My idea of Creative Arts is totally different from when I first started attending class. Although some of the elementary schools provide specialty classes for Art and Music, students can participate in more activities. Time is very valuable for teachers, but I learned in Creative Arts that the benefits outweigh the costs. There are many ways that the arts can be implemented into lessons and teaching. If you use arts as a part of the lesson, you are actually using time more wisely and effectively.
When I went to Field, I planned lessons for my 5th grade students. I found it easy to include arts in the activities and the students were appreciative of them. I think they will remember the lessons better because of the drama and visual arts activities that I included in them.
I plan to use the many forms of art when I become a teacher such as Drama, Creative Movement, Visual Arts, and Music. We have learned many ways to use picture books to integrate the arts. I have enjoyed the activities we participated in in class and I plan on using these ideas in my classroom. It will be beneficial to my students and they will be able to have fun while they learn.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Friday, December 3, 2010
Reflection #14
This week we created skits for vocabulary words. I really like this activity idea. It was really fun! We also reported and heard from other classmates about how field experience went. We discussed how we implemented art in our lessons and also how the teachers used it. It was really interesting and I could have listened all day to others' ideas.
Our teacher told us that she didn't do very many art activities in class, however she had them act out a read-a-play and she incorporates it in science. For instance in heredity, they colored butterflies so that they were camouflaged with items in the classroom. I think she implements art without her realizing that she is doing it. I think she associates art with drawing and arts and crafts projects.
It is easier than I thought it would be to implement arts into lesson plans. I loved seeing the students involved in our lessons. We used a painting for a primary source, a classroom impromptu debate, and some of the students sketched drawings in their Lewis and Clark journals we made them. They even loved the "Turkey Dance" I taught them! They really appreciated creative arts activities and because of this experience, I want to continue finding ways to implement the arts in my teaching.
Our teacher told us that she didn't do very many art activities in class, however she had them act out a read-a-play and she incorporates it in science. For instance in heredity, they colored butterflies so that they were camouflaged with items in the classroom. I think she implements art without her realizing that she is doing it. I think she associates art with drawing and arts and crafts projects.
It is easier than I thought it would be to implement arts into lesson plans. I loved seeing the students involved in our lessons. We used a painting for a primary source, a classroom impromptu debate, and some of the students sketched drawings in their Lewis and Clark journals we made them. They even loved the "Turkey Dance" I taught them! They really appreciated creative arts activities and because of this experience, I want to continue finding ways to implement the arts in my teaching.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Reflection #12
Field experience is over. It was fun getting to know the students in 5th grade. It was challenging, but fun to teach from our lesson plans.
Our cooperating teacher liked our lessons and so did the students. They enjoyed learning social studies in a more creative way. We taught from a primary source which was a painting of "The Death of John Wolfe", taught them the "Turkey Dance", had the students write and illustrate posters, create journals of Lewis and Clark (some included sketches), and probably the most memorable was the debate between the Loyalists and the Patriots.
The students enjoyed these activities that we implemented art into. I plan on continuing to compile ideas for creative art activities for future use in the classroom.
Our cooperating teacher liked our lessons and so did the students. They enjoyed learning social studies in a more creative way. We taught from a primary source which was a painting of "The Death of John Wolfe", taught them the "Turkey Dance", had the students write and illustrate posters, create journals of Lewis and Clark (some included sketches), and probably the most memorable was the debate between the Loyalists and the Patriots.
The students enjoyed these activities that we implemented art into. I plan on continuing to compile ideas for creative art activities for future use in the classroom.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Reflection #11 Field Experience
On Monday, I got up and interrupted the class after the Pledge of Allegiance and "stepped down from the Loyalists Party". I told the students that I decided I thought it was important to have freedom and have our own government where I could vote for the things I wanted. I tied it in with the words of the Pledge of Allegiance and it was really good. I even tore up my Loyalist Party sign and it was awesome! I hope that my students will always remember this drama activity and the importance of the meaning of "liberty and justice for all". I know I will.
