Monday, May 4, 2009

Reflection 10 Inquiry Units

This last chapter has good points on how to keep students focus on seeing the bigger picture and combining prior knowledge to discipline. I thought the accounts of students really help them in seeing and writing about their experiences and how it applies to the real world. As a music educator, we are concern with the same issues. We want kids to engage and learn about music in hope of helping them to engage and experience in something that will enrich their lives.

Although many things in this book had very good methods applicable to music, some was not. I couldn't relate much of this chapter to music but the idea is very useful. In general the book was very insight full and I like many topics in the book useful and could be applicable in a band setting.

As educator, we all are aiming toward a goal. That is the educate our future young adults in providing knew way of seeing and exploring ideas. In this we tie the most far way subjects together. I like the new approach this book presents each subject and material.

reflection 9: book clubs

This chapter talks about the effectiveness of Clubs all across America and combining collaborative learning and independent reading discuss in previous chapters. It pretty interesting the different mechanism different teachers use and improve upon. I find like bookclubs are important to anysubject and can used to my content area. Our clubs are association that are help through out the country have have workshops within these associations.

I though that Nancy and Mike's Book Clubs were very interesting to read about, I like their way or organizing their training, group formation, Scheduling, choosing five kinds of notes. I like the idea of selecting kids to have Role sheets. This encouraged students to focus on one particular kind of thinking that smart readers use. It helps set a purpose for reading when you sit down with the book. These roles included: The connecter, Questioner, Passage Master, Vocabulary Enricher, illustrator , and the Researcher. Some of these ideas are every applicable in some ways to music education during class.

Of course the teacher will aways be there to assist, observe, and facilitate. In the music class, it's vital the music director is circulating around the room and listening to each individual. There are limitation in a large class rooms so group formation is very helpful in the music setting. As student get to high school. A prospective student will take charge of a section taking all responsibility the teacher may not have time to focus on.

Reflection 8 Workshops

The last "real classes" we've had was very interesting for me. Every teaching demonstration from each department( pertaining to the class) has been very insight full. The P.E demonstration that implemented musical experts was very useful and applicable. chapter eight ties in to group participation and intrinsic motivation. which ties in to our demonstrations very well.

Although the book mentions that the guidelines for the independend reading in every school subject is in a better position to employ this kind of activity to English teacher, the idea of workshop are good for music educators. one of the good points early on, is the concept of trying to develop life long lerners. It is my hope as a band director to develop a lifelong interest in music whether it be in a classical or Jazz style. that will continue whether they continue playing their instrument or not.

I like the ideas presented about mini lessons. they are used as a reminder to students of topics covered previously, which are relevant to the reading. Mini lesson can be trasfered to the music field fairly simple. I like the section of recording your observation of students reading and understanding.

This chapter expands on the activities discussed in earlier chapters. It is a bit long winded, seeing as much of what is covered could be said more concisely. I liked what the chapter talks about the idea of trying to remove grades from these activities, allowing the students to focus primarily on learning.

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Reflection 7

Looking back to my core subjects classes in high school and college, I noticed that my grades reflected on how well I physically and mentally felt comfortable with the class. Usually classes that felt that had no community in it, I had a hard time asking questions to my teacher and peers. I did a lot better when i was able to talk aloud about material during class when the whole class seemed interested and engaged.
I really like the guide on p.170 on strategies for building community in the classroom. Most of those points remind me of one of my most influential English teachers in high school. She always showed her passion to always learning everyday and improving our learning shill through each other.
The activities that the book suggest like orchestrated small groups, reading a loud, relating subjects, inquiring projects, Book clubs, and other are excellent. So many times we teachers miss opportunities to teach and coach in other ways students could adapt to. Challenging and encouraging the students without overwhelming is the toughest gaol the teacher will face.
These tips and guides and so helpful to have and reminds us to constantly be challenging and trying new ways of reaching to the mid of the students. Communication and high positive leadership will have a great impact on our future students.

