Why the arts are more than a Luxary: This assignment showed how important creativity is, and especially music. The creativity Crisis said: “The accepted definition of creativity is production of something original and useful, and that’s what’s reflected in the tests. There is never one right answer. To be creative requires divergent thinking (generating many unique ideas) and then convergent thinking (combining those ideas into the best result).” I liked this because it says that creativity is useful. These links all show how music is used not only to entertain, but educate people. In the case of the dreaded stairs, music was used to get people to use the stairs. This was a very neat way to incorporate music but also to get people more active. The Why the Arts Are More Than A Luxury article said that Enriched environments are making kids smarter. With creativity, a reverse trend has just been identified and is being reported for the first time here: American creativity scores are falling. It’s sad to see that creativity is declining. We need to encourage creativity in our classrooms. The article also said that it’s too early to determine conclusively why U.S. creativity scores are declining. One likely culprit is the number of hours kids now spend in front of the TV and playing videogames rather than engaging in creative activities. Another is the lack of creativity development in our schools. One article said overwhelmed by curriculum standards, American teachers warn there’s no room in the day for a creativity class. Kids are fortunate if they get an art class once or twice a week. I think as a teacher we should try and incorporate music and creativity into different subjects so we can not only meet standards, but encourage creativity. The video where the baby was dancing was really cute. I would assume that the baby was not taught to dance along to music, but just felt the urge to move to the beat. This shows that we are all born musical. The video where the students were taught opera said that the students’ reading, writing, and math test scores increased as a result of the program implemented in the school. This assignment inspired me to include some type of music in my classroom when I become a teacher.
Teaching Presentation # 1 Musical Extensions of Children’s Literature
Hop on Pop Written by: Dr. Seuss Illustrated by: Publisher: Beginner Books; First Edition (February 12, 1963) ISBN-10: 039480029X ISBN-13: 978-0394800295 Opportunities to learn:
Students will be able to use instruments during the lesson.
Students will be able to learn rhyming words.
This story can be used to teach students about different word sounds and endings.
Students will be given a specific part or word and whenever that word is read in the story, the student will use the instrument given to them to represent that word. Students will be given an opportunity to play on unpitched and/or pitched percussion instruments on key words, patterns, sound effects or to create a “mood” or musical “themes” for characters.
Standard: 1. Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. Reflections:
1. The strongest part of my lesson I think would be that it was a Dr. Seuss book. Most children are familiar with Dr. Seuss which makes the lesson fun. This lesson is fun becauseeach page has words that all end with the same sound. You can use instruments as well as use this lesson to learn word sounds.
2. The weakest part of the lesson I think was that it was a little difficult to figure out which words in the book I was going to assign sounds to.
3. In the future I might choose a different book to use instruments with where specific words are repeated so that students will be able to play their instrument more often. I do like the idea of using instruments with a book.
Teaching #2
Singing with Children
Song: Itsy Bitsy Spider**
Age level: Kindergarten- Students like singing about bugs, and using hand motions/instruments
Ideas for curricular connections: Students can learn about bugs and rain.
Teaching sequence: Encourage child-to-child interaction and taking turns.
Lesson:
Students will gather around in a circle and sit on the floor.
I will sing Itsy Bitsy Spider to students and have them sing with me the second time
Pass out instruments and show students how to use them.
Assign instruments for different words/sounds in the book.
Practice using instrument.
Sing song and have students use instruments during.
Have students take turns with different instruments.
Sing song a couple times.
Ask reflective questions.
Bring lesson to a close.
Reflections:
1. I think the strongest aspect of my lesson was that every child was included in the song. I think it’s important for each child to feel included and that they are important. Giving each child an instrument and part made them feel this way.
2. I think the weakest link in my lesson was that I wasn’t sure if I should have a sound or instrument play for each word of the song. I was a little hesitant at the beginning of the lesson because I was unsure of how to assign the sounds.