We also taught about Lewis and Clark and the students took actual journal entries and created their own in a journal I constructed for each of them. We told them to be creative in decorating their covers and some of them even sketched animals and plants that they learned about during the activity to go along with their entries.
Our cooperating teacher had told me earlier that they don't do a lot of art activities because her students don't like it. I know they take Art Specialty and Music Specialty classes during the week, so I think it is hard to justify spending more time in those type of art activities.
I think I would like to continue to integrate drama activities into my lessons. I think it is my favorite art activity, which surprises me because I didn't think I would prefer it over music. I believe it can be the most powerful teaching strategy.
We also taught about Lewis and Clark and the students took actual journal entries and created their own in a journal I constructed for each of them. We told them to be creative in decorating their covers and some of them even sketched animals and plants that they learned about during the activity to go along with their entries.
Our cooperating teacher had told me earlier that they don't do a lot of art activities because her students don't like it. I know they take Art Specialty and Music Specialty classes during the week, so I think it is hard to justify spending more time in those type of art activities.
I think I would like to continue to integrate drama activities into my lessons. I think it is my favorite art activity, which surprises me because I didn't think I would prefer it over music. I believe it can be the most powerful teaching strategy.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Reflection #10-Field Experience
We have been teaching Social Studies in a 5th grade class. We have taught the students about The French and Indian War, The Sugar, Stamp, and Townshend Acts, and the Boston Tea Party.
Yesterday we integrated drama into our lesson. I represented the Loyalist Party and my partner Sarah, represented the Patriots. I campaigned for my party by saying a few things and asked the students who wanted to join my party to come up to the front of the class with me. Then, Sarah spoke for her party and the rest of the class came up to be in her group. We had a debate and involved the students in it. At first I was a little worried that I hadn't explained any rules before the activity about talking in turn, but in hindsight, I was able to emphasize how angry the colonists would have been. It was probably okay anyway, because when it started to get out of hand a little, I told them that one person could speak at a time. The students then wrote a persuasive letter to a family member or friend notifying them of their joining one of the parties. I think it helped them to understand the significance of the conflict that the colonists suffered through.
I also taught them the "Turkey Dance" as an activity to get the wiggles out before my first lesson. The students loved it and we did it again a couple of days later before another lesson. I think it really helped.
In art specialties, the students learned about texture and studied some paintings on postcards to find different textures. We get to go to art specialties again this week and I am interested in what we will learn. It was fun seeing students do activities we did in Creative Arts class.
Yesterday we integrated drama into our lesson. I represented the Loyalist Party and my partner Sarah, represented the Patriots. I campaigned for my party by saying a few things and asked the students who wanted to join my party to come up to the front of the class with me. Then, Sarah spoke for her party and the rest of the class came up to be in her group. We had a debate and involved the students in it. At first I was a little worried that I hadn't explained any rules before the activity about talking in turn, but in hindsight, I was able to emphasize how angry the colonists would have been. It was probably okay anyway, because when it started to get out of hand a little, I told them that one person could speak at a time. The students then wrote a persuasive letter to a family member or friend notifying them of their joining one of the parties. I think it helped them to understand the significance of the conflict that the colonists suffered through.
I also taught them the "Turkey Dance" as an activity to get the wiggles out before my first lesson. The students loved it and we did it again a couple of days later before another lesson. I think it really helped.
In art specialties, the students learned about texture and studied some paintings on postcards to find different textures. We get to go to art specialties again this week and I am interested in what we will learn. It was fun seeing students do activities we did in Creative Arts class.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Reflection #9 Music Part 2
I learned that it is easy to write songs to help students learn facts. It was fun creating a song to present in class. Using the melody from folk songs and other popular songs made learning easier, since all we needed to teach and learn was the lyrics.
It was really fun to participate in the other groups' presentations. They had a lot of fun ideas that we can incorporate into our classrooms. I liked learning fun ways to warm-up, and it wasn't hard to learn the songs to be able to sing them in rounds. I liked learning and clapping beats and rhythms and I'm sure the students will enjoy doing this as well.
