 minute dance party. The teacher will playthe "cha cha slide" on her ipod and the kids LOVE it. They do every movement the song asks them to...stomp your right foot. Now slide to the left. hop 5 times, cha cha...etc. The beat is very fun to hear and you can't help but move around when you hear it.

Some of our lessons we taught this week was about the Utah explorers. We had the children write obituaries about their assigned explorer, then we showed them examples of tombstones and how they represent the life of someone who has died. The children were placed into 6 groups and all helped make a tombstone to present to the class about their explorer.

It was very fun to see one particular group who pretended their tombstone was very heavy and they were acting like they were almost going to drop it during their presentation. All the tombstones were made on black paper and had at least one symbol drawn on it to represent an important event in their life. The students did a great job being creative.

Every day there are opportunities to use the creative arts in the classroom. I hope maybe we have helped the cooperating teacher increase a desire to do this as well.

First Field Reflection #10

What:
Meeting for class on Monday, and being in the elementary school 4th grade classroom on Wednesday was quite a switch. I enjoyed hearing all the ways to incorporate information to be learned into a song.
On Wednesday, Jessica and I were with our 4th graders from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. A full day with it being early out day. It was great to see an entire day of what a teacher has to go through. During the "morning meeting" all of the children sat in a circle in an open area in the back of the classroom and part of the meeting was that the children had been assigned to come up with actions to go along with a song written about the water cycle.
So What:
During this water cycle song, the children were quite creative coming up with motions to go along with the concepts of evaporation, condensation and precipitation. Some came up with a partner (which enabled some students who may normally have been too shy to come up alone to more easily participate ). I loved it!
Now What:
I truly think music in the classroom has an important role in helping students learn in every aspect. It is so much easier to connect information to something if there is music attached to it. I substituted first grade today (friday) and even sang a song to the tune "If you're happy and you know it" with the following words..."The first thing on your paper is your name, (repeat), If it doesn't have your name, then they all look the same. The first thing on your paper is your name." Another one I sung to have the children go to sit on the carpet was "Everybody have a seat, have a seat, have a seat. Everybody have a seat on the floor. Not on the ceiling, not on the door, everybody have a seat on the floor." Both songs worked wonderfully and the children would sing along.
I plan to continue this practice when I soon have my own classroom!

~JaNae

Music Integration in the Classroom (Reflection #8)

What:
Music is a very integral part of learning. There are so many studies that show how important music can be to brain development and retention. I have always appreciated music in many forms and find myself singing quite often...not necessarily always on key :) But always with my heart. When you pair music or a song with any topic you are teaching, the children have a much greater chance of remembering it long term. For example, I can name all fifty states because of the song I learned over 30 years ago.
So What: I will keep music in my classroom in all aspects. I love when teachers play classical music or just instrumental music at appropriate times in the classroom. Even if I am not a fantastic performer, I can still sing along with a prerecorded song, and so can my students. We will have a great time and learn much along the way.
I have also started collecting sound and song mp3's from you and any other free sites. It is so amazing what we can find at our fingertips on the internet. The sky is the limit to our creativity.
Now What:
One goal I plan to attain is to learn how to play the guitar. My sister-in-law takes her guitar with her to all family gatherings and can easily get people to sing along. (especially at family campouts...) One of my daughter's second grade teachers also played her guitar and it was a very inspiring to watch the children and how they behaved, and participated in the songs. The students enjoyed evey bit of that learning.

Reflection #7 Creative Dance Week #2

What:
I didn't realize until now how literally any book you read can have dance and movement brought into the mix. One of the story presentations in our class was "Amazing Grace." It was about a little girl who wanted to be Peter Pan in the school play, but others were discouraging her from her goals. Her family helped her to not give up and she ended up getting the part because she gave her best effort. I wouldn't have considered that book for this assignment, but the group did a great job having each group act out emotions Grace felt at different times in the book.
So What:
I am realizing more and more with each creative arts class lesson that there are many, many ways to incorporate the arts, including movement and dance in everything that is taught in the classroom. Studies have proven that using the arts enhances education and helps students learn more effectively.
Now What:
My students will know that the arts will be an integral part in their learning process in my classroom. They will know it is the norm and accept and enjoy when I teach topics enhanced by using the many options of creative arts.

