Reflection #15

What: This week's blog, which just happens to be our last week of school (woo hoo!), is about where I am heading as far as art integration is concerned.  

So What: Throughout my field experience journey, I have learned many things.  I have learned that some teachers LOVE art and some definitely do NOT. Some teachers love math and some love other subjects.  I have learned that each teacher has their OWN specialty and excel in different areas.  This, I have learned, is why teachers collaborate and work together.  They work together because some teachers really do need help in some areas, but at the same time they could be amazing in other subjects.  Art is a subject that not too many teachers are fantastic at.  Most teachers really have to work hard at incorporating art into their classroom.  It takes a lot of work, just like teaching math, english, or any other subject.  Something else I have learned through my experience is that teachers can teach one lesson while teaching 3 subjects at the same time.  A math project could involve math, art, and language arts.  This is such an awesome thing!

Now What: Something I plan on doing is involving multiple subjects into my lessons.  I don't want to just teach math when math time comes around in class.  I want to involve the children's creativity and their imaginations. I want my classroom to be filled with my students work and projects they have worked on all year.  Most of all, I want my students to understand that I feel strongly about every subject, not just one or two.

Reflection #14

What: Art in the classroom... Is there time for it in the classroom and is it worth it to make the time for art?

So What: My cooperating teacher at Edgemont Elementary was not very good at incorporating art into the classroom, but she was also not opposed to the idea of putting art in the classroom. She has realized that the students learn SO much more through art, and enjoy class so much more when they are able to do art.  One of the ways we incorporated art into the classroom was through a Reader's Theater.  Our lessons, during the 2 weeks, were about the events leading up to the American Revolution so we decided to find a Reader's Theater about those events, and low and behold, we found something that fit what we were teaching perfectly!  It something about the Stamp Act, Tea Act, Boston Tea Party, the Boston Massacre, etc... It was great!  And, the best part was that it had 26 parts, exactly how many students were in the class.  We practiced this play for an entire week and the students performed it on Friday for other students and a few parents.  We helped the students project their voices, get into character, and really get a sense of the time period they were acting out.  It was 100% successful!

Now What: I think art is such an amazing thing and I really enjoyed listening to other people's way of integrating art into the classroom during class today.  I hope that creating my art journal will encourage me to put art ideas into my journal and keep it updated and filled with ideas that I find enjoyable and what students would find enjoyable as well.  

Back to Classes- Reflection #13

I am blogging today because I forgot to blog last week since I was out of town all of Thanksgiving week.  I wanted to talk about my overall experience in field.  

I was really impressed with myself when it came to teaching, and even surprised myself a little bit.  I expected to be scared and nervous while teaching, and instead I was excited and ready to teach the students the information I had been asked to share with them.  Something I learned while teaching is that kids love any kind of interactive lesson.  They love when they are up and moving, and really experiencing the material being taught.  The taxing activity we did with the students (we taxed them each day to help them understand the different taxes the colonists experienced) was an absolute HIT.  They loved it!  They got so upset any time we took money (which was fake), you would've thought it was money they had worked really hard for.  

Teaching fifth grade was a real treat, in my opinion.  Fifth graders are the type to not show emotion in fear that others may make fun of them, but they really do care about you (as a teacher) and want to build a relationship with you.  I enjoyed my fifth grade class much more than I thought I would and it's gotten me very interested in seeing how I'll like the younger grades.  

November 21, 2010

This past week in class was great!  We incorporated art into our lesson and we ended up using it for a few lesson plans (a few days).  Mine and my partners assignment was to teach social studies for 5 lesson plans and incorporating art in social studies can be difficult, but we made it happen, and made it so all of the students LOVED it.  

The American Revolution is what we've been teaching the kids for the last couple weeks, and something that we really wanted to find was a Reader's Theater about the American Revolution.  Well, since the Internet has everything anyone could ask for, we were able to find to one that went along perfectly with what we had been teaching.  When we told the students we would be doing a Reader's Theater they became so excited and really got into character.  We practiced everyday for 5 days and then performed the play on Friday for 2 classes and any parents who wanted to come.  The boys wore colonial hats and the girls wore aprons.  It was amazing.  

