Well, our Compass Rose Lesson was awesome. I was so nervous to start teaching but I think it went really well. We taught a lesson every day this week in Social Studies. The students loves our rap about the Compass Rose and I think it will help them remember what it's all about. We also had each students color and make their own Compass Rose. The teacher had the handout and let us use it in our lesson plan. The students enjoyed making a Compass Rose to their individual liking and they were learning as they went along.
Throughout the week we taught them about latitude and longitude, map legends and symbols, and played a review game. Katie and I got to give the students a test based on what only we had taught them since we taught the whole unit. Each student also had to know each of the six surrounding states of Utah so I made up a rap to help them remember it. It goes:
There are six states all around
Some are up and some are down
Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado too,
New Mexico and Arizona how about you?
Then there's Nevada, he is to the West.
And those are the six states for the test.
They really enjoyed the rap and rhyming has always been a great tool to help me remember important information so I wanted to see if it would help them. Most of the students remembered the six states or only missed one or two on the final test. I was so proud of them!
From this week's experience I've learned a lot. I want to be able to use the talents I have to help my students learn. Rhyming has come very easy to me and I love to write short songs or poems about people or topics. I want to incorporate and encourage that in my classroom. I also wanted to express how much I know art integration is very possible in core curriculum. It often doesn't take very much extra time to incorporate it and the students learn so much more becuase they are engaged and doing hands on activities.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Reflection #10
My first week with field experience was pretty good. We met our cooperating teacher (Mrs. Schino) and her frouth grade class on Tuesday and observed them for a little bit. Mrs. Schino is from the East coast and not afraid to speak her mind. I was a little bit nervous about that at first but not so much anymore. Katie and I were assigned to Willow Springs Elementary. It's in Draper in a very nice neighborhood. It is a very nice elementary school and I can already tell there is a lot of parent support.
The first week was strictly observation (thank goodness). I wanted to be able to see how the class functioned and how the dynamics were. This week in Social Studies they learned about where they live including the planet, hemisphere, conitinent, state, county, and city. Mrs. Schino has put us in charge of teaching her students map skills. I'm a little nervous because I'm not an expert in that area but I'll learn a lot with them. Fourth grade is the year you make salt maps of the state so Katie and I are pretty excited about that. It's one of our favorite things from fourth grade.
Our first lesson next week will be about the Compass Rose. We are going to incorporate a small art project and introduce the topic with a rap. We think this will help engage the students. I know the students really enjoy art and they have the opportunity to have an art lesson every Thursday from a separate art teacher. I think they are very blessed to have that opportunity because not every school has that luxury. The art teacher also happens to be one of the student's in Mrs. Schino's class' mom.
For right now Katie and I have those main ideas for integrating the arts. Mrs. Schino has been using the arts in her persuasuve writing assigmnent about turkeys. There are some very artistic children in the class. Integrating the arts into our lesson plans will be very possible and I think the students will really enjoy them.
The first week was strictly observation (thank goodness). I wanted to be able to see how the class functioned and how the dynamics were. This week in Social Studies they learned about where they live including the planet, hemisphere, conitinent, state, county, and city. Mrs. Schino has put us in charge of teaching her students map skills. I'm a little nervous because I'm not an expert in that area but I'll learn a lot with them. Fourth grade is the year you make salt maps of the state so Katie and I are pretty excited about that. It's one of our favorite things from fourth grade.
Our first lesson next week will be about the Compass Rose. We are going to incorporate a small art project and introduce the topic with a rap. We think this will help engage the students. I know the students really enjoy art and they have the opportunity to have an art lesson every Thursday from a separate art teacher. I think they are very blessed to have that opportunity because not every school has that luxury. The art teacher also happens to be one of the student's in Mrs. Schino's class' mom.