Music has always been my favorite activity to participate in since I was in grade school. I remember learning a second part to Silver Bells and it was so fun to harmonize. I want my students to have a positive experience in learning and participating in musical activities in addition to their music specialty class lessons (if they are available).
I plan on reading more about implementing music into academics. I think I will start writing more songs, besides, it was a lot of fun, and I can still remember that General George Washington asked Betsy Ross to sew a flag with 13 stars and 13 stripes. I'll probably never forget it, thanks to music.
It was really fun to participate in the other groups' presentations. They had a lot of fun ideas that we can incorporate into our classrooms. I liked learning fun ways to warm-up, and it wasn't hard to learn the songs to be able to sing them in rounds. I liked learning and clapping beats and rhythms and I'm sure the students will enjoy doing this as well.
Music has always been my favorite activity to participate in since I was in grade school. I remember learning a second part to Silver Bells and it was so fun to harmonize. I want my students to have a positive experience in learning and participating in musical activities in addition to their music specialty class lessons (if they are available).
I plan on reading more about implementing music into academics. I think I will start writing more songs, besides, it was a lot of fun, and I can still remember that General George Washington asked Betsy Ross to sew a flag with 13 stars and 13 stripes. I'll probably never forget it, thanks to music.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Reflection #8 Music
Note: I missed class last week because of my illness, and was disappointed because music is my favorite arts subject.
The textbook's definition of music is "sound patterns over time intended to express moods, ideas, or feelings". (Creating Meaning Through Literature and the Arts) Music can be used as a valuable tool in teaching students in the classroom. I plan to use music in helping my students memorize facts and concepts, as background sound to help stimulate thinking, for brain boosters, for exercise activities, and to have an enjoyable experience in learning.
It is important to teach students musical elements and concepts, how music has developed and how it defines different cultures. Music has always played an important part of history and I think students should be taught about the influence of it. Also, students and teachers need to know that they don't have to be professionals in music. They just need the desire to learn a new skill.
I want to be able to integrate music in my classroom. First of all, this is going to require some research in finding songs and activities that will increase learning and that will match the core. Starting at preschool age, children learn their abc's by music. It is much easier to learn by lyrics and melody and students will be able to retain their knowledge better if facts are taught by music. I would like to incorporate music in behavior reminders, classroom rules, helping with self-esteem, and physical exercise. I have used music in kindergarten (as a substitute) as a teaching tool for learning colors, rhymes, abc's, and as substitute for physical education activities when outside recess was not allowed. I have also used classical music to help students concentrate on math problems. I have seen it's positive influence in these situations. Music will help me teach Math, Science, Language Arts, and will also help to create a RAD classroom. My students will definitely be exposed to music in our classroom.
The textbook's definition of music is "sound patterns over time intended to express moods, ideas, or feelings". (Creating Meaning Through Literature and the Arts) Music can be used as a valuable tool in teaching students in the classroom. I plan to use music in helping my students memorize facts and concepts, as background sound to help stimulate thinking, for brain boosters, for exercise activities, and to have an enjoyable experience in learning.
It is important to teach students musical elements and concepts, how music has developed and how it defines different cultures. Music has always played an important part of history and I think students should be taught about the influence of it. Also, students and teachers need to know that they don't have to be professionals in music. They just need the desire to learn a new skill.
I want to be able to integrate music in my classroom. First of all, this is going to require some research in finding songs and activities that will increase learning and that will match the core. Starting at preschool age, children learn their abc's by music. It is much easier to learn by lyrics and melody and students will be able to retain their knowledge better if facts are taught by music. I would like to incorporate music in behavior reminders, classroom rules, helping with self-esteem, and physical exercise. I have used music in kindergarten (as a substitute) as a teaching tool for learning colors, rhymes, abc's, and as substitute for physical education activities when outside recess was not allowed. I have also used classical music to help students concentrate on math problems. I have seen it's positive influence in these situations. Music will help me teach Math, Science, Language Arts, and will also help to create a RAD classroom. My students will definitely be exposed to music in our classroom.
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