Reflection #3

We learned how to make podcasts in Instructional Technology this week.  We made a public announcement and recorded it.  It was a really fun project.  This activity would be great in a classroom for reports.  It would be a really good way to include announcements in our class websites.  This project would also be fantastic in presentations.  The ideas are endless.  I am glad I learned about how to make a podcast and plan to use this technique and idea in my future as a student and as a teacher.  I appreciate being able to work in partners, so I don't get so frustrated and lost.  Thanks!

Reflection #3 Creative Arts

In class, this week, we discussed the principles of art.  These include proportion, balance, rhythm, variety, and unity.  We looked at different works of art that include these things.  It was very interesting to learn about the "hidden" (to me) messages and themes that the artists were trying to portray.
I have never really learned how to read art and it was a little difficult to identify and understand the principles by viewing the paintings.  I guess it takes practice and maybe a little research to be able to master this technique. This is will be necessary for me to be able to teach my students about art.
Illustrations in books are a way to draw students in to teach them about art principles.  I believe that one of the ways a child chooses a particular book to read is because of the illustrations on the cover.
It was really interesting to me to see how you can use a book to integrate many subjects in.  The artist-author study web was an awesome example of this. I hope to use this idea in teaching various subjects.  I love to read books and learn about the authors and illustrators and know my students will too.  This will be a great starting point for many teaching activities in many subject areas and the bonus is, that they will learn about art at the same time.

Reflection #2 Visual Arts 1

Art is very important in a student's learning process.  There are many ways to integrate art in class subjects.  We can teach math, science, music, reading, and many other different subjects by using art. Our long-term memory can hold an unlimited amount of visual images and we can develop a skill for noticing details. Art subjects can be the focus for other subjects to branch off of.  Art also can enable a child to express himself/herself giving them self confidence that they lack in other academic areas.

This is important to me as a teacher.  I am excited to integrate the arts into all areas of teaching.  From my experience, children love art.  They love to create and feel free to express themselves in their drawings or other art forms.  By using art, I can make my lessons more interesting, memorable, and fun.  My students will be able to use their higher order thinking skills by examining and understanding art.  I will try to not be a teacher that gives art worksheets, but art projects that will give my students an opportunity to use their creativity.  This textbook has so many ideas that I will want to use as a teacher.  As a person, particularly as a student, myself, I hope to be able to implement these ideas in my own learning.  I would like to improve my learning and memorization skills by learning the techniques of paying attention to detail, and visualization.

I didn't realize how often art is used in the learning process at school.  Art and math teach about geometric shapes.  Art and music teach about lines, rhythms, and patterns.  My favorite aspect of art is with literature.  Illustrations on the cover of a book help draw interest in reading it.  The art of "seeing" what you read is important in comprehension and connection.  There are many ways art can be included in the classroom that can really benefit my students.  I plan on using the techniques and skills I learn in this class to help me be a better teacher and to help my students be better learners.

Reflection #1 My Experience in the Arts

When I was 14 years old, I  started playing the piano at my grandma's house (on my own) with a piano book.  I could play the songs because I knew which fingers were number 1, 2, 3, and so forth.  The diagrams in the book helped me to push the right keys.  I started piano lessons and because of my experience, I passed about half of the book off during my first lesson.  The teacher was amazed at what I could do.  During my lessons, she would teach me a little bit of theory and then tell me to go home and practice the songs that I couldn't play.  I realized that I was actually teaching myself by doing this, and I thought it was a big waste to pay for and to go to my lessons.  I wasn't fond of theory either and disliked playing dumb baby songs.  After approximately three weeks, I quit. 
I still wanted to play the piano, so I taught myself how to play it.  I had played the violin for one year in elementary and so I was familiar with a few notes.  I figured out that each time the note went up a space or line on the music, it meant to go up a key on the piano.  I memorized the placement of the notes instead of memorizing note names.  This was a long process, but I learned how to play the piano pretty well.   

I have learned that I do best at learning by teaching and discovering how to do things, myself.  I feel pressure when others teach and critique me.  I learn better in  a more comfortable atmosphere. 

I know that students are different and prefer learning in various ways.  Also, some children are more shy and are unsure of themselves.  I hope I will be able to find a way to let my students experience the arts by finding out how they learn best and also by helping them feel comfortable in expressing their artistic talents.  I hope this class will help me to be successful in doing these things when I teach.