Hello fellow bloggers,

I can’t believe that this will be my final blog! I am not going to lie when I say that I will be very glad to see the back of this semester, it has certainly been my most challenging one yet and I just pray that my third year will not be as hectic, however, I doubt that this will be the case.

I really can’t believe that we are nearly at the end of 2021, I am not sure where the time has gone but I am very much looking forward to spending some quality time with my children who I seem to have neglected during this semester ☹ I keep telling myself it is only for a short time and it is for them that I am doing this.

Individual reflection

1. Please share your story as an LSKM 221 student by comparing your knowledge, skills, experiences, abilities and attitude towards music education from the start of the semester to the end of the semester.

When I first started this module I was a bit apprehensive, as much as I enjoy music and the arts I had no idea where to even start. Taking a a music lesson seemed impossible and I wasn’t sure of how to incorporate music into the classroom, let alone integrating it into different subjects! However, as the weeks went by I learnt each study unit this all became a lot more clearer to me. I can truly say that if I had to take a music lesson I would feel quite comfortable to do this as the knowledge and skills that I have acquired has certainly built my confidence in this subject.

2. What was your experience of the role of individual reflection as part of the teaching and learning process? Use the following prompts to reflect on your blogging experience and the role that individual reflection played (or not) in your teaching and learning experience this semester:

• What did you learn from your individual reflections?

I have enjoyed doing the individual reflections as this has allowed me to reflect on each study unit as it has finished. I must be honest and say that I have not had an opportunity to read over each of my reflections again but it is nice to know that they are there if I ever want to see them. In terms of learning something specific I am a deep thinker and I feel as if I am constantly reflecting on everything that I do.

• What did you find challenging?

I must say that I found the group assignment most challenging. I really don’t mind working in a group as I know that it is part and parcel of the job one day, but when you are spread all over the place and have to pull something together not being face to face is really difficult. As a student we are all under pressure but some people don’t prioritise like you would if it was your own individual assignment and when communication is not consistent it makes things that much harder.

• Did you find the individual reflections meaningful? Please motivate your answer.

I think the individual reflections were nice to put into a summary of how your week went and what we had learnt from that specific study unit, however, as I am someone who reflects and over thinks everything all the time my reflections were just my thoughts in black and white.

• What would you change if you had the opportunity in future?

I don’t think the reflections are all that necessary but should be optional so that it can act as a reference for those who like to write their thoughts and reflections down.

3. Please share what you would change in the LSKM221 module if you had the opportunity. The following prompts can guide your reflection:

• What did you find interesting and meaningful?

I found the whole module meaningful, as I said in the very beginning of my blogs, this is all very new to me and besides the fact that I love music and the arts knowing how to teach it and incorporate it into the classroom is a whole other level on its own. I really think that there was a lot of useful information in this module that I will certainly use when I am a teacher one day. Who know’s maybe I will ask to take a music lesson at the school that I am working at and put my learning into practice.

• What challenged you, and what do you still struggle to understand?

Learning through music, in music, with music etc. is something that I am going to have to wrap my head around a bit more. It might seem easy but I need to keep these at the forefront of my mind when trying to incorporate music in different ways into the classroom and into my lessons. The more I think about these the more I will understand how these can be done.

• What didn’t you find valuable for your future teaching practice?

I found everything valuable in the module as this has been the most exposure that I have had to music and the arts, other than when I was a student at school myself.

I just wanted to say a very big thank you to Mrs Francis for helping us this year. Being a distance student can be really tough and you feel like you are on your own most of the time but it is refreshing when you have a lecturer who cares so much about the well being of her students and communicates so effectively. Thank you every so much, your efforts have not gone unnoticed.   

Hello fellow bloggers,

Well, as we are nearing the end of the year, I unfortunately still don’t feel as if I am on top of all my work. It was nice to have recess but working on assignments that are due so close together meant that I did not get a break. I sound like a broken record because every time I post a blog it seems like I have something negative to say but I am seriously struggling with the workload. I feel like I am running around like a headless chicken and still not achieving much ☹ I hope things settle down soon and I get on top of my work.

