Good day,

The integration of arts is neglected in many classrooms and I think the reason for that is there is simply not enough time or that is the way many teachers feel. The CAPS document is only a guideline to follow, and I do not think there is enough guidance and information presented.

Teachers spend hours preparing lesson plans and not everyone has enough knowledge about the integration of arts and music. They do not know how to implement it.

At the beginning of the semester, I thought that LSKM 221 would not be such a challenge for me, because I am creative and have a great passion for arts.

As the semester progressed the assignment deadlines felt like it was all at once and to much to handle.

The blogs really challenged me I did not understand it completely at first and I did not keep up with the due dates. The second thing that challenged me was assignment 1 I gave all my efforts but the marks I received back was poor, but it gave me a wake-up call to read assignments more thoroughly.

The third thing that challenged me, as I predicted were the group assignment, it is very difficult to do an assignment in group work -long distance and we already had a great deal of group assignments. I would change that in the future. I would rather do peer assessment where we mark our fellow students’ work.

I did find the individual reflections meaningful, because it helped me prepare for writing my final blog post. If I could change the collaborative reflections, I would want to be paired just one of my fellow students. We can then help each other and give each other feedback.

This is now an eye opener to never slack down on due dates and to plan and manage my time better.

The things I learned and find valuable:

Children learn through play, performing arts and music. Help them to learn with their bodies and improve their gross motor skills.

 Teachers should make the learning environment fun and simple. Integrations of arts motivates and promotes learners; they perform better academically, and they learn to socialise with their peers. Activities should be understandable and, on the learners’, specific level.

When doing lesson planning, we should make room for all our learners we should include every individual. Every learner should be valued and accommodated according to their specific special needs. No learner should be left out or be discriminated against.

I feel the best way to teach is learner centred and to have an active engagement in your classroom. An active engagement stimulates our young minds and triggers their curiosity. When creativity is implemented, growth and learning will soon follow. Many learners are visual and active learners especially at a young age, it is important the keep that in mind as teacher.

The teacher is the manager of the classroom, and she determines how the learners will learn and function in the classroom. Teachers should do good planning, you cannot stand in front of your classroom unprepared, it will reflect on the learners. Learn how to implement performing arts and music into your teaching. Keep good discipline in your classroom and be creative. Do not let any obstacle get in your way, give your everything, make sacrifices and do your best.

Good day 

If I had to choose between different genres of music to implement in the classroom I would choose:

Contemporary commercial music (including popular music and film music).

I would put focus on film music.

It is an option that both meet the learner’s needs, because they are familiar with the music and are on their level and it makes sure that no child feels left out. There is no discrimination between cultures. Playing a song from example an animation about animals will include every learner.

Content:

The content in study unit is very inclusive. Every learner is valued and learners are accommodated according to their special needs.

There is multiple approaches and ways to teach and facilitate arts. Teachers are continuously making new plans and ideas to help learners learn.

Good morning on such a lovely day.

I do not agree with the statement that arts integration is a waste of time in the foundation phase.                         

I would rather state that it is a necessity that we as the teachers cannot go without. Multiple studies have proven that arts integration supports learners academic level it also helps with socialising among learners and motivation towards academy.

In a diverse classroom I can accommodate all the learners’ needs and implement different learning styles with the help of arts integration.

Integrating arts helps teachers to implement gross motor skills, children are visual learners and should be able to use their bodies. It provides the opportunity for me to create lesson plans suitable to improve my learners’ skills and knowledge other than just the usual classroom environment with pencils and papers.

If teachers can improve learners’ imagination, they can improve their motivation to learn new things and if the learn they grow.

I want children to keep their knowledge for the rest of their lives and use it in the future.

Aspects that I find interesting and challenging:

I think the greatest challenge is to create a teaching environment that suits every individual learners’ needs. No learner’s needs will ever be the same, but I have to do my utter best to create lesson plans that supports the learner’s differences.

I have to plan with great detail especially when it comes to accommodating different cultures and socio-economic structures of learners. I have to meet every learner in the middle for example when choosing the right song or activity.

I did not know or realise that we can use arts in Mathematics, I Found that the most interesting. It makes absolute sense, a song(music) or a rhyme can help with memory and recognition. I remembered than that my Grade 3 teacher used a melody of a song to us our multiplication table.

I did not like Mathematics as a school learner and a small attribute like for example the song helped to motivate me to give my best. I want to inspire my learners in that way some day.

Good morning, I am Eldorese Keogh I am 21 years old.

I grew up in a small town in the Free State called Kroonstad. I am currently working at a primary school as a student teacher. It is a great opportunity to learn in the practice.

 From a very young age I already knew that I wanted to become a teacher one day. I am people’s person and I love to make a difference in someone’s life especially children. Teaching is my definitely my biggest passion. I live by the quote that says, “be the change you want to see in the world”. I have a rainbow heart, that goes out to everyone that needs my help and wants to learn new things.

I come from a very creative family, my father is artist and a photographer.  The creative aspect of teaching is my ideal lifestyle. It helps me to go above and beyond my comfort zone and challenge me and I am sure that is what LSKM  221 will mean for me. I think I will learn new ways to implement arts and music into the curriculum. I am firm believer of creativeness in the curriculum it helps learners to grow and learn in new ways. You cannot expect a foundation phase learner to learn from a book you have to implement gross motor skills into the curriculum. Children learn with their bodies and visual is very important as well.

I am uncertain of the groupwork of this module. Groupwork is not my strong attribute, because I am introvert.  It is very difficult for  me to communicate with my fellow ODL students whom I have never met. I am very excited to learn new ways to teach and knowledge I can keep for the rest of my life.

Everyday has a new opportunity to succeed.