Field Reflction

Field was an interesting experience that was very enriching and good for me. I have been working at another school in a 4th grade class and it was different and refreshing to be in a 5th grade class even for the short time I was there. The classroom I was in had a lot of challenges going for it all the time in regards to behavior problems, learning disabilities, large class size etc. The teacher found herself dealing with situations constantly. Because of my work experience I have seen what kind of time and effort is required to be a teacher and it is overwhelming. I feel that having a rough class with lots of problems is even more overwhelming and takes more time but I feel that using the arts in these classrooms is where it may be most beneficial.

While I was there I decided to use drama and music for my focus in the arts lessons. Both of these lessons went so well and were my most successful lessons out of all 5. Looking back on the experience I wish I had figured out a way to use the arts even more than I did because I know that what we did with the arts will stick with students for the rest of their lives. The only questions they remembered the answers to were questions dealing with the arts lessons. I also taught them a silly song to get them all rounded up when I needed their attention and almost every single card from students said they loved the song. Honestly music was one thing that united this entire class in all of it's differences and made the kids closer friends.

After my experience here I definitely want to use the arts more in my lessons in the future. I want to expand my understanding and start to go outside my comfort zone in the arts. I know that doing this will be not only more beneficial for my students but it will be beneficial to me as well. I am an advocate for the arts and now I have the opportunity to really show my support by being a teacher that uses the arts in my classroom on a regular basis. I am excited to learn more whenever I have the opportunity so that the students I have in my classroom someday can reap the benefits that the arts has to offer.

Dance

When I went into this portion of class I was thinking that it was going to be like dance routines. I have never danced and I have very little coordination and I was really worried. I stayed worried even throughout the activity because I didn't want to look stupid, I have a hard time with dance. But as we worked in class I realized it was so much more open for interpretation. It's more of an expression of emotion through movement than what I think of as dance. The practical application of dance became more real as I became aware of the emotion I experienced and how I could express that. I think learning that is invaluable in so many ways. 

 As we talked in class about why dance would be beneficial for children I realized that the kids in my cooperating class could really enjoy dance. The classroom I am going into has 6 children with ADHD and 3 with severe physical disabilities. I think using dance in one of my lessons could really help the kids with ADHD channel their energy in a good way. It could help them express themselves in a way they never thought before. The 3 with physical disabilities could also really benefit from being part of their class in a new way. I want them to experience a new body connection and it really makes me want to try dance during field.

  

I need to practice creative dance often enough that I become comfortable with it. I also need to practice side coaching and telling students what to do using the correct language. I feel that I need to look for other materials to aid me in how I could use dance even more than any other art because I am least comfortable with it. I feel like I could also do this activity with my family and make it more a part of my life.

The group experience was great again. I wrote half of the lesson plan and wrote the assessment and extension, I also chose the book. I feel that my group members did give a lot of input and encouragement to do this assignment because I was very anxious and nervous about it. I have learned that some people just don't want to step up which works for me because I like to be the boss. I have also learned that I like working with people that have various strengths that are different from my own because I can learn more from them than when I work with all people that are very similar to me.

Music

Music is an art form that has the potential to enhance learning in many other areas. Musical involvement is very  important for every child to engage in because of it's many benefits. I learned that singing can be used in many more ways that are meaningful than I anticipated. Through presenting I learned it's much harder to teach a song when multiple people need to teach it.

My goal for teaching music in my future classroom is to use it more often than not. I don't simply want to play music for my students to hear but get them involved. So many people think they can't be musical but it really doesn't take too much effort if you get music exposure throughout your life. I have been involved in music my whole life and I know it has benefited me academically so I hope to use it in the classroom quite a bit. I really like the idea of tying songs to the curriculum because I retain things so much better through music and I know a lot of my students will too.

As far as being ready to use music in the classroom goes, I need to keep practicing teaching songs. I was a primary chorister for a year and a half and I taught with the 4 rules already so I'm fairly familiar. It always takes a little practice to get back in the routine though. I also want to practice singing some of the folk songs an becoming familiar with the melodies again by singing with my baby daughter. She loves music and I think doing some activities with her and my musical husband will help me prepare to teach music in my future classroom. This was totally my unit where I was completely comfortable.

Working in this team was alright. Natalia did a lot of the work of writing the script which was awesome and then most of us contributed to it. I did the editing and revising of the document which wasn't much work at all. We all got along well, it just didn't feel like every single member pulled their weight. This same group member decided not to come to our group meeting to practice either which was disappointing but we got through just fine. I think when I have students work in groups I will have all students be assigned to part of the project that they must turn in so they stay accountable and contribute. I have done the entire project so many times in multiple classes my whole life and it gets old really fast. Natalia is taken advantage of like this too and I feel bad for her. I think that is what I would change but I do like group projects because we can glean so many good ideas from other people.