Reflection 6

It's true that sometimes teachers can assign more than a thousand pages for the sake of completing the entire book. Really how much does the kid remember by the next holiday or so. I remember going through excruciating pages of my world history class with no real instruction on how to remember all of It well. I like the four questions that the book mentions to let the student understand and remember the real big points in order to see the big picture and learn how to connect them efficiently (p.147)
I like how the chapter gives pointers on preparing the student with their textbooks. Kids might read the book, but miss the big points especially a non-motivated student. Try to facilitate in and way possible is always the best thing. the textbook jigsaw sheet on pg.153 seems like a great way of organizing big steps we teachers should take to keep students moving forward.
Like math textbooks, music notation can be applied in the same way and can be just as confusing and hard to understand. If the student can't get the fundamentals that makes music reading easy. The student will fall behind, and eventually leading to quiting.
This Chapter had may important guides to lead students into the right direction. Keep students regurgitating waht theu learn in such a manner they don't just become robots to the materials.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Reflection 5

Last week we saw "chalk" the documentary, I thought how scary! It must be very hard to teach the first year when kids can see right through you when one doesn't have the right confidence. One of the teachers in the documentary that was teaching history, looked scared out of his pants in front of his students. He didn't have the right strategies to cope with such stress and the student took advantage of that. In times i felt horrified for teachers and at the same time humorous. One day I'll be teaching and will remember this documentary and laugh about it.

Chapter five explains basically how kids and teachers can use reading exercise for more interaction in schools for better results. It's pretty much an application in a simpler and quicker way to help your students engage in the work. Activities involving writing and or jotting or sketching to facilitate the teachers efforts and minimize his work. The book organizes the strategies in five categories :Showing kids how smart readers work, before activities, during, and after activities, and Learning vocabulary.

This chapter cover material in chapter 2 with application. These strategies involve kids to visualize, connect, and monitor their understanding. I thought that it is every important in getting the student to focus and get them exited about the reading in order to start developing ideas. I remember my teacher's strategies work for me because them would introduce one strategy at a time and have it repeated. Lots of modeling was involved and quite frankly the best way of teaching it especially in band. Moving around and involving the class was very motivating and they seemed very engaging with us. Everyone would listen to exactly how he wanted without any confrontation.

I really like the part of the chapter that had outline every strategy with great facility. Brainstorming and Clustering was one strategy all my creative writting teachers would always use. This strategy is very involving and students get challenged continually. Many of these strategies are not ideal to use in a music reahearsal in band but, many of these strategies can be modified and tranlated to music exercises. RAFT on page 134, can be modified and use in music context. Students need to know the importance of style and character traits of a piece of music and this strategy can help to perform better.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Reflection 4

I really liked the video we watch in class about "what teacher's make" video. I really thought about about that situation and what would I said if they had asked me that question. My reaction would have been that same but not as intense as he said it. Even though I really felt all that he said. It's remarkable how we as teachers will have so much impact on so many children and wonder how much of it is worth it. Of course it is! We will be shaping the future America. Content area classes such as PE, Aggi, Art, and Music are just as important to Americas students as core classes. What will encourage children when theses subjects are gone from the public schools?

Chapter 4 covers many interesting ideas that blend elements that engage students to be successful. I like big points of the chapter that talked about finding alternatives within each text books and other genres. A "balance reading" is good way to put it when integrating Fiction vs. Nonfiction, Choice vs. Assigned, Classic vs. Contemporary Works, Hard vs. Easy, Short vs. Long,....etc.

All these points can be applied to music as well. I could assign a piece of music to the student and would make them read the background of the composer. What was the purpose of the music?, what period did he live in?, what style and form was it composed in? All these thing are important and necessary to interpret the music as the composer intended.

I found that Classroom Library is a very important point and an easy resource to build in any subject and content area. Especially for Band, A music Library is critical for students that are building on their repertoire. Music can be very expensive and as a teacher is very important to keep the music library growing. It would have been nice to see music related books in subject matters book.