week 15 reflection

This is the final blog for this class, and I am grateful to have participated in this class. I can now see that I would like to teach with some sort of art, drama, dance, or music in every day. This may be a little high of a benchmark for some, but i want to show the kids there is art in every subject. something that really stood out to me in field was the lack of arts and the mindset that it was too difficult. I think that it might be hard the first little while, but eventually it would become automatic. I need every advantage I can get if i am going to get a job in teaching.

week 14 reflection

What: I have seen what the arts could be like in my classroom. I like the idea of teaching arts integration.

So what: I have had the opportunity to see the different genres of art throughout the semester, and I can see after field that arts needs to be in almost every lesson. I am excited to teach the curriculum in a different way other that bookwork, worksheet, and just writing. I am really interested to see what my classroom would be like with the arts as a staple, and not just a rotation once a week.

Now what: I know that arts has played a big role in my life. Most of the things I remember in my school experience, were artistic in nature. I believe that for me I will be using the arts for almost every lesson. The arts makes connections that nothing else can.

week 13 reflection final week of field

What: we have been learning how the arts enhances lessons and wakes up the students minds.

So What: this last week of our field, my field partner and I have been busy teaching the kids songs, and art. I noticed that the students really enjoyed making a craft or singing a song. I have been able to introduce singing into that classroom. I sang about 4-5 songs. They were silly songs and patriotic songs, but all of the kids sang along. The teacher never sang any songs.

Now What: I can see through this field experience that I need to have some sort of art in all of my lesson plans. First of all it will break things up, and second it will keep the kids engaged during the day. I know that I have not had the chance to teach full time yet, but hopefully I can retain art in my classroom. I always enjoyed my art lessons in my school days. I can remember more information because of a song, or an art lesson that tied into the subject.

week 11 reflection 3rd week field

What: For this week we have been trying to bring art into our classroom by using music.

So What: I have been able to introduce music into the classroom I was assigned to for field. We sang a song about America I taught the kids how to use their voices properly, and how to sing the song in a round. We practiced for Monday, and sang it on Tuesday, they sang it really well. We also talked about the words and what they meant.
I really think the kids liked it because it was a change of pace for them.

Now What: I know that being out in the classroom and just having field are two different things, but our teacher does not feel comfortable with singing, or games. I got a few looks from our teacher while we were singing. I know that as a teacher I would like to have art in my classroom. The reason for this is that there is art in everything we do in a day there is math, history, science, reading all rolled into one day. A person will never just have an all math day where they only do math problems. A person will encounter many different subjects in a given day and often at the same time. I believe that art can help to tie in all of these subjects.

week 10 reflection 2nd week field

What: I have been learning about how a classroom works and how I could integrate art in my classroom.

So what: I have learned through one of our lessons about art, that you have to allow for creativity. The teacher was long on her lesson beforehand, we had to deal with equipment that didn't work and we did not have the time to finish. We were able to make the turkeys eventually. Using line, shape and texture we were able to make some fun projects. All of the kids loved the idea of being creative. It is interesting that each students personality comes out in their art. Some kids wanted to do the bare minimum and just finish. Some had to have it perfect and make it look like the example, and some turkeys were made very unique.

Now what: I can see a little clearer about how hard it can be to plan some type of art into your lesson. I can also see that once the decision is made to put art into a lesson, the students minds are awakened.
Our teacher is very good at keeping her classroom in order, but there is little to no art. I would be a little board in her classroom. I know that I have quite a lot to learn when it comes to teaching, but I know I want to be more rich in my lessons.

week 9 reflection

what: We have been in the field experience at our assigned 5th grade class.

So what: We have been able to observe that the 5th grade class that we are in, has only one art class a week. They go to a dedicated art teacher. This week the teacher was talking about texture. There are a lot of kids at this elementary that have some kind of art everyday. In the halls I can hear the practicing of several thanksgiving plays. There is also one student who plays an instrument every morning.
the sixth grade is putting on a play and practicing every afternoon.

