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.
Monday, May 4, 2009
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Reflection on Ch. 3
Before reading this chapter, I never knew the process textbooks undertook to reach class rooms. I always knew that we were going to be bombarded with heavy books that I really wasn't going to understand most of the time. I remember back in middle school all the heavy books our teachers would assign us, but couldn't find sense in why they were so big. After reading this chapter, I realized the mistake is was having should books. "So much information that I can't remember all that" I remember saying when reading my 13 pound geography book. It was just to broad for me and didn't get to the "meat"of a subject. The worst part of all is my teacher would read word to word form the textbook and gave a fill in the blanks after the reading. Seriously, I think everyone left with a mild understanding of what that class was suppose to teach us.
It's amazing how superficial these texct books are. I allways thought that carefull experts got together and put the book together thinking of the kids that were to read the book. What are kids supposed to do when they get six to eight heavy weight books to read and complete all standedized test matrial when the rest of the information is irrelavant to their comprehension. Could this be the reason why test are so low in the U.S and all these new programs are poping up in so many states? How badly are these books made?
New designs on how to attrack kids to read the text are obiously distracting to many. According the readin in page 41, the books are trying to make it feel like a computer or a video game where the kids feel in control. In the outcome most students end up confused and overwhelmed. This becomes harder for struggling readers and really need to stay away from such distractions. Its disappointing to think how textbook publishing business work. Teacher should be aware on how not to be narrowed down strictly on what the book says.
It's amazing how superficial these texct books are. I allways thought that carefull experts got together and put the book together thinking of the kids that were to read the book. What are kids supposed to do when they get six to eight heavy weight books to read and complete all standedized test matrial when the rest of the information is irrelavant to their comprehension. Could this be the reason why test are so low in the U.S and all these new programs are poping up in so many states? How badly are these books made?
New designs on how to attrack kids to read the text are obiously distracting to many. According the readin in page 41, the books are trying to make it feel like a computer or a video game where the kids feel in control. In the outcome most students end up confused and overwhelmed. This becomes harder for struggling readers and really need to stay away from such distractions. Its disappointing to think how textbook publishing business work. Teacher should be aware on how not to be narrowed down strictly on what the book says.
Since this chapter, I started to pay closer attention to my textbooks. One thick book I usually have been using for classes had have discrepancies and contradictions with in 4 pages. I found that disappointed. Even though I know most of that information is accurate, it's amazing how the editors have not caught those errors after the fifth or sixth edition. Teachers need to learn how to use textbooks as references and to each discretion.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Reflection on CH 12
I have heard a few teachers say " Weren't they supposed to learn to read in elementary school?", and It seems that teachers point fingers to who ever it seems convenient to. Frankly, I see their program and I can't help but blame them for even saying such a thing. Fact of the matter is many kids will not learn the same way at the same pace. We as educators should realized and learn how to build on their previous knowledge. I mentioned this in my last blog about overloading the students with unrealistic criteria, and expect them to learn at my pace.
I really had a hard time trying to understand the sample text in the book until the book told us what it was about. I tried to connect words to my previous knowledge, but for every text sample I just couldn't think of the bigger picture. This is exactly how I felt in middle school when I would break my head trying to fit big historic events into a timeline in my World History class. Then as I took classes on specific eras of history, I suddenly remembered and built a frame of reference in my head, one thing I wasn't able to do before.
Looking over the thinking strategies of effective reading, and I can't believe that we actually think through all theses steps without even knowing it. Then the book related this same concept to driving through a familiar road. I am amazed of how I arrived to a place without full consciousness of my driving. I know many students go through this process as they learn and it's our job to help them through thinking strategies affectively.
I strongly believe that students will engage more on reading if educators know how to provide students with affective pre-reading activities (subject matters pg 31). Teaching them how to get involved with the reading material so they could get interested and explore. I love when teachers take text material and transmitting it to the physical realm. It always seems more engaging and appreciative.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Reflection on CH1-12
I remember when I was a kid that I use to struggle concentrating on what I was reading and after a few minutes I realized that I was not grasping the information, I was just reading what was right in front of me. I had to read in twice for every chapter and I knew what my problem was. I was not reading enough and i really didn't care. What saved me from failing was going over the questions on the end of the chapter and answering the questions. Reading on Chapter one, I look back on my eight through twelve grades science courses, I acted like many of the students in Mr. Cosgrove's imaginary biology class. I really didn't see how the subject fit into my life of interest until I was able to use it. I really understood the rules of physics when it came to building a rocket and calculating where and how landing was possible. I can see the challenges that educators face when different factor interfere with what the kids really should learn through reading. I know motivation is very important and educators are doing their best to instill self motivation in kids, but finding those resources in schools is the toughest part.
I think back on the exercise last wednesday and on how it was a little hard for me to make sense of the gibberish. Mr. Bussell said that most proficient readers don't pay attention the every word as they read, and it made me think how I could I apply this to music reading. I ask my self, "Would reading more make me better or worse at reading music?" Can fluency prevent me from paying attention at uncommon details in music reading? I know that more music reading is always good for me as a musician, but would book reading could? As a music educator, I wish to incorporate many of the thinking strategies chapter 1 talks about. It's important to make the kid visualize ideas and situations in the text , make connections, ask questions, draw inferences, evaluate and determine what's important, notice and analyze the author's craft, recall ideas, self-monitor while reading (subject matters, pg.3-4).
I agree on chapter 12 about key points students should be reading to help their learning. It's still a little hard as a future music educator to have them read of another subject and have time to cover a complete applicable music lesson for that day. I can see how important a reading about a certain composer and his music is good in order for the student to broaden their perspective of the style, time, and purpose of the music. Hopefully I can help students get involved with what they learn in all classes though music. I feel I play a big part in how kids react to how they learn. I need to be careful to not overload them with so much information but use what they know to help them grow.
Point number ten on Chapter 12 is very interesting. I remember that in middle school my teacher would read aloud to us. I always like how she read to us and it really help me to think more on how I was reading. Then, as I think back on my playing progress on the saxophone, I really didn't advance on my sound and style until I heard a professional saxophonist play for me. I can see how important imitation and hearing is to all subjects. I feel strongly to what the book says about being engaged to a reading community. This goes hand in hand with learning and perfecting and art. If one is regularly around with people who do, talk, read, and write together about any subject, that person will learn and explore to the fullest extent.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Blog Intro
My name is Abraham Uribe from a small town of Chaparral NM. I am currently studying Music education, emphasis on alto saxophone.
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