As I have been studying for almost 2 years now and being afforded the opportunity to work in a foundation phase school I can certainly see how important it is to assess learners and the benefits this has. This study unit confirms the importance of lesson planning and assessment and these should always be done in every subject at school. The part that I found particularly interesting was transformation through music education and the questions that should be considered when planning lessons, this really makes one think about how children might feel or think which is what we should always consider when planning lessons. How will these lessons benefit them? And do we have the learners best interest at heart?    

Individual reflection

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

In my opinion, assessment is often neglected because there is not always a specialist teacher to teach this subject. Teachers who are not specialists in this field but have to teach music might not know how to assess learners in this area and because they have other subjects to think about they might feel that music is not as important. Some under privileged schools might not have the facilities to have a music department and therefore there is no opportunity for children to be assessed or even learn about music, which is very sad. Music has so many benefits from what I have learned throughout this moducle and it would be nice for schools to put more emphasis on learning about music especially in the foundation phase.

• 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.

Being equipped with the knowledge that I have learned about the benefits of music and the performing arts, I would have to voice my opinion on the importance of assessment and why this should be made a priority in every subject. I wousld ask to speak to the Head of Department and explain to her/him that during my observation I have noticed that assessment is not a regular thing and this should be made a priority. I would explain to them that the reasons why I believe this should be made a priority is because of all the benefits that music has on a developing learner and if we are to keep their best interests at heart then assessment is imperative. Assessment not only allows us to see their improvement but it also helps us to see what area a learner might be struggling in.

At the end of the day it is up to us as teachers to always keep our learners in mind and decide what is best for them. We have to equip them with the skills and knowledge that will help them throughout their life and this starts in the foundation phase. Assessment has to be done and it has to be made a priority in every school.

Hello Everyone,

I hope you have all had a good week. My week has been ok and I am ticking things off my to do list slowly but everytime I tick something off it feels like another 3 things have to be added onto the list to be completed! I know I said this a few blogs ago but I am really finding the second semester quite full on. If any of you are feeling the same then don’t worry you are not alone.

After reading through this Study Unit it is incredible to see that something as simple as music and art play such a vital role in the development of foundation phase learners. We all like listening to music and getting in touch with our creative side so why wouldn’t we do this more in the classroom? There are so many aspects and skills that can be improve by incorporating music and arts are things like: reading and language development, mathematics, cognitive skills and emotional social behaviour just to name a few. There were some lovely activities provided which certainly give me a better understanding of how I can incorporate this into my classroom one day.

Individual reflection

1. Some people might say that arts integration is a waste of time in Foundation Phase education. Please explain how you would respond to such a statement by explaining your view on arts integration in the Foundation Phase.

I do not agree with this statement at all. If there is one thing that I have learnt from this study unit it is that there are a so many positive aspects that can be attributed to integrating arts in the foundation phase. Having the opportunity to work in a foundation phase school I get to see the delight on each and every learners face when they get told that they are going to music or that they will be doing an art activity. This is proof in itself that arts integration is important and people who agree with the statement above do not get to see the excitement on their faces otherwise this statement would not exist. By doing art or music activities it allows the learners to escape to another place where they can express themselves in a creative way where “normal” school work does not allow. Art develops a number of cognitive abilities for example mathematics, language development and reading, however, it also gives a child the life skills they will need too. This includes collaboaration and social skills, self confidence as well as independence. The arts allows children to show us what they have learnt in a different way and there is nothing better than hearing a room of happy singing children.

2. Which aspects of study unit 4 did you find the most interesting and challenging? 

• What did you find interesting? Please explain why.

The value of arts integration has been very interesting as it reiterates how important it is to embrace diversity, as each child has their own hidden talents which we need to unveil. When we incorporate the arts into the classroom it encourages problem solving, collaboration and allows a mutual respect for each other. I have learnt that music and the arts certainly brings children together in a way that no other subject can. It allows learners to develop holistically which is the ultimate goal.

• What did you find challenging? Please explain why.

I found the theoretical framework for arts integration could be quite a challenge. The reason why I say this is because I had no idea that there were 6 ways in which music can be integrated in the classroom and were broken up into categories which include teaching and learning about, from, on, with, in and through music. I don’t think anyone really knows how versatile music can be and we can use this to our advantage, as it can only have a positive impact on our learners. I would like to have a look at this is in more detail and get an idea of how I will be able to incorporate this into my daily teaching. This has really left me with some food for thought.