I truly believe that these students learned 100 times more by doing the Reader's Theater than if we would have just stood up at the front of the class and lectured.  It was something that they could get excited about and look forward to.  

Reflection #11

This past week has been another really great week in field.  My partner (Aubrey) and I have started teaching and have already taught 3 times.  The subject we have been given is the Stamp Act and the Boston Tea Party, and then everything in between as well.  I've never been a huge Social Studies fan, but teaching 5th graders is really fun.  They don't care to know every detail, and the information is explained very basically.  I think if high school students were taught the same way as elementary students (in Social Studies) then our high school graduating classes would know more about our countries history (and other countries histories).  

One of our lessons that we did was we gave each student 15 tootsie rolls. Then we told them that they were the colonists and we were the British Parliament-we would be taxing them on certain things.  We taxed them on what color hair they had, what they were wearing, what gender they were, etc.  The students got really into this lesson and got very upset.  We explained to them that this is what the colonists felt like.  They were being taxed on things that they didn't feel were right.  They were being treated unfairly and poorly.  

I've really enjoyed teaching the 5th graders in my class and have learned so much from them and from teaching them.  They're a great bunch of kids and they behave wonderfully.  I can't wait until next week!

Reflection #10

Since we're in field now I'm just going to blog without the what, so what, and now what. I've been in field for 4 days now, and it's great. There's so much information to take in and so many things to learn from my field teacher, Mrs. Bishop. Mrs. Bishop is a 5th grade teacher and this is her 16th year teaching. She's enthusiastic about teaching and loves her students to death. She really enjoys being in the classroom and being around kids all day, which takes a lot of patience, which she definitely has.
Something I have noticed, however, about the class, is that there isn't a ton of art. They focus a lot on math (an hour to an hour and a half every day) and on language arts. I have only been there from 8 am until noon so they may do more art after lunch. They also have one day a week where they go to an "art" class with an actual art teacher. They went today and they were really excited when it was time to go to art, which is a great thing. It's too bad that it's only once a week, but I guess that's better than never.
I look forward to learning more about Mrs. Bishop's class and learning ways that I feel comfortable teaching.

Reflection #9

What: This week (as in yesterday) we presented the songs we created and taught them to the entire class. Something I learned from doing this activity is that people remember things better when the information is put in to a song. There are many people who know the 50 states because of the "50 States" song, or prime numbers because they have been placed in a song, and so on. Music leaves such a large imprint in our minds and helps us remember things we learned weeks, months, and maybe years ago.
So What: Something I would really like to do when I'm a teacher is either make songs about main subjects or find songs that have already been made. When teaching about the presidents of the United States, a song would be really helpful. Or, learning about the water cycle is something that is hard to remember, and if a song was created about it (like Matt Jensen's group) then students (and myself) are more likely to remember the cycle. When students learn a song they sometimes don't even realize they are learning something new, but later when asked a question about it they can refer to the song.
Now What: The next steps for me would have to be to save any song I come across that teaches about something that would be taught in school, regardless of the grade. Also, I would like to experiment and try teaching songs to the students whom I will be student teaching. I will have many opportunities to do this while I still have 4 semesters of being in the schools. I am truly a believer in teaching students songs to remember information. I have experienced it first-hand and know, without a doubt, that it works (probably better than any other method).

Reflection #8

What: Music is something that should always be included in the classroom because of the spirit it brings.  Classical or peaceful music can calm a classroom so quickly and can also help students concentrate on their assignment.

So What: There are many ways I would like to use music in my future classroom.  One is during transitions while in the classroom.  When students transition from one activity to the next sometimes there is a lot of noise and commotion.  If as a teacher I were to put music that was quiet and calming, students would more likely be quiet and transition better. Another way music can be used in the classroom is when digital stories or vidcasts are made.  Using music in these kinds of instances help bring the mood of the video.  Students are able to capture the essence of something through the music (ex: somber, exciting, war-time, etc...). 