Reflection #6 Creative Dance I

What:
I hate to admit that before learning and reading about dance in the classroom (and in the book), I too, thought this part of class was going to be learning dances like the Virginia Reel. Although I do like learning those types of dances, I am happily surprised to know that interpretive dance and just moving your body is all incorporated as dance in the classroom.
So What:
Preparing for our presentation and participating in all the other presentations will be so much fun. It is great to learn new things, and having dance be a part of the learning process is great. Everyone can have an opportunity to branch out in a comfortable and nonthreatening environment.
Now What:
To incorporate this new knowledge and skills into my practice will take me being aware of future opportunities. My cooporating teacher seems to be pretty open to letting us take the reigns in her classroom and I look forward to using creative arts, and possibly dance during my field experience.

Reflection #5 Process Drama from Text

What:
It was fun to come up with so many ideas from the process drama options to include when reading a book to students. Some books presentations in our class had quite a few ideas and I was nearly overwhelmed at first because I was thinking, "How would I ever get through an entire book and have the students remember the beginning of the story when we have added in so many activities all throughout the telling of this book?" I appreciate you reminding us that there may be many times when using just one process drama will set in stone the message from the book will be clear to the students.
So What:
I especially loved Decision Alley, Collective Role Play, Mantle of the Expert, Thought Tracking, and Interview. I can easily see myself using these tools for more effective teaching. I did print out the 21 Red Hot Process Drama Tools so I can refer to them when I want to make my teaching more exciting and memorable.
Now What:
I definitely see the huge value of using process drama in many, if not all subjects being taught. Any book being read to a class can be set down for a moment so an experience can happen within each student that will enable them to connect with the message of the book, or the topic being taught. Experiencing process drama on a regular basis will make my classroom a safe, inviting place where ideas are learned in more ways than just memorizing. Thanks for sharing this valuable knowledge with us future teachers!
~JaNae

Reflection #4 Drama

What:

I never realized how many different aspects drama can be incorporated into teaching. I loved that through drama you can slowly make students feel comfortable enough to perform in front of their peers. It can be used in social studies, health, art, science and every other topic. Even math.

So What:

Some of the activities I will most likely use are: Interview or thought tracking, pantomime, Guided imagery/visualization, Freeze frame, and Narration. These are the tools I could easily introduce to my class because they come naturally to me. I could easily explain and model them to my class and then enjoy watching them learn while "playing."

Now What:

I plan to use some type of drama activity weekly (at least) when I begin teaching my students. This is such a great way to cement a concept into students' minds while enjoying the time spent with each other. I have printed out the 21 Red Hot Process Drama tools on one page and plan to refer to it often (from my Creative Arts Reference Binder I am compiling) as I look ahead to future lessons.

Reflection #3

What:

After reviewing all the art principles (and elements last week), I have noticed that you can recognize many principles used in every specific piece of artwork. I enjoyed the activity where you placed cards with paintings on them from "Picturing America." At first I was nervous I wouldn't pick out the correct one to show proportion. Then you explained how everyone's choices could be justified to show proportion in one way or another. Then my strategy changed to be just pick a picture and then analyze it to find where this artist used balance, or variety, etc. All of them were perfect examples. So fun.

When a picture book is being read to a child, many times the child or the reader will touch something they see on a page. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the reader could not only point out items that enhance the story, but also enlightens about the art principles and elements used throughout each picture in the book? Books can be touched (unlike real paintings in an art gallery) and touching certain spots can make showing each art element more clearly understood.