Hello again fellow bloggers,

I can’t believe the time to write another blog is already here! All I can say is wow, what a busy week it has been. Our big WIL assignment is due 20^th September and it has taken up a lot of my time. We as a group have met deadlines and have worked well together but putting together the final product has been stressful and time consuming. I am pleased to say that the assignment has been submitted but it took me about an hour to click on the submit button as I always get so nervous – ridiculous I know!

Musical play is something that I have been looking forward to learning more about. When you watch children play you don’t seem to think about the social level of play they might be fitting into at the time, but learning more about this and understanding what each level means will certainly allow me to identify this the next time I watch children at play. The other thing that I thought was quite interesting was the seven elements of play and how play is just a great way of bringing people of all ages together to have fun.

INDIVIDUAL REFLECTION:

What possibly made some learners uncomfortable during these activities?

• As the song was in Zulu and not all of the learners have Zulu as a mother tongue, can be daunting, and if you pronounce the words incorrectly there is this fear of your peers making fun of you.

• Dancing in a circle where all eyes are on you can be equally daunting for learners. At this age these learners start to become more aware of their surroundings and become self conscious of what they do and how their actions will be received.

• Some learners struggle to do two things at a time and passing a stone while singing can be difficult for some.

Why were some learners uncomfortable?

• The song – although the teacher was very good at explaining the pronunciation of the words to the learners, especially to those whose mother tongue is not Zulu, unfortunately she did not explain what these words meant in English. If this is not done it can make learners feel uncomfortable as they don’t understand what they are singing.

• The games – playing a game like passing the stone allows all eyes to be on the learner that ends up with a pile of stones in front of them. This might make them feel embarrassed as they are unable to keep up with the rest of the learners making them feel as if they are unable to do what their peers can do.

• Dancing – due to the fact that all learners come from different cultural and religious backgrounds dancing in front of someone else might not be accepted or allowed. If this is the case it could make them feel uncomfortable.

Can you think of ways to address these issues in future? What will you change?

• Ensure that the song is translated to ensure that everyone understands what they are singing or do two songs one in English and another in a different language.

• Before the children dance in front of each other let them all dance together so that no one is doing it on their own first. This allows them all to relax and laugh with each other.

• Before getting learners to do any activity on their own make sure to ask questions so that whatever you have planned doesn’t go against anyone's beliefs.  

• Instead of putting the learners in one big group for passing the stone put them into smaller groups when doing this game or adapt the game to make it more inclusive.

How can we accommodate diverse learner profiles in our classrooms? What must we beware of?

• When planning a lesson we need to ensure that personal beliefs are taken into account and we need to accommodate the lesson for change.

• If there is a learner that we notice who is feeling uncomfortable it is important to ask questions and allow them to do something else.

• Get to know the learners on a personal level so that you know them and understand their backgrounds.  

Hello everyone,

I am back and what a week it has been! Still feeling very overwhelmed with all the work that I have to do and the deadlines that are fast approaching, I just wish there was more hours in the day!

Study unit 2 has been very informative, learning more about the music elements has been particularly interesting for me. I had no idea that beat is usually grouped into 2, 3 or 4 beats, when I listen to music I kind of get lost in the song but now I find myself identifying the number of beats that I hear The activity videos that Mrs. Francis put up for us were nicely demonstrated and I had fun getting involved myself. This has given me some good ideas on how to show my learners these different concepts.

INDIVIDUAL REFLECTION:

1. As a Foundation Phase teacher, you have to choose between utilizing indigenous African music, Western Art music or contemporary commercial music (including popular music and film music) in your classes. Which would you choose? Please motivate your answer.

I think that all these types of music should be considered when teaching music and they all do come with their pro’s and cons, but in general most people like different varieties of music and not only from one genre.  However, if I had to choose from one of the above I would choose contemporary commercial music. The reason for my choice is because children can relate to this type of music as it is what they will hear in the car on the way to work, on the t.v. at home and in the movies that they might watch. I also believe that this type of music is more inclusive and will be known and appeal to many of the children in the classroom.  