3. I think I’ll use this lesson in my classroom in the future because almost everyone knows “Itsy Bitsy Spider”. Having the students sing and play instruments to a song they are familiar with will make them more comfortable and open up. One thing I might change is maybe having the song playing on CD as background music as we sing.
https://docs.google.com/document/edit?id=1bzqZyxKVI3SXYJgWmGgOCAQEbxANHbz1bkhnTvxR6zM&hl=en&authkey=CLaZtJIM&pli=1#
Why the arts are more than a Luxary:
This assignment showed how important creativity is, and especially music. The creativity Crisis said: “The accepted definition of creativity is production of something original and useful, and that’s what’s reflected in the tests. There is never one right answer. To be creative requires divergent thinking (generating many unique ideas) and then convergent thinking (combining those ideas into the best result).” I liked this because it says that creativity is useful. These links all show how music is used not only to entertain, but educate people. In the case of the dreaded stairs, music was used to get people to use the stairs. This was a very neat way to incorporate music but also to get people more active.
The Why the Arts Are More Than A Luxury article said that Enriched environments are making kids smarter. With creativity, a reverse trend has just been identified and is being reported for the first time here: American creativity scores are falling. It’s sad to see that creativity is declining. We need to encourage creativity in our classrooms. The article also said that it’s too early to determine conclusively why U.S. creativity scores are declining. One likely culprit is the number of hours kids now spend in front of the TV and playing videogames rather than engaging in creative activities. Another is the lack of creativity development in our schools. One article said overwhelmed by curriculum standards, American teachers warn there’s no room in the day for a creativity class. Kids are fortunate if they get an art class once or twice a week. I think as a teacher we should try and incorporate music and creativity into different subjects so we can not only meet standards, but encourage creativity.
The video where the baby was dancing was really cute. I would assume that the baby was not taught to dance along to music, but just felt the urge to move to the beat. This shows that we are all born musical. The video where the students were taught opera said that the students’ reading, writing, and math test scores increased as a result of the program implemented in the school.
This assignment inspired me to include some type of music in my classroom when I become a teacher.
Teaching Presentation # 1
Musical Extensions of Children’s Literature
Hop on Pop
Written by: Dr. Seuss
Illustrated by:
Publisher: Beginner Books; First Edition (February 12, 1963)
ISBN-10: 039480029X
ISBN-13: 978-0394800295
Opportunities to learn:
Standard: 1. Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
Reflections:
1. The strongest part of my lesson I think would be that it was a Dr. Seuss book. Most children are familiar with Dr. Seuss which makes the lesson fun. This lesson is fun becauseeach page has words that all end with the same sound. You can use instruments as well as use this lesson to learn word sounds.
2. The weakest part of the lesson I think was that it was a little difficult to figure out which words in the book I was going to assign sounds to.
3. In the future I might choose a different book to use instruments with where specific words are repeated so that students will be able to play their instrument more often. I do like the idea of using instruments with a book.
Teaching #2
Singing with Children
Song: Itsy Bitsy Spider**
Age level: Kindergarten- Students like singing about bugs, and using hand motions/instruments
Ideas for curricular connections: Students can learn about bugs and rain.
Teaching sequence: Encourage child-to-child interaction and taking turns.
Lesson:
- Students will gather around in a circle and sit on the floor.
- I will sing Itsy Bitsy Spider to students and have them sing with me the second time
- Pass out instruments and show students how to use them.
- Assign instruments for different words/sounds in the book.
- Practice using instrument.
- Sing song and have students use instruments during.
- Have students take turns with different instruments.
- Sing song a couple times.
- Ask reflective questions.
- Bring lesson to a close.
Reflections:1. I think the strongest aspect of my lesson was that every child was included in the song. I think it’s important for each child to feel included and that they are important. Giving each child an instrument and part made them feel this way.
2. I think the weakest link in my lesson was that I wasn’t sure if I should have a sound or instrument play for each word of the song. I was a little hesitant at the beginning of the lesson because I was unsure of how to assign the sounds.
3. I think I’ll use this lesson in my classroom in the future because almost everyone knows “Itsy Bitsy Spider”. Having the students sing and play instruments to a song they are familiar with will make them more comfortable and open up. One thing I might change is maybe having the song playing on CD as background music as we sing.
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