Drama

I have learned that drama doesn't always have to be acting. Drama can be just thinking like someone else, participating in an activity that gets you thinking and moving. Drama can be a group thing so that it's a safe environment for people that don't necessarily love drama. I have a new appreciation for drama and what it can do to teach people.
I really loved mirroring activities, I felt that it was relaxing yet helped me focus. I will also definitely want to use activities like miming and character meetings. I like using panels and assuming other characters. I really also liked it when people used physical objects in their lesson to help us understand. Another fun activity that I really enjoyed was alphabet story. It was a lot of fun but really made us think of other word use and how a story is put together which would help students immensely in creating their own stories.
Children need drama in their lives. I came from a family that was quiet and to themselves and not going to do anything to feel stupid. Being brought up this way really held me back in a lot of ways and still does. Doing different drama activities is still a struggle for me, I don't open up in silly or different ways that drama requires. Using drama in the classroom can really help children come out of their shell, experience something new. I also think drama can help build confidence and be helpful to children in discovering who they are and what the world is like. Drama has so much to offer and after learning about all the different ways drama can be integrated I'm not so scared to incorporate it into my classroom. This kind of personal discovery can help solidify teachings in other curricular areas and could really enhance learning.


For the group project we all took some of the pages from the book and decided on an activity. I really enjoyed doing a Process Drama and think this is a way I could become a better storyteller. Accents and different voices just really aren't my forte but using process drama can make the stories come to life for my students in ways that I couldn't do before. From the other presentations I learned there are so many options for incorporating other curricular areas like language arts. I didn't realize the vast possibility available in a project like this. Our group worked well together because we all held up our end of the responsibility. I did learn though that some of us were more creative than others and that some of us really thought about the project and what would be meaningful for our students while other members just completed the assignment for a grade.

Visual Art

I learned that I wasn't as educated in visual art as I thought. I learned so much about the principles of visual art and also the elements of visual art. I also learned that we could use visual art in many different areas in a great way-we can use visual art in science and talk about the terms from visual art as well. I also learned that I'm not as creative or open thinking as I thought I was.
For me this information means that I can integrate art more fully. I really can incorporate art into many lessons especially when learning analyzing skills, interpretation skills, and other skills that require personal exploration. Art integration is so important and I think visual art may be the most available art to educators where we can create activities to engage our students and draw them in.
Today I really reflected on how I could become more creative and free thinking. To teach and integrate visual art I need to feel like I can do what I'm asking my students to do. I need to be more thoughtful about art and engage in art activities more often. I want to be more creative and not let my logical mind take over and I think if I could make visual arts part of my home life than I could be a much better teacher of the arts in the future. My perspective now is that I can create meaning and interpret visual art how I want to and it can't really be wrong. I also have realized that visual art and what it brings to people is universal and that if I continue to actively participate in visual art than I can come to appreciate it even more and grow in multiple areas of my life which in turn will impact my students.

I felt the group project was fun but I wanted a little more substance to it. We worked well together because we are all friends, but we just couldn't find much information on our illustrator. All of us looked up information on him on his website and there wasn't much else we could find out about him. Two of the girls created the handout and the other two of us presented. I wish I had more to say to draw people in to Kevin Henkes' work but sadly we did not. I brought all of his books to show to the class and really wish I could have read one or showed them off some more.

The Arts and Me

• The arts have always played a large role in my life. My parents always sang together when I was growing up and they taught our family to do the same. I sang in chamber choir and a Capella in high school and loved every minute of developing my vocal talents. 

• I started playing the violin at age 5 and studied privately until I was 18 years old. I joined a private orchestra at age 9 and rehearsed for 2-3 hours every Saturday for 9 years. I also played in both orchestras at UVU and I have loved my time in these orchestras. My best friends are the girls I met in orchestra. Because of my musical involvement I have developed an appreciation for composers and classical music.

• I have developed my talents in interior design over the years because my dad graduated in this trade. I love to design different rooms, the color schemes, the fabrics.  I have also dabbled a little bit in floral design thanks to my dad as well, which I think is an art. 

• Last but not least I have done a little bit of drama. I was in Aida the musical in high school just to prove to my friends and family that I could do it. I was also in a local musical Power In His Touch with my husband. I don't love acting at all, and I don't like to be on stage in this way. Drama is a stretch for me. 

• In elementary school I actually had an art specialty every day for half the year but music was not taught at all. I'm glad I had some art appreciation growing up but most of it came from at home influences.