For right now Katie and I have those main ideas for integrating the arts. Mrs. Schino has been using the arts in her persuasuve writing assigmnent about turkeys. There are some very artistic children in the class. Integrating the arts into our lesson plans will be very possible and I think the students will really enjoy them.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Reflection #9
I had been looking forward to this section of Creative Arts all semester. Like I've said before, I love music. I had so much fun coming up with a song to teach the class that coincided with the book we chose. This project came the easiest to me and I've learned a lot about the abilities I have in music and can implement in the classroom. I really enjoy writing rhymes and want my future students to be able to use music to create poetry, write stories, learn math, and science, and any other curriculum they can. I know how much music has helped me and I want to encourage that in anyone I can.
From the presentation I learned the importance of dress rehearsal. : ) I didn't even think about having all of those papers and the affect it would have and distraction it would be on the lesson. I should have thought about the mechanics of the lesson but it didn't cross my mind. My lesson is learned and I will know that better for next time. It was great to have an actual instrument during our presentation as well and I would like to be able to invite guests to come share their musical talents at least once or twice during a school year.
My next step is to continue to use everything I have learned in this class so far as best as I can. Music is one of my favorite arts and it can be incorporated into anything. It crosses over to dance, art, drama, and everything in between. I want to be an advocate for the arts and continue to learn what I can so so I can enrich my classroom with them
From the presentation I learned the importance of dress rehearsal. : ) I didn't even think about having all of those papers and the affect it would have and distraction it would be on the lesson. I should have thought about the mechanics of the lesson but it didn't cross my mind. My lesson is learned and I will know that better for next time. It was great to have an actual instrument during our presentation as well and I would like to be able to invite guests to come share their musical talents at least once or twice during a school year.
My next step is to continue to use everything I have learned in this class so far as best as I can. Music is one of my favorite arts and it can be incorporated into anything. It crosses over to dance, art, drama, and everything in between. I want to be an advocate for the arts and continue to learn what I can so so I can enrich my classroom with them
Friday, October 22, 2010
Reflection #8
Music encompasses many things. It involves instruments, voices, or both. It is rhythm, offbeats, notes, full of dynamics, choruses, hooks, refrains, or none of the above. It is one of my favorite ways to express myself. It is very important to be incorporated into any classroom of any ages. It is very influential and has been a big part of my life. I was introduced to music since the beginning of my life. My dad plays the guitar and both parents sing. I grew up on the oldies and soon came to love other genres of music. I was introduced to the flute and began lessons in fourth grade. It taught me discipline, practice, and a passion for the arts.
MY goals for using music with my future students is to allow each of them to have a fair opportunity to take advantage of music. I like hip hop, rap, alternative, classical, oldies but goodies, r&b, rock and many others. I want to introduce them to all kinds of music. I want my students to if at all possible, learn to play an instrument. There are so many benefits! Music helped me in school. I learned good discipline and study habits. I learned about rhythm, dynamics, D.S. al Coda's, harmony, melody, notes, tone, and so much more. I became a part of my music when I played. I soon got into singing and that is one of my favorite things to do. I sing when I'm sad, happy, excited, angry, pretending to be famous when I'm in the shower, and performing in front of people. It is a great way to release stress and weighing emotions. I want that to be an outlet for my students as well.
To integrate it properly into curriculum I want to continue to know the popular music but keep my roots in the other good stuff I know. I will help them develop a passion for music by making it an everyday occurrence. I will introduce them to instruments and share my personal experiences with them. They will love music because they will understand and become part of it.
MY goals for using music with my future students is to allow each of them to have a fair opportunity to take advantage of music. I like hip hop, rap, alternative, classical, oldies but goodies, r&b, rock and many others. I want to introduce them to all kinds of music. I want my students to if at all possible, learn to play an instrument. There are so many benefits! Music helped me in school. I learned good discipline and study habits. I learned about rhythm, dynamics, D.S. al Coda's, harmony, melody, notes, tone, and so much more. I became a part of my music when I played. I soon got into singing and that is one of my favorite things to do. I sing when I'm sad, happy, excited, angry, pretending to be famous when I'm in the shower, and performing in front of people. It is a great way to release stress and weighing emotions. I want that to be an outlet for my students as well.
