Last night I went to my third Cha Cha lesson with my boyfriend. I love dancing, moving with the music, feeling so graceful and expressive. I really could get lost on the dance floor in my own imagination!
Pedagogically speaking, though, teaching any skill...dance, piano, violin, voice...is basically the same.
#1 The teacher must be able to model the skill for the visual learner.
#2 The teacher must draw from the students' prior knowledge to talk them through each step.
#3 The teacher must watch students' attempt and be able to identify and fix the problems.
Often in my classroom I find myself rushing through #3, and it is the most essential because it is where the student shows what he or she is learning.
Last night I got frustrated because I couldn't get a particular step, so I slowed it down and watched my feet carefully until I diagnosed the problem and was able to correct it. The most difficult thing, emotionally, is not to get embarassed that I can't get it right! Those two self-teaching skills are the weakness of most of my students today, and they are skills that can only be learned through the process of failure and success. Today, in our schools, teachers are forced to be so focused on the goal (raise test scores, get an A, memorize facts) that the process is overlooked. Learning is a journey, and mistakes are expected! It's how we teach our students to handle those mistakes that can change the future.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Me...a piano teacher!
This week my students asked me how long I've been playing the piano and where I learned to play. I told them the truth...I learned to play the piano first by learning to sing and read the pitches on the staff, then poke out those pitches on the piano until what I heard sounded like what I was singing. I've never had any formal piano lessons, but my mother plays piano and organ and taught me little by little as I was growing up. Not too impressive, huh?
I look back on the ways that I learned music and the reasons why I love it so much. I was not forced to attend private lessons or required to practice daily. Instead I was immersed in it through school and church choirs and watching my mother and father sing and play whatever instruments we had around the house. My music education began with experience and watching others share joy through music. I am so lucky in this, and it is what gives me the vision for where to start with my students. Inspire them, encourage them, challenge them... this is my mission for them, and my mission for myself... take the love for music that God has given you, despite formal training, and share it!
I look back on the ways that I learned music and the reasons why I love it so much. I was not forced to attend private lessons or required to practice daily. Instead I was immersed in it through school and church choirs and watching my mother and father sing and play whatever instruments we had around the house. My music education began with experience and watching others share joy through music. I am so lucky in this, and it is what gives me the vision for where to start with my students. Inspire them, encourage them, challenge them... this is my mission for them, and my mission for myself... take the love for music that God has given you, despite formal training, and share it!
Monday, January 12, 2009
KWL: Using blogs in the elementary classroom
Please comment below on the following questions:
What do you already know about blogging and how teachers are using it in their classrooms or in their personal lives?
What questions do you have about blogging?
(I want to prepare BEFORE class!)
AFTER CLASS... What have you learned about blogging that you can use in your classroom or even personal life?
Please indicate which question you are answering when you post your comment. THANKS!
What do you already know about blogging and how teachers are using it in their classrooms or in their personal lives?
What questions do you have about blogging?
(I want to prepare BEFORE class!)
AFTER CLASS... What have you learned about blogging that you can use in your classroom or even personal life?
Please indicate which question you are answering when you post your comment. THANKS!
Spy Camera
This morning I attempted to capture another fabulous video of my incredible teaching ability with my 5th grade music class. The kids were wonderful! They followed procedures, listened quietly while I taught, and tried their best to perform the activity that I assigned them. Bravo children! God bless them, because in the middle of my teaching I felt like the teacher off of Peanuts who spouts "blah, blah, blah" all the day long. I was boring myself to death.
They teach us in college to create an 80/20 classroom environment. 80% student activity and speaking and 20% teacher direct instruction. Of all the things I learned about teaching this is one that has stuck with me. I find my best teaching days are the ones in which I say the least. However, the secret to this method is to give very clear instructions that give the students a chance to experiment with their learning. Even though I taught this exact same lesson to a class last week with enormous success, the words simply wouldn't come this morning, and I was left feeling drained and anxious about the rest of my day.
Yet, God shines surprises down on us when we least expect it...
Two hours later, in my K5 class, the light flipped back on and the fun and engaging Miss Irvin returned. Students were smiling with eyes bright instead of glazed over. They were learning by playing and experiencing music. Oh how I wish the camera would have captured this scene!
So I've decided that, seeing as the greatest teaching moments often sneak up on me, instead of showing themselves off for the camera, I am in serious need of one of those lapel pin spy cameras that will capture my students and myself off guard and in our natural habitat. Anyone know where I can find one of those gadgets?
They teach us in college to create an 80/20 classroom environment. 80% student activity and speaking and 20% teacher direct instruction. Of all the things I learned about teaching this is one that has stuck with me. I find my best teaching days are the ones in which I say the least. However, the secret to this method is to give very clear instructions that give the students a chance to experiment with their learning. Even though I taught this exact same lesson to a class last week with enormous success, the words simply wouldn't come this morning, and I was left feeling drained and anxious about the rest of my day.
Yet, God shines surprises down on us when we least expect it...
Two hours later, in my K5 class, the light flipped back on and the fun and engaging Miss Irvin returned. Students were smiling with eyes bright instead of glazed over. They were learning by playing and experiencing music. Oh how I wish the camera would have captured this scene!
So I've decided that, seeing as the greatest teaching moments often sneak up on me, instead of showing themselves off for the camera, I am in serious need of one of those lapel pin spy cameras that will capture my students and myself off guard and in our natural habitat. Anyone know where I can find one of those gadgets?
Friday, January 9, 2009
Cold Weather and Hot Biscuits
It's 30 degrees outside and my students and I are standing in the car line selling hot chick-fil-a biscuits. Yes, this was my idea!
