Reflection #6 Field experiences

We were able to do a few art integrated lessons the first was making a booklet where we had the kids draw symbols to represent the Six reasons for exploration.  They had fun doing these little books and they learned the subject well.

We were also able to do a dramatic reading session about Columbus.  It was fun also we had them pretend they were on the boat with columbus, we turned the lights down low, and gave them paper hats to wear as they listened to the story.

The most interesting thing that happened during field was hearing about the grumpy old art teacher.  The kids hated going to her class she taught art and music that just seems wrong. The reason they disliked it so much was because the old lady ran it with an iron fist so to say.  She had them watch a video about music as they colored or drew something quietly at their desks.  How boring and unproductive can you get sheesh.

Reflection #5 VISUAL ARTS

I have learned a lot about my self from this section.  First that I am really passionate about visual art more so than any other form of art. I have also learned that this is what I want to teach more than anything else.   I enjoyed reading through the chapters and learning about how art can improve children's learning experience in so many ways.  I know for sure that it was art that got me through school, yet after reading about it more in depth I cannot help but wonder where I would be now if I had it as fully integrated as is is described in the book.  Some of my current teachers keep saying teach the way you want to be taught.  I can see how that would bring a lot of passion into every lesson I teach.  I would be willing to do much more for every student to understand and actually be able to understand and perform any task that needs to be taught.  I would definitely be more interested in what I was doing.  Of all the things we have done in class the art activity about the elements of art was my favorite.  I was excited to keep going and do more and more.  I also enjoyed doing the illustrator project I could do that over and over again too.  In ending I wonder how can I transfer this passion to everything else?

Music and Happiness

Charles Spearin - The Happiness Project

The Happiness Project | MySpace Music Videos
I posted this video because it shows how much music is a part of our lives even if we don't know it.
I am still not sure how I will include dance in my lessons beside having them get the wiggles out. Need to keep trying stuff and going to dance education workshops. I know I will be using music as much as I can.

Reflection # 3 DaNcE

The reading was enlightening to say the least.  I am amazed at how much dance helps children in their learning.  It makes sense that it would help them so much,  they have all that energy that needs to be used up.  It might as well be used up productively.    I also enjoyed the activities we did in class especially the brain dance it was really relaxing and I felt a little more in tune with my body.  The machine dance would be fun to apply to a lesson where you are discussing the help or change that a machine has made to our lives, such as the cotton gin.

I don't remember doing much dance in school maybe I blocked it out of my memory.  The one time I do remember was a square dance in 6th grade where I had to dance with my neighbor who was a foot and a half taller than me.  I didn't enjoy having my struggle with hight displayed to the hole school.
I talked to my little sister who teaches 2nd grade about how much she is able to use dance in her class she said they do some in PE and she has them dance with the music activities.  But that was about the extent of it.  I want to integrate all this stuff but I can see how much of a challenge it will be do find the time to do it all.

Reflection #2

The first introduction to Drama I ever had scared me, it was in Junior High School and the Drama / Life Teacher loved Drama/Theatre and he did some kind of charades sort of game but he told us what he was before he started.  He announced that he would interpret for us Bacon.  He then got up on the desk and proceeded to make frying noises and move as if he was being fried in a pan.  It looked more like a grand mal seizure, and it scarred me, from then on I thought drama and consequently theatre was just too weird for me to understand.  Well since then I married a girl that grew up doing musical theatre and took some humanities classes that have all opened my eyes to new perspectives.

In play a child is always above his average age, above his daily behavior, in play it is as though he were a head taller than himself. - Lev (Vyvotsky)  This quote showed me that I have been doing drama my whole life even when I thought it was dumb.  I love pretending and having make believe worlds.  It is how dreams come to fruition.  Learning more about drama has helped me understand the potential it has to help us grow and reach farther we would other wise.  Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the food we oft might win, by fearing the attempt. -( William Shakespeare)  I have lost much to doubt and I know many others that have as well.  Drama seems to be a key to finding that confidence to imagine things other than how doubt shows.  Beyond giving confidence in ourselves and our skills drama is also a terrific source of hands on activities.  Which for many children is the best way to learn, and apply knowledge.

Reflection #1

As I have begun my professional Educator training I have been pleasantly surprised at how much I hoped to do is currently being taught to me.  While I was deciding to get into the program my visions of grandeur including being able to incorporate all my art skills and knowledge.  I had little to no idea that there were so many people already doing the things I want to do.  I am now very hopeful that I can find an Arts integrated school to teach at.  I have always felt my education was incomplete and it is all the aspects we have talked about that I feel I missed.  As I have talked to my wife, who recently went through UVU's teaching program and is currently teaching, about applying what she learned she has expressed some frustration that it is hard to fit even what the district and school want taught let alone adding all the arts integration and the other things she learned in school.  I know part of her struggle is being a first year teacher and just getting lessons planned is difficult.  Yet I have hope that she and I will be able to incorporate more as time goes on.  I am excited to learn more about applying visual arts into the day as well as music, being that they are a large part of my life.  I want future generations to have arts in their education because of how much it adds to life, how it allows us to breach culture walls, gives a base to understand different people, and it is such a healthy escape from life which in itself  makes it invaluable.

I have decide I would try to include some kind of art work that I have done or been involved with in each post.  This particular piece is entitled Enlightened it is a self portrait about me getting carried away with my ideas.  Hopefully school will continue to provide these ideas for me.