Now What: To prepare to do these things in my classroom I hope to really take advantage of times when teachers of my own play music during class. Also, I want to be on the lookout for music that helps me concentrate and get my assignments done, as well as music that helps calm me.  Anytime I hear a song that I like I want to download it to my computer and save it under a file specifically for "classroom music." Also, I want to be on the lookout for websites that provide free music and is music that children would enjoy.  I hope through some of my songs children are able to become a little more cultured.  

Reflection #7

What: There have been many things that I use to believe about art in the classroom that I have changed my mind about.  First of all, art can be used in anything.  It's awesome!  For our project we read "The Magic School Bus," and were able to incorporate art into the book SO many times.  I think when a teacher is teaching science students can easily become bored. However, if the teacher uses art to get the students excited about science then the kids are moving around, actually doing what they are being taught, and are really learning in a visual way.  

So What: I would love to use all of the dance activities that were used in the class last week.  The only down side to what we did in class was that we were changing activities so quickly and weren't able to grasp some of the activities as much as I would've liked to. Having the worksheet that my group made, though, will be a great guide for dance activities in class, regardless of what book is being or which subject is being taught.

Now What: I think the biggest way I can prepare for teaching my future students is incorporating art in as much as possible when I do my field experience.  Practicing this dance activities in a real classroom will really get me ready for when I have my own classroom some day.  I can also continue to listen for great new dance activities on a daily basis.  I could learn a new activity when least expected!

Reflection #6

What: Doing the dance section in class was a really fun activity and is something that every teacher needs to use regardless of what subject they teach.  I loved that you taught us that you can use dance in any subject, science, social studies, and maybe even math.  Using dance is really important because it allows students to loosen up and relax during class. It also allows students to be creative and innovative.  They have to use their imagination when a teacher asks them to "dance" something out.  As a teacher you can really bring fun to class when you include dance and the arts. Incorporating dance is great also because it gives students a chance to be well-rounded. 

So What: I am really excited to implement dance when I go out to field.  I think students will become a lot more excited about the material and excited that they can use their creativity.  Also, for next week I think our group is going to use a Magic School Bus book, which I loved as a child, as most children do.  They teach readers many things and grab the readers attention right from the beginning. 

Now What: To prepare for my future classroom I need to continue reading and finding children's books that include stories that can involve dancing.  I need to put these activities into action when I do my field observation and when I do my student teaching.  I also need to keep up on my own creativity and explore my inner "dance" self.  

Reflection #5

What: This past week in class we learned more about process drama. We were able to experience activities and learn about different children's books.  I really enjoyed watching/listening the group presentations because I was able to learn about different books, but I was also able to see how the groups incorporated fun, interesting activities into the text.  For example, one class was talking about the Holocaust and how people were crammed into cargo trains.  Each person would only have enough room to stand still.  They did not have room to stretch their arms, legs, nothing.  For their activity they had made a box with tape on the floor and told all of us that we had to fit into the box.  The box represented the cargo trains that people crammed into.  Doing this activity gave me a small dose of what it was like for Jews during the Holocaust.  

So What: In my future classroom I would like to implement as many drama things as possible.  I would love to use activities to help explain certain lessons because children (as well as adults) learn so much better when the lessons are visual.  

Now What: Doing these drama activities in class has really made me see the importance of art, especially drama.  I came home after class last week and told my husband that "I feel like I'm finding my inner drama-self."  I love that we've been able to do fun activities and things where we aren't sitting at our tables for hours.  In preparing to implement drama into my future classroom, I will continue to participate as much as possible in class now.  I really think it's important that each one of us students (in the EL Ed program) become confident in ourselves and be able to act silly, and act out of our comfort zones at times.  I'm really excited to practice these activities someday soon!

Reflection #4

What: Today I learned how to open up and express myself through drama.  We learned many different games to help children feel comfortable with themselves and with others.  I have come to the conclusion that using drama in the classroom can be very beneficial and can really help many students learn.

So What: The activity that I think I will use the most is the "Who started the motion" game.  I also really like the "machine" game. These two games are great for getting students out of their seats and doing something productive, although not class curriculum.  I think the motion game is more of a fun one that can be used as a reward when students act well, and the machine game gives students a chance to be creative and think outside of the box, but at the same time have a good time.  I would like to use the motion game on the first day of class as a sort of ice breaker.  It will hopefully help students to feel more comfortable in class.

