Reflection #15 Sarah Sumsion

I really enjoyed learning about choral readings, readers theater, narrative mime and storytelling. It was fun watching the teacher as she is very talented in all these areas. I enjoyed the brief moments we had to participate as well. After watching my children miss out time and again on being in the school play because they aren't old enough, young enough, outgoing enough or popular enough, it appeals to me greatly to have a classroom play or readers theater so at least my students will have the chance to participate in something like this.

Two things I have always loved are music and teaching. Taking this class has opened my eyes to the beauty and possibilities of incorporating more than just music into teaching, but all the arts. Feeling like I learned more about the basic elements and principles of visual art, drama, dance and music helped give me a solid foundation to move forward in my teaching. This class helped me see the immense value of integrating the arts and innumerable ways this can be done in the classroom. I looked forward to this class each week and only wished our class time were longer. I feel I am leaving this class a converted teacher and mother. The value of integrating the arts in education did not need to be pounded into my head, but merely demonstrated and introduced to the potential out there. The results speak for themselves.

Reflection #13 & 14 Sarah Sumsion

I love the concept of integrating arts in the core and through my curriculum. I would have done so much more arts integration in the field, honestly, had I not had to write each lesson plan up word-for-word what I would be saying and doing. Somehow that overwhelmed me and I simplified things to keep my schoolwork manageable. However, in my own classroom, knowing I won't be graded purely on how perfect my lesson plans looked, I plan to integrate arts a lot. I have substituted 2 times during the semester and each time I have found ways to implement the arts on the fly as I'm teaching the lesson plans.

I have the absolute most experience in music and drama so getting more educated and comfortable with dance and visual arts will be my challenge. I am definitely keeping my Creative Arts Integration book. That will be a great reference, especially all the quick warm ups in each art discipline, until I become more comfortable and familiar with them.

I loved the field experience, and although our teacher used little to no arts integration, I was happy to know the students had a dedicated arts class each week. They also had music class. My children have never had an art class in school. Last year my kids' school implemented an after-school art class, but it was taught by the grumpiest teacher that I did not sign them up because I didn't want them hating it because she was ornery. I learned a lot from our cooperating teacher about classroom management, but there wasn't a lot of "life" in her class. The students respected her and worked well for her, but it was pretty robotic.  I can't wait to get teaching in my own class!!

Reflection #12 Sarah Sumsion

Last week we taught our 5 lessons. Our Ancient Greek vases lesson took 3 days to complete so we taught it in phases.

This art lesson was a great way for us to teach the students how the Greeks used art to tell a story or document their history. Students were able to make their own Greek vases using scratchboards. They were able to choose a style of vase as well as a myth to illustrate. The students really enjoyed this lesson and thanked us afterwards for planning a fun activity.

Hopefully students will be able to see how art was easily integrated into a lesson. We found it seemless to teach through the arts. I really enjoyed teaching this lesson, although there was A LOT of preparation to be ready. I enjoyed finding lessons integrating art and I enjoyed seeing the other 2 cohort partnerships do a variation on the Greek vases in their classes.

Reflection #11 Sarah Sumsion

Today in class my partner and I taught our first lesson, Blow the Roof Off, a JHAT strategy which incorporates process drama.

This lesson was a great introduction to Ancient Greece where students could act out a portion of the lesson. Motions and actions were directed for them, however we did give them liberties to improvise and make new motions. They did very well and some of their actions were clever and funny. This lesson allowed them to think about what actions would be appropriate for their card.

I would do this activity again in a heartbeat. I would do it for math, science, social studies, even English topics. The kids really enjoyed it. The teacher said she plans on stealing this lesson from us. The students learned they could act and role play while learning. After the lesson we asked them what they remembered. Most remembered the facts from the cards they acted out, but some remembered other notable facts from memorably acted moments.

Reflection #10 Sarah Sumsion

I have not observed any arts integrated lessons during any of the lessons I have been in class for.

There have been times I have seen where arts integration would have been appropriate, or enhanced the experience. I did, however do a quick survey during math. The class was split into 3 groups (high, medium and low--not that they knew that) to work on adding and subtracting fractions. The highest group did amazingly well. I quickly asked how many of them took music lessons (piano, guitar, violin, etc.). Over half of them were in music lessons. I then asked the medium math group how many of them took music lessons. Again, over half responded. I was not able to ask the lowest group, however. I thought I would see far more music students in higher groups, but that was not the case.

Our lessons definitely integrate the arts and I am excited about that. I love music and could see where some math rules could be written as little songs to help them learn the steps and the order of math computations.

Reflection #9 Sarah Sumsion

Today in class we participated in group music presentations relating to a book having to do with our core subject for our field experience.

I have had a hobby for years of making up words to familiar tunes. However, I had never considered using it to teach students important facts, processes, concepts, etc. in the classroom AND it incorporates the arts. What a useful tool!

I am very excited to go into the classroom this week and implement a lot of what I've learned. I have a great art lesson on Greece I'm excited to use, as well as some drama/dance for one of our lessons. I hope to also improvise some of these ideas as I feel appropriate in the classroom. There are applications everywhere for it. I was astounded how easily and fluidly the arts could be implemented.  No need to eliminate them...they are easily incorporated into all subjects.

Reflection #8 Sarah Sumsion

Today in class we studied about music and how we can teach it to children. We were then instructed how to further adapt it to the curriculum by changing the lyrics to folk songs.

Music is a critical art, I believe, to help us learn. Don't we remember jingles and songs much longer than just strictly facts or sayings?  This technique (using music for instruction) is a perfect way to make our lessons more interesting and potentially longer lasting. Connections in the brain are heightened when music is performed rather than merely listened to. (I learned that this weekend from my mom who is a music major).

I will use this method in my classroom. In fact, I've used this method many MANY times in the past. My kids often joke there's not a word or phrase used in our home that I don't have a song for, when in reality I use a common tune and change the words to fit the situation. It's kind of a like a game. I love this method and technique. I really appreciated learning about the Brain Compatible teaching method. I've seen many ways used in my life, but never knew which was most effective. I know ways that I really DON'T like. I hope I can pass on this valuable information to my team and school someday.