So What:

Before reading a book to my students, I will have already chosen books with engaging pictures on many pages and also be ready to point out many art principles and elements the artists used. Eventually the students will be able to point out these principles and recognize them on their own.

Now What:

The stories in books are enjoyed time and time again, as are the pictures which make the storis come to life and we connect with them. Each time a book is read, and re-read, it can be enjoyed and remembered for all of it's qualities, especially and including the exquisite artwork.

~JaNae

Reflection 2: Visual Arts I

WHAT have I learned about visual art - from both the text and class?
No two projects are alike, and that should expected. I love that there are so many vast areas of art to experience throughout your whole life.

SO WHAT does that mean for me as a teacher?
Children need to experience at a young age (and continue learning) that it is not merely a love or hate decision, but art should be considered for it's aesthetic features. They willl be able to "read" art and notice how artists use color, shapes, and line in nonliteral ways.
As a person?
Until I can "read" art, I will not be able to pass this knowledge along to others in my life, such as my husband and my children.

NOW WHAT -How will I prepare to effectively teach my future students? How has my perspective changed? How will this change the way I teach my future students?

Taking full advantage of this class is a great step in preparing to effectively teach my future students. My perspective has been reawakened to the arts and how much fulfillment can be experienced through the arts.

I definitely plan to include the arts in every subject taught in my classroom. The book talked about your environment should be aesthetically pleasing in that it is organized, and colorful...but not too busy...
When working on art projects, I will provide a few examples as references, so each student will have suggestions, but not be required to finish a project exactly the same as every other student. My praise will include art vocabulary. At times I will play music without lyrics
and always have each student sign their own art.

These ideas and many others have re-inspired me to always incorporate art into every aspect of my teaching. I look forward to my creative ideas on how I will implement this goal.

Reflection #1

What: (My Personal Experience with the Arts)
I have always had an appreciation for the arts. At a young age I began to learn how to play the piano. Also, in school we had art integrated throughout my elementary years. in fourth grade we had a project where we studied birds. Part of the unit entailed us choosing a bird, and then drawing a picture. I thoroughly enjoyed drawing what a Western tanager looked like. We performed musicals in fifth and sixth grades. I was a mermaid in a lagoon in Peter Pan, and danced the charleston in “Thoroughly Modern Milie.” I still enjoy singing along with the songs whenever I hear them. I gained the knowledge that learning in school with an integrated arts program benefited me as a child. I was a very good student and I have always enjoyed learning.

Some new ideas I gained from chapters 1-3 were that the arts can be incorporated in all the learning theories presented. These theorists include Maslow, Gardener, Piaget, and Erikson. Another idea shown was clarifying the misconception that there is left-right brain dichotomy and that their is only a window of time between the ages of 4 and 10 years where children learn the best. Every age is a great age to learn!

So What:
Because of the positive impact the arts had in my life, I have strived to incorporate the arts in many aspects of my children's lives. All four of my children are learning to play the piano and one other instrument of their choice. My oldest daughter has had great experiences with her orchestra and drama teachers in jr. high. These teachers have a love for what they do and it is passed onto their students. My goal is to also instill a love and appreciation for the arts in each student I come in contact with. My least favorite teachers were those who were burned out and it showed in their lack of conviction in what and how they taught. As a future teacher I want to make sure I take each opportunity with each student I come in contact with and offer them an example of how to enjoy the arts.

Now What:
In the near future as I certify to become a teacher (to students and include my own children), I will plan to use the following ideas to prepare to effectively teach and integrate the arets.

• Use the internet to introduce many places we could never physically visit on our own. For example, there is a virtual tour of the Louvre available.
• Incorporate the arts in as many subjects I can as I help the students experience learning
• Continue to be aware the "Creativity Killers" and stay away from mimicking those behaviors when I teach any subject.
• Instead, I will utilize "Creative Thnking Boosters" such as the following:

-Take a break with music, physical stretching, bending, or dancing

-Be open to surprises

-Don't always take the first idea, sleep on it

-Brainstorming