To integrate it properly into curriculum I want to continue to know the popular music but keep my roots in the other good stuff I know. I will help them develop a passion for music by making it an everyday occurrence. I will introduce them to instruments and share my personal experiences with them. They will love music because they will understand and become part of it.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Reflection #7
My perspective hasn't changed much since last class. I still feel very strongly about incorporating the arts into my curriculum and especially dance. I really enjoyed the presentations and I had a lot of fun being a participant. As the books were being read I also thought of other ideas and how I would use the books for other movement activities. If it's possible I would like to have gym time with my students every day for half an hour. If that's not possible we could use the gym and the classroom and adapt. I know movement is very important for children academically but it's also a great tool for them to have emotionally. It's a way to release emotions and stress. I felt a lot better after class because I felt a release of some of the stress I've had from everything that is due and activities that are going on in the program. I want dance and music to have that same affect as students.
I want to teach my future students that no matter your size, shape, color, or background, you can dance. I love to dance and I love all types of music and I want my students to find their passion of the arts. The more I expose them to the different types the more likely they are to find it. I also want them to learn that taking advantage of that will help them with school. It will help them focus more and get better grades but it will also help break social barriers and build friendships.
I really enjoyed this unit and I am very excited to implement dance into my class. I become a different person when I'm dancing. I am insta-happy (not that I'm not usually happy but it's a quick fix when I'm not) and I can express what I'm feeling through dance. I'm not a professional but that's the beauty of dance. Anyone can do it and it doesn't matter if you're good or bad. There are different styles, any kind of music you want to dance to you can, and you can do it at home, with friends, or in front of a mirror by yourself. : )
I want to teach my future students that no matter your size, shape, color, or background, you can dance. I love to dance and I love all types of music and I want my students to find their passion of the arts. The more I expose them to the different types the more likely they are to find it. I also want them to learn that taking advantage of that will help them with school. It will help them focus more and get better grades but it will also help break social barriers and build friendships.
I really enjoyed this unit and I am very excited to implement dance into my class. I become a different person when I'm dancing. I am insta-happy (not that I'm not usually happy but it's a quick fix when I'm not) and I can express what I'm feeling through dance. I'm not a professional but that's the beauty of dance. Anyone can do it and it doesn't matter if you're good or bad. There are different styles, any kind of music you want to dance to you can, and you can do it at home, with friends, or in front of a mirror by yourself. : )
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Reflection #6
I am so excited about incorporating creative dance into my curriculum as a teacher. I never realized how many elements were involved and how much children can learn through dance. It is important to use these skills through dance because the children are able to use creativity, motor skills, team work, unity, rhythm, and listening skills. They are also able to follow multiple directions. I'm also a big fan of creative dance because the children are able to expend more energy and get their blood flowing to increase brain productivity for learning.
As we worked in class I was able to better understand how children develop physically. We talked about the order that they learn physical skills like galloping, running, jumping, hopping, and sliding. I also learned about how dance can increase coordination.It was also good to talk about keeping the class in close range as you were giving directions to keep them on task. I learned good techniques for bringing your class back together and keeping their attention. I also learned about keeping good pacing and how important that is for keeping children's attention and on task.
For next week and for field these experiences will be very important. I will know how to better manage the children and to keep them interested during the creative dance activities. I am also excited about the different games and elements that I can incorporate into the dance activities. I will teach rhythm and counting because I think those will also be great introductions into the music activities that will follow.
To incorporate these knowledge and skills it will take practice. Field will be very important because I can learn what works and what doesn't. I can also perfect lesson plans and activities. I know it is also very important to be excited about the activities. If you're not excited they won't be excited either. I am also going to let them come up with their own ideas and create their own dances and techniques. That is the great thing about creative dance. You can assert your own creativity.