2. Do you think that the examples and content offered in SU 2 are inclusive? Please motivate your answer.

I definitely think that the the examples and content offered are inclusive. There were some lovely ideas offered to demonstrate the different elements of music with different instruments and you can even turn recycled goods into instruments. These sorts of ideas would great to use in any school regardless of them having resources or not.

3. What suggestions do you have for making the content more inclusive? Please provide examples of how the content and activities presented in SU 2 could be changed or adapted to be more inclusive.

A few more activities could be nice to see as you can never get enough help when it comes to this especially for me who has never taught music before, however, all in all I thought the content was very good  and it doesn't really need to be changed. It was easy to understand, fun and had a lot of good ideas for us to use in our own classrooms.  

Hello my fellow bloggers,

I can’t believe another week is over, where does the time go?!?

I am not sure how most of you have been feeling but if you have been trying to keep your head above water with your workload, don’t’ fear, this is exactly how I have been feeling too. Juggling work and family life is a task in itself and to chuck all the varsity work into the mix makes it quite stressful at times. I am sure we will get through the semester successfully together by taking one day at a time.

It is incredible to see how influential the likes of Piaget, Erikson and Vygotsky’s theories have had in different fields within education as their names come up in nearly every subject that I have done so far. When you think of children doing music you don’t really think beyond the fact that it is a fun activity for them to do. However, there is ‘method to the madness’ as they say. What I have learnt is that all of the activities that are done in music helps with their physical, emotional, personal, cognitive and social development, it is only now after working through this study unit that it has become even more clear to me how important music is in the holistic development of a child in the foundation phase.

Individual reflection

1. I personally love music however, it is not something that I have ever had to teach so I am not very confident in this field. I am lucky enough to attend music lessons at the school that I am an intern at and I am definitely learning a few things from the music teacher. What I have noticed is that teachers will put music on in the classroom when they can see that their learners are losing focus on work, this breaks up the routine slightly and injects some enthusiasm back into them as they get a chance to move around and ‘shake their silly’s out’. It is nice to see what a positive impact music has on learners.

2. Choosing between music and physical education would be a very difficult choice to make because both of these are  important to a learners holistic development. Unfortunately, these days children don’t always get the exercise they need as a lot of time is spent indoors enjoying too much screen time. However, if I had to choose between the two then music education is the one that I would incorporate into the foundation phase curriculum. The reason for this choice is because you can incorporate lots of movement into a music lesson e.g. running, skipping, walking, balancing, dancing etc. this would be a good alternative in replacing physical education.  Music has many benefits but to name a few it develops fine and gross motor skills, it improves listening, helps with memorization and can expand learners vocabulary, it can also change the mood of a learner from feeling sad to happy.

Hi everyone,

My name is Candice, I am a wife and mom to two beautiful little girls, Paige (7 years old) and Lexi (5 years old). I live in Kwa-Zulu Natal in a small town called Waterfall where I have lived most of my life. In 2004, I left South Africa and lived and worked in the United Kingdom for 9 years, this gave me the opportunity to travel and see quite a few places in the world. My favorite destination is Mexico, which I would happily visit again. I returned to South Africa in 2013 and after becoming a mom in 2014 (and being out of the job market for 6 year), it gave me time to reflect on what I wanted to do with my life. Teaching has always been interesting to me so I decided to take the plunge and enroll at NWU.

The foundation phase is where my real passion lies, making a difference in a child's life is what I aspire to do. I believe that every child is able to achieve anything that they put their mind to and by helping them figure out what their strengths are is part of my job. School needs to be a place where every child is afforded the same opportunity to learn but have fun while learning. I am currently employed as in intern at a local school and I am based in a Grade 1 class. I receive so much love from the Grade one's every day and this just confirms my decision for wanting to teach in this phase - the love that they have for life and having fun is contagious!

In my spare time I enjoy baking, cooking and spending time with my family and friends. I have always wanted to learn how to speak french and crocheting is on my list of things to learn. The craziest thing that I have ever done is gone looking for black tipped sharks whilst snorkeling in Thailand.

As the second semester starts with a barrage of information from all of our subjects, it is comforting to know that a module such as this one will bring out the creative side to our studies. I look forward to seeing what LSKM has to offer and how I am able to be more creative in my daily teaching and learn more bout music.