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.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Friday, November 5, 2010
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
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
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
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.
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.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
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.
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.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
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.
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.
Friday, October 8, 2010
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
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
Friday, October 1, 2010
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.
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