Now what: Although I have not been able to teach a lesson about art yet, I would like to be able to implement an art in every lesson I can. whether it is a whole lesson, or just a side attraction, I believe that art is very stimulating to the brain.

week 8 reflection

what: Music is a type of expression. Music is tied to emotion. Music is a great tool learning. Music engages kids like no other method. When the mind is "turned on" and there is a positive emotional response, Memorization is enhanced. Who doesn't remember at least one song word for word, but cant remember there math test from the same time period?
So What: My goals as a teacher for music in my classroom, would be the use of music in memorization, and to teach about music. I have always like to sing with my kids. I like to create a song that is personal to them from an existing song. I think that wakes them up if they're not listening, and also cements in their head the concept I was singing about. I do not have a lot of music knowledge, but I would like to learn enough that I could teach it correctly.
Now what:I think that for me to be comfortable with teaching music in the classroom, I need to be comfortable with music. I don't have a lot of experience, but I do love it. I know that kids can learn while they are listening to music. If I can get my students to listen, sing,and make music of their own, then I know it can make a difference in my classroom. I have said it before with other blog entries, I am going to make a list of what each lesson is, what it needs to be good. I will ask where can I add music, drama, art, and dance.

week 7 refletion

This last week with our dance presentations, I learned that dance can really open up the creative mind and imagination, something the textbook could not otherwise do.

So what: I know I want to have some sort of creative arts for my classroom. I enjoyed the portions of dance that made me think about what I would do with only certain props or guide lines of instruction. I also liked the acting out of portions of a book with a team. it got more that one head involved and all of the presentations were very fun to watch. I think that just about any subject could be taught in a dance session.

Now what: I will prepare for a lesson and integrate an arts element into it. I really like the numbers of studies, as well as testimonials of teachers performing the arts in their classrooms. I know it can work for me, and I look forward to teaching this in my classroom.

week 6 reflection

What: I learned about the influence of dance on a subject and the fun I could have with it in my own classroom. I have learned that a dance period or time slot can be beneficial to a class. The Braindance stretch is a great way for kids to get there blood pumping and the wiggles out. Philosophically I thought about how I could change my class to actually dance or get up and move during a class period. I also like how that video was able to show the kids learning the same thing from dance as from a textbook. Kids need to be taken to a different place everyday I think I don't know how exactly that would happen, but a classroom can grow stagnant pretty quick.

So What: I would like to have a lesson that involves a lot of movement and is very creative. Field experience will be more interesting if you can move those kids around while teaching.

Now What: For me when I think of including dance or some fine art I think of making a checklist for every lesson. Knowing me I would forget or not think there is a way to include the arts. having a checklist for every lesson would help me to see if the lesson covers the standards adequately, is it fun, does it include a fine art. I would also need to think about how I can change a lesson plan to include elements of fine art in it.

week 5 reflection

What: I learned from developing the text was the ability to make a theatrical production using a childrens literature book. I liked the idea of going the extra mile to make a book more memorable. I also like how some of the other groups were able to introduce some of the same key themes using a totally different drama process.
So What: I liked the interview with several people up front to find a viewpoint of a character. It was a low risk way of getting a viewpoint of several students. I also liked the idea of turning out the lights and creating the ambiance of the book with sound.
Now What: I have seen how I could do it for a childrens book, now I can see how to change it too a social studies topic, English, Spelling, math, and science. With the interview technique I could use it on several different disciplines.

week 4 reflection

What: I have learned a lot of fun role playing, and acting games that I can use to introduce or supplement a lesson plan. I have never played those games before they were entertaining. So What: I think that the game of the interview with the little red riding hood crew was fun it got students to see a different point of view. That game could be good for an English, Art, or Social Studies lesson. I like the mirror activity as well it would be fun to build some unity in the classroom. I also like the different machines to create a fun atmosphere. Now what: I believe that Drama is another way of reaching out to all of your students, keeping fresh ideas, livening things up, and engaging those students who normally would not participate. I am convinced that English, Math, Science, Social Studies and everything else are not separate in the real world. Excellent teaching should incorporate many different disciplines at the same time.

