Final Presentation

http://youtu.be/y0y4WX3jzd4 

Final Presentation

I plan to involve Music in a Math Lesson as a Review of what they have learned throughout the year.

Should Teachers Be Paid Based on Student Performance

I don't think teachers should be paid based on how a student performs because some students learn at a different pace and are not always the best test takers. Some students really struggle with the ability to comprehend and retain knowledge needed for taking tests. Teachers can try to help students the best they can but overall it isn't the teachers fault if not all of his or her students tests are at a high percent. As an educator, students can also be lazy and decide to not turn in homework and not study before tests. Teachers can try to involve the parents into trying to help their child with their schoolwork but in the end, it is the students job to remember. This definitely shows teachers shouldn't be paid based on a student's performance.

An effective teacher is someone who is patient and understanding. Being patient is the number one quality in becoming a teacher. As an educator, you have to learn to be patient with differentiated learners and those who struggle in their schoolwork. You also have to be patient with how students behave sometimes. Understanding is very important too because it shows you really care about students when you understand their feelings. Teachers don't need to be their students friends, but students need to be comfortable to be able to come up to a teacher and tell them their concern. These two qualities are very important in any classroom and definitely make an effective teacher.

Teachers Unions and Tenure

Teachers Unions and Tenures is somewhat of a tough topic for teachers. It definitely is hard for me, because if I am the teacher that leaves a school based on this someday I would feel very lost in what my teaching future would hold. I think that each year it should be required for a teacher to change their teaching styles and try new lesson plans for each subject. I remember in school the grade above me would tell me a lot of the things they did in a classroom before I was even in that particular teachers class. If a teacher just keeps the same stuff, students could get bored with the same things. Part of being a teacher is being flexible with students, and if a teacher is not willing to learn new things than they should not be a teacher. I think that having reforms would be a very big advantage for the teachers to-be. New teachers are very beneficial because of all the new education techniques they learn and the added bonus of knowing all about the latest technology. Having new teachers come into a school is very exciting for students because it is great to see how each teacher is different. I have experienced old teachers showing how they are sometimes "sick" of their jobs and they often look forward to summer. Therefore, new teachers would show enthusiasm and excitement from the start. 

Extra-Curricular Activities

We learn to balance extra-curricular activities with our elementary expectations by showing students it is very important to be known as a student-athlete. If students realize their school expectations come before sports they will be more driven to get their homework done so they can stay involved. As an educator I would help students also realize the consequences of rushing schoolwork just to be "done" with it. Extra-curricular activities can keep students very busy so it is also important to inform parents at home to show that homework is the number one priority. Once students understand how to balance school and activities they become an all together more organized, balanced person.

Carl Orff and Music Philosophies

It is appropriate to introduce a recorder to students who are ages 9-11 because they have the ability to have great hand eye coordination and their very own hands can cover all of the holes to play the notes needed. At ages 5-9 students may be introduced to the xylophone if they are only expected to follow a two or three note pattern. It is appropriate for rhythm sticks and finger cymbals to be introduced at ages 5-7 because they use their fine motor skills to show they are ready for the instrument. A kazoo can also be introduced to students ages 4-7 because they have the ability to blow air into the kazoo to make a sound. At the younger ages they could do this, but not necessarily play a tune using a kazoo. 

The philosophies of Carl Orff would be great for the 21st century child because he incorporates movement, speech, and music. Carl believes hands on activities create a better leaning environment for students. His philosophy tells us that it is good for students to understand and play with music to their own ability. This is great for students to be able to work at their own ability and pace, not rushing any differentiated learners to be in a hurry. He definitely makes learning fun for students. 

Sequence in Learning and Rote Note

Sequential learning means information is processed in order or "step-by-step." Rather than looking at something as a whole, sequential learning provides that each step is understood before moving on to the next. Sequential learning is beneficial within the classroom because it eliminates confusion for students. With each step finished before moving onto the next, students learn the information more thoroughly and in order so they become more ready for the next step. 
Rote learning involves repetition. In music, it generally refers to the "I-sing-you-sing" teaching method where the teacher sings a phrase that is then repeated by the students. After singing a song with one phrase repeated, the students will move on to singing two phrases at a time. Finally, the entire song is sang and then repeated by the students. If any parts are not repeated accurately, then those parts should be practiced. After the song is sung correctly, the students can learn hand signals, motions, or choreography.
Steps of a Lesson Plan:

1. Anticipatory Set: getting the student's attention focused on the lesson

2. State the Objective: informing the students about what they are going to be learning

3. Teaching: Teacher Input: teacher gives the students information needed to accomplish the objectives of the lesson

4. Teaching: Modeling: teacher shows an example of what is acceptable as an end result

5. Checking for Understanding: teacher takes time to check the student's comprehension of the material

6. Guided Practice: teacher helps the students interact with the lesson material

7. Closure: wrap-up of the lesson, with a review and evaluation of what has been learned

Educational Philosophy

I feel my educational philosophy is in alignment with student needs and state standards. My philosophy in a classroom is teaching the criteria, but also readying my students for the future. I believe hands on learning is a great way for students to understand subject matter and also retain the information more thoroughly. I also want to teach my students good values that they will need for the rest of their lives. It is important to follow state standards, but also meet specific needs a student should learn and hold with them the rest of their lives.