As we worked in class I was able to better understand how children develop physically. We talked about the order that they learn physical skills like galloping, running, jumping, hopping, and sliding. I also learned about how dance can increase coordination.It was also good to talk about keeping the class in close range as you were giving directions to keep them on task. I learned good techniques for bringing your class back together and keeping their attention. I also learned about keeping good pacing and how important that is for keeping children's attention and on task.
For next week and for field these experiences will be very important. I will know how to better manage the children and to keep them interested during the creative dance activities. I am also excited about the different games and elements that I can incorporate into the dance activities. I will teach rhythm and counting because I think those will also be great introductions into the music activities that will follow.
To incorporate these knowledge and skills it will take practice. Field will be very important because I can learn what works and what doesn't. I can also perfect lesson plans and activities. I know it is also very important to be excited about the activities. If you're not excited they won't be excited either. I am also going to let them come up with their own ideas and create their own dances and techniques. That is the great thing about creative dance. You can assert your own creativity.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Reflection Week #5
There are many benefits to creating a Process Drama. The students are able to glean several different important skills. I learned about the importance of making books come to life and using them to enhance critical thinking as well as giving the students the opportunity to apply literature and subject matter to their lives. I especially like the idea for literature in the History genre because it can take less interesting or unappealing topics and make them more exciting for students. It is important to be creative and to plan well for the Process Drama you will be doing. A variety of activities is also important to keep the children continuously interested.
I really liked the other presentations and being able to have a visual idea of other activities is important for me. I learned it's very exciting to give opportunities for students to learn to work together in a group on one task. I also learned how many ways one subject or story can apply to students and encourage opinions and different perspectives. My favorite thing about Process Drama is that it makes a story real. Sometimes I actually felt like I was a part of the story and it made the anticipation for the end really exciting.
From what I've learned I would like to implement several ideas in my teaching. I really liked the alphabet story telling. That activity will encourage vocabulary as well as learning the different types of words like nouns, adverbs, and adjectives. I will also incorporate the Process Drama in the classroom for books about History. I had so much fun creating the lesson plan for the group project and I think students will really enjoy the music, questions, and many other ways to analyze and apply a book.
To prepare to teach and integrate creative drama in the classroom I will make lesson plans now and write down ideas that I have so I can use them in the future. I will also be more aware of the literature available to teach young students. I want to continue to be excited about using creative drama in the classroom so I can model that to the children and help them be excited. My goal is to help the children be involved in literature and be able to express their creativity through the arts.
Reflection #5
What did you learn from developing a Process Drama from text? What did you learn from the other team presentations? So What drama ideas will you try to implement in your teaching? Now What - How will you prepare to teach and integrate creative drama in your teaching?
I really liked the other presentations and being able to have a visual idea of other activities is important for me. I learned it's very exciting to give opportunities for students to learn to work together in a group on one task. I also learned how many ways one subject or story can apply to students and encourage opinions and different perspectives. My favorite thing about Process Drama is that it makes a story real. Sometimes I actually felt like I was a part of the story and it made the anticipation for the end really exciting.
From what I've learned I would like to implement several ideas in my teaching. I really liked the alphabet story telling. That activity will encourage vocabulary as well as learning the different types of words like nouns, adverbs, and adjectives. I will also incorporate the Process Drama in the classroom for books about History. I had so much fun creating the lesson plan for the group project and I think students will really enjoy the music, questions, and many other ways to analyze and apply a book.
To prepare to teach and integrate creative drama in the classroom I will make lesson plans now and write down ideas that I have so I can use them in the future. I will also be more aware of the literature available to teach young students. I want to continue to be excited about using creative drama in the classroom so I can model that to the children and help them be excited. My goal is to help the children be involved in literature and be able to express their creativity through the arts.
Reflection #5
What did you learn from developing a Process Drama from text? What did you learn from the other team presentations? So What drama ideas will you try to implement in your teaching? Now What - How will you prepare to teach and integrate creative drama in your teaching?
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