week 3 reflection

What: I have learned that through the arts you can teach more than Proportion, Balance, Variety, Rhythm, Emphasis, and Unity. I never would have known about Booker T. Washington's story if I had not been in that class. That story about Booker T. Washington would be a perfect way to teach a social studies lesson. The Brooklyn Bridge would be another way to teach math or science. Chapter 7 is a great resource to get an idea started for teaching a lesson with the arts. a real hands on lesson is a lot easier if there is a starting point like in chapter 7.

So What: In the last class we had, we were able to see several ways of teaching while integrating the arts. Art invites so many levels into instruction, I want to try to make a criteria for my classes, that is almost like a checklist that allows me to make sure that some sort of art form is used. There is probably one out there already, but that would be nice to ensure a good art lesson. Play-dough, painting, children's books, acting, and field trips can only deepen learning.

Now What: The teacher in the video clip in Jordan School District was acknowledged by the district as being an outstanding teacher. He integrated art in his instruction. I got goose bumps thinking that I could be a teacher like that. I know that with budget cuts, arts are sadly shrinking. If there can be a way to introduce art into almost everything we do, I believe the students would greatly benefit from that.

Reflection #2

What: I have learned from the text is that there are many possible ways teach the arts in class. The arts in class is something that I want to try to incorporate anyway. From the class portion, I found that its not all that easy to get through your lesson plan if your rushed for time. creativity takes time to unfold. So What: That means that when I have a lesson I want to teach, I have to be able to have enough time blocked out so I can encourage creativity and not rush. I can also just try to be flexible and shorten some aspects of the lesson to fit my time frame. Now What: Being prepared in the classroom can be the difference between bad instruction and great instruction. I will prepare a lesson by having the state core standards and objectives met in my instruction. I will then write a lesson plan to satisfy the objective. Once I have an idea, I will collaborate with other teachers to see if I can improve on something for the class or for myself. finally I would go over the lesson to see if it will take up the right amount of time, and if it is engaging for the kids. My perspective has changed toward teaching a lesson, I thought I could just have background knowledge and teach the lesson, but that can create pacing issues, and incomplete lessons. By going through all of theses steps above I hope to have a better experience for myself and for my students. I have been through some bad lessons before and I know they could have been better through a complete lesson plan. That is what I hope to accomplish, great art instruction.

Reflection 1 The Arts and Me

What: My educational experience with the arts has not been that much. I have only been to a couple of school plays and some field trips that I don't really remember all that well. I did go to the ballet to get out of class one time, but I wasn't too interested. In my personal life, I have been to Les Miserables twice, Beauty and the Beast, the Shakespearean festival as well as many high school and community plays thanks to my wife. I have enjoyed them all and I thank my wife for the dates.
I did have a fun art teacher in High school "Mary", she always valued my art and made me believe that I had talent. As I have looked at the arts and ways to teach, I can see the arts is a really good way to integrate different disciplines into one lesson. I believe that if it is done right that it can enrich the lesson as well as reach students who normally wouldn't care about the subject.

So What: The arts has enriched my world by introducing stories that are part of the human experience. I was able to relate to the painter and what they were thinking ,the author and what they meant or the what the actor was trying to portray.
Some of the best teachers I had were able to help me see that I was smart in that subject. On the other end of the spectrum the worst teacher that I had was in 10th grade drafting. In 8th and 9th grade I really loved drafting and I thought I was good at it. This teacher convinced me that I didn't know what I was doing and I felt that I had no talent in that field anymore.
With these examples I feel it is vital to make the students realize that they are smart, and worth something. I want to be remembered as a good influence, not a dream killer.

Now what: As I look on the road before me to becoming a teacher, I already know my weaknesses. I need to be better organized, and I need to plan better. I would like to come away this semester with a better idea on how to be prepared to teach and integrate the arts.

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