Now What: I think it's important to incorporate drama into all curricular events because it helps students become more outgoing and comfortable with themselves.  Also, when you get to where I am in my life (college) jobs and internships come easier when one is outgoing and able to communicate with others.  Students also need drama because everyone needs to be well-rounded regardless of what their hobbies are.  Having a general idea about a lot of things is a great thing! 

Reflection #3

What: This week in class we learned the 6 principles of art: proportion, balance, variety, rhythm, emphasis, and unity.  To be honest, I have never heard of, or referred to, these 6 principles before this week.  However, I really enjoyed learning about them because it helps to better understand pieces of art.  In the past when I have gone through museums, or places with art, I have looked at the works of art for a brief few seconds and continued on to the next piece.  Now, after learning the principles and elements of art, I hope that I will be able to take time when I go to museums and really look at what the artist is trying to say/illustrate. Using children's books to better understand art is a fabulous idea in my opinion.  The pictures are usually rich with color or with detail, and the pictures are usually very simple, or at least simple enough for children to understand.  Also, because there are so many children's books, you can probably find every element and principle of art in at least one picture book.  

So What: When I am a teacher I hope to teach my students about the different artists and the different and unique techniques they use in illustrating.  By doing this, students will be able to find out which principle they enjoy using, if any.  They will also be able to look at pieces of art and understand the message the artist is trying to convey.  

Now What: Well, I already talked about how learning the principles of art can benefit my future students and myself, but something I have not mentioned is being artistically literate.  In our day and age, and it will only progress more, more and more people are learning about the arts, and even if art isn't something a person is interested in, it is still something they should have a general knowledge about.  If there is ever a time to add something to a conversation, it's nice to be the one to make the comment.  I believe all people, no matter what field they may be in, should be well-rounded and have a general knowledge about many things. 

Reflection #2

Visual arts is something that I always enjoyed while in elementary school, and still enjoy even in college.  Having art be "visual" helps me (and I'm sure other students as well) see things clearly and really get a feel for what art is.  

While doing the visual art activity in class I learned the six elements of art, which I did not know before this class.  I also learned just how important each element is and how creative a person can become through each element. When I become a teacher I hope to allow students to really experience visual arts, and come to know the six different elements.  As a person, I will now look at pieces of different artwork and better understand where the artist is coming from.

One way I can prepare to teach my students about the visual arts is to continuously practice with the visual arts and to get better at each element.  When I have successfully done this, I will be able to explain the elements with more clarity and have more confidence when teaching my students.  

This activity changed me because I hadn't experience many of the different elements before.  For example, I had never drawn a color wheel, and after doing the "color" section I now know how to make a color wheel.  

Reflection #1

Growing up I was not exposed to a lot of "artsy" things. I was immediately immersed into sports and am still an avid sports player and watcher. However, 2 years ago when I met my husband I was suddenly exposed to many different arts. We went to concerts, operas, musical theater, etc. I was beginning to have an understanding of what "art" really is.
In school I never had a specific art teacher, but many of my teachers incorporated art into our classroom. I remember many times when my teacher would be explaining something having to do with math and she would show us the explanation using art. It helped me to better understand how math equations worked. My sixth grade class had the most art incorporated in class than any of my other classes. One example of my teacher using art is the time when she taught my class how to write in caligraphy. Caligraphy was something my teacher was passionate about and really wanted our whole class to have a chance at learning it. Learning caligraphy helped the students in my class to write better and helped the students love to write.
After reviewing the first 2 chapters in the text, a few things stuck out to me. First is that it is SO important to incorporate art into every class regardless of what the subject matter is. The second thing is that having an artistic environment is a positive thing for young children, and will help them have a more positive experience while being in class. The last thing that stood out to me is that every student has different needs and through art there is no wrong answer. When students are able to be creative they are more likely to enjoy what they're doing.
As a future teacher I hope to include art in my class every day, even if it's something small. I truly do believe that kids learn better through visual learning, and I hope I can take what I will learn this coming semester and future semesters and apply it to my future classrooms.