MICHELLE DOUBELL
Good day. My name is Michelle Anneline Doubell, and I am currently enrolled in the second Bed Foundation Phase. I am originally from the Eastern Cape but currently reside in the Western Cape. I was given the opportunity to study and work at the same time which I am very grateful for. I never imagined myself as a teacher when I went to study Business Management, but when I couldn't find work in my field, I took my parents' advice and went to observe at a school and look where I am now! Three years later, I'm studying to become the person I was born to be. I observed all grades but fell in love with the learners from the foundation phase; my personality suits them best because I enjoy talking and interacting. I find LSKA 221 to be very educational, enjoyable, and enriching. This module does have a lot of content and requires a lot of time and focus, but I expect to learn new things as well as be able to do new things.
Study Unit 4
10 Nov 2021, 19:36
ARTS INTEGRATION IN THE FOUNDATION PHASE
Is it a waste of time to integrate the arts? I respectfully disagree. Every subject included in the curriculum plays a vital role in the learner’s development whether mathematics or arts. Every subject is distinct in its own way and offers something that another subject does not. I believe that the integration of arts in the Foundation Phase is not a waste of time and here is why:
- Arts integration is a teaching approach in which students construct and demonstrate their understanding through the use of an art form.
- Arts integration encourages active participation in teaching and learning activities, experiential learning, authentic learning activities, collaborative learning, problem-solving skills, and reflection.
- Learners are able to express themselves in a practical way through arts for example drawing a picture about how they feel.
- Arts supports higher academic achievement, socialization, motivation, problem solving and thinking skills of learners.
- Arts integration allows the teacher to create an environment where individual learner needs are identified and met.
- It also allows teachers to draw a link across the curriculum by applying arts in different subjects.
It is evident that the list can go on and on about why the integrating of arts in the Foundation Phase is not a waste of time.
What I found interesting about this study unit:
I've always thought that arts should be a natural part of the Foundation Phase curriculum because the learners are visually and actively stimulated. I never stopped to consider how the Foundation Phase would be without arts. As stated above, the list can go on about the benefits arts integration in the curriculum has and therefore the more I read through study unit 4, the more benefits I identified. I found it interesting that arts can be unutilized in so many ways and that it could be integrated with almost every subject. It was interesting as to how much a learner can learn from arts and that it adds a fun factor to every subject!
What I found challenging about this study unit:
For me, study unit 4 was not challenging at all. I enjoyed the topic very much and I eased through the content. If I really have to choose something that can become challenging, I will say it would be to describe, evaluate and apply an integrative approach since there is not a lot of content that specifies about this topic.