Music Therapy in Education

I have never really heard of Music Therapy before I watched the video. Although, I think it is a very beneficial way of reaching out to kids in a fun, learning, and healing approach. I think it would remarkably help students with literacy and development of social skills. Using music therapy, students would have to verbalize and vocalize more which would help their confidence of social skills and their reading ability could improve. To make sure it stays a learning experience, through Music Therapy using age appropriate lessons in the music helps students stay on task with their developmental standards. Music Therapy is also a very positive association with students that have specific needs. With its positive outcome on the children they really strive and are willing to learn through a fun technique.

Special Education in America

My experience with Special Education students in America is very slim, but I have worked with a few students here and there. One of my favorite things I noticed is how much they appreciate you and how rewarding of an experience it is to work with someone who has special needs. As educators, we work to make differentiated learners feel confident and not an "outcast" in the classroom. We change the way we teach some lessons because we want to help involve every type of learner. No one should ever feel down on themselves because they learn differently. As educators, the main goal is to make everyone in the classroom feel equal. Not one student is better then another.

Bloom's Taxonomy & the Nine National Standards

Bloom's Taxonomy and the Nine Standards for Music Education are alike because the standards go along with Bloom's Taxonomy in a certain way.  An example would be, arranging and composing music in a specific set of guidelines is compared to creating and applying. Another example would be, Bloom's Taxonomy consists of understanding; notating and reading music would be compared to that. They both differ in some ways also. Bloom's Taxonomy consists of remembering, understanding, applying, analyzing, evaluating, and creating. It relates to a lot of everyday life tasks, whereas the Nine National Standards mostly deal with music. When using music in lesson plans, teachers will include the Nine Standards. If teachers are not using music in their lesson plans they are still following Bloom's Taxonomy. 

Definitions

cognitive learning: the process of recalling information and the development of intellectual skills

cooperative learning: the process of students working in groups to complete tasks collectively toward academic goals

eurhythmics: body movements to the rhythm of musical compositions; used to teach musical understanding

multiple intelligence theory: developed by Dr. Howard Gardner; a theory which states that humans have nine different kinds of intelligence that reflect different ways of interacting with the world

rote learning: memorization by repetition

think-pair-share: a cooperation strategy in which the teacher gives the students a question or topic. The students think about it on their own for a few moments, then form pairs and discuss their individual thoughts. Finally, each pair shares their insights with the rest of the class.

checking for understanding: teacher takes the time to check the student's comprehension of the material

National Standards and Assertion Reaction

National Standards in Music Education:

1. Singing alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.

2. Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied rep. of music

3. Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments

4. Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines

5. Reading and notating music

6. Listening to, analyzing, and describing music.

7. Evaluating music and musical performances

8. Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts

9. Understanding music in relation to history and culture

Assertion #3:

Results in any classroom are generated in the interactions, around specific content, among students, the subject matter, and the teacher.

 I think this is very true because any result in a classroom depends on how the teacher delivers the curriculum to the students, whether they understand it or not. If a teacher teaches a fun lesson with activities about a certain subject most students will remember the information because of the way it was taught and delivered from teacher to student. 

Music, Culture, & Early Childhood Development

I think after watching this video the information is very relevant to the elementary classroom. Realizing how much music does for a person, young or old, shows how influential it really is. Knowing that music helps with frustration and memory is good because teachers might start bringing more and more musical learning techniques to the classroom.

1. I use music in my life when I am driving so I don't get bored and I can sing out loud. I use music when I am stressed to calm me down. I also use music when I fall asleep at night.

2. As a child I loved learning new songs and playing CD's over and over again and singing in my bedroom pretending I was that certain artist.

3. I have never observed children at musical play.

4. I feel like teaching a child to express their voice singing while they learn would be easier then teaching students to play a certain instrument.

5. I feel all children should be able to read notes and know certain beats of songs. I also feel they should gain confidence if they are very musically gifted to express themselves, because now days kids feel they are being judged so they shy away from being themselves.

6. Yes I have observed a classroom using music. In high school I helped out in the preschool room and they always sang songs about the days of the week, their numbers, and of course their ABC's.

7. I think music can definitely be integrated into the elementary classroom because it helps kids retain their knowledge and they have more fun doing it. Singing songs about certain stuff they are learning in their class subjects is always good to bring music into the classroom.

8. Music can be used as an interdisciplinary tool in the classroom by combining one subject with music. For example, if they are doing a math lesson and you know a good song for them to remember a mathematical formula they would be using music as an interdisciplinary tool by combing two things together to learn a certain lesson.

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