The Singers started this fundraiser last year to support all of the extras that our choral program has to offer. We began by selling every Friday morning for one month, but after seeing the profit we could make decided to continue selling for the rest of the school year. Money raised goes to buy quality choral repertoire for the students to study, instead of just the free stuff I can get my hands on. It also provides scholarships for students who need some extra help paying for a field trip or a t-shirt. Sometimes we even have enough money left over to do something special for the whole choir; for example, last spring all the kids got a free ticket to Carowinds to sing for competition.
Not only does selling biscuits help us raise money, but it also helps raise the moral of my singers. I always stress to them that we are a family and we work hard, play hard, and sometimes even struggle together. The point is that we are "all in this together"! Watching my students pre-sell biscuits each week and stand out in the cold and rain to sell in the car line makes me so proud of their commitment. Because they give so much of themselves in ways other than singing, they take more pride in putting their heart into the music they sing. We are servants to our community, not only by warming their hearts with singing, but warming their tummies with breakfast each Friday morning!
Thank you to Chick-fil-a, our principal, faculty and staff, and car line parents for helping us make this program a huge success!
The Singers started this fundraiser last year to support all of the extras that our choral program has to offer. We began by selling every Friday morning for one month, but after seeing the profit we could make decided to continue selling for the rest of the school year. Money raised goes to buy quality choral repertoire for the students to study, instead of just the free stuff I can get my hands on. It also provides scholarships for students who need some extra help paying for a field trip or a t-shirt. Sometimes we even have enough money left over to do something special for the whole choir; for example, last spring all the kids got a free ticket to Carowinds to sing for competition.
Not only does selling biscuits help us raise money, but it also helps raise the moral of my singers. I always stress to them that we are a family and we work hard, play hard, and sometimes even struggle together. The point is that we are "all in this together"! Watching my students pre-sell biscuits each week and stand out in the cold and rain to sell in the car line makes me so proud of their commitment. Because they give so much of themselves in ways other than singing, they take more pride in putting their heart into the music they sing. We are servants to our community, not only by warming their hearts with singing, but warming their tummies with breakfast each Friday morning!
Thank you to Chick-fil-a, our principal, faculty and staff, and car line parents for helping us make this program a huge success!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
How do I explain?
Next week I will be teaching a professional development session on blogging at my school. As is typical of most schools, our students are significantly more advanced than we are at using technology to their advantage. Me... I just signed up on Facebook a week ago after purchasing my Blackberry cell phone. (FYI - I am now completely adicted to all things Blackberry... my life in the palm of my hand!)
Now don't get me wrong. I consider myself to be somewhat of a techie when it comes to computer software and hardware that we typically use in the classroom: Promethean Activboards, Office software, and oh, can I make some beautiful programs using Publisher! My internet communication skills, however, are lacking. "Why?" you might ask. There are several reasons...
Reasons why Suemelody is "www" challenged:
1. I am of the opinion that I spend enough time on a computer at work, therefore, I do not subscribe to the internet at home. The rewards are I don't take my work home with me, not to mention one less bill to pay on this lowly teacher's salary. However, since I am typically working at work instead of surfing the web, I do not have the opportunity to "play" with internet related technology.
2. Since anything put on the internet can be seen by anyone at any time, I am always leery of providing personal information. This includes using real names and places. I know it's just an adjustment that I must make in my brain.
3. In all honesty, I'm more of a talker than a writer! Always have been. The pressure of thinking of something significant to say that others may actually be interested in reading overwhelms me much of the time. Same goes for pictures. I would rather spend time in the moment than be behind a camera taking a picture of the moment. I'm sure my memory keeping genes will kick in one of these days, since I do hope to have children and record the milestones in their lives, but until then, I'm at a loss.
Knowing all of my own shortcomings, how do I begin to explain to my colleagues why it is beneficial to use blogging in their classrooms? The best answer I have is "because it will motivate our students, meeting them where they are in their social lives and giving each the opportunity to express his or her ideas." For now, that's the best I have to give!
See you in class, fellow student-motivators!
Now don't get me wrong. I consider myself to be somewhat of a techie when it comes to computer software and hardware that we typically use in the classroom: Promethean Activboards, Office software, and oh, can I make some beautiful programs using Publisher! My internet communication skills, however, are lacking. "Why?" you might ask. There are several reasons...
Reasons why Suemelody is "www" challenged:
1. I am of the opinion that I spend enough time on a computer at work, therefore, I do not subscribe to the internet at home. The rewards are I don't take my work home with me, not to mention one less bill to pay on this lowly teacher's salary. However, since I am typically working at work instead of surfing the web, I do not have the opportunity to "play" with internet related technology.
2. Since anything put on the internet can be seen by anyone at any time, I am always leery of providing personal information. This includes using real names and places. I know it's just an adjustment that I must make in my brain.
3. In all honesty, I'm more of a talker than a writer! Always have been. The pressure of thinking of something significant to say that others may actually be interested in reading overwhelms me much of the time. Same goes for pictures. I would rather spend time in the moment than be behind a camera taking a picture of the moment. I'm sure my memory keeping genes will kick in one of these days, since I do hope to have children and record the milestones in their lives, but until then, I'm at a loss.
Knowing all of my own shortcomings, how do I begin to explain to my colleagues why it is beneficial to use blogging in their classrooms? The best answer I have is "because it will motivate our students, meeting them where they are in their social lives and giving each the opportunity to express his or her ideas." For now, that's the best I have to give!
See you in class, fellow student-motivators!
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