Hi Everyone

Well, we are nearing the end of this semester and year.  It has been stressful, challenging, emotional, enjoyable, fun, interesting and everything in between.

There is so much information in Study Unit 5 to assist with teaching and planning music in our classrooms and I can’t wait to practise my new knowledge in my classroom when I return to work.

December is a month away!!!!!

What could the possible reasons be that assessment is neglected in Performing Arts and Music in the Foundation Phase?

• Teachers are not fully equipped and educated on performing arts and music integration

• In the past, and today, most teachers feel that music and performing arts are only for enjoyment, and now they don't comprehend the importance of these components in the education process.

• Schools do not have all the resources required for performing arts and music to be possible in the foundation phase.

• The statistic shows that very few students actually pursue careers in music or the performing arts so the children don’t choose to continue studying the subject.

• Most parents want their children to focus on ‘academic’ subjects only.

• In some school’s music is not seen as an academic subject.  It's almost considered like an extramural activity rather than a subject in its own right.

Please explain how you would advocate for and heighten awareness about the importance of assessment when speaking with your HOD about your concerns in this regard.

When you want to highlight a problem, having a solution is important. You need evidence and a clear way forward, taking into consideration your school’s resources and the demographic of its learners.  I will bring the following under my HOD’s attention:

• Evidence of how neglected assessment can hinder a child's progress, not just in music but in other subjects as well.
• Evidence of improvement in other subjects as a result of incorporating music in those lessons too.
• Individual learner improvement records show how learners have improved both academically and emotionally after music integration in school.

My solution would be to use the CAPS document as the basis of my supporting evidence.  By using the CAPS document as a guideline, I would show that it is required by the Department of Basic Education to include music in the classroom, but most importantly, I would design a music integration programme for our school, focusing on making use of recycled materials to keep the costs low. I would have recorded meetings with the different subject teachers regarding how music can be used effectively in their subjects, along with their suggestions.  This will help to strengthen my argument as it shows that there is uniformity in our phase.

I would get permission from my HOD to run the programme for a week, and gather as much evidence as I can to support my argument.  At the end of the week, I would have the subject teachers and learners do short feedback on their experience of the week.  The learners will also do a small assessment which the subject teachers will mark to see if there has been any improvement.

I will create and assign assignments to include performing arts in my class. At the end of the lesson, I will give the students a reflection activity and a small assessment task, which will assist me in supporting my statement that children learn important communication skills and cognitive development.  All of the data collected will be combined and submitted to the HOD at the end of the week so that they can make an informed decision based on my evidence and argument.

Well, that is all from me.  I hope this post has made sense and also given you some valuable information, from my view.

Good luck with the last 4 weeks of this semester.  Give one final push.  We are nearly there!  You got this!

Stay safe and stay blessed.  In case I don’t tell you before then, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!