Unit 2

How are you feeling; how has your week been? – in general or just with regard to your studies:

I had a really hectic week this far. I had to stand in in a class for 2 days making my work as assistant very difficult because I can’t get my work done. Today is the first time I can actually work on my studies and I only arrived at home 16:30. This week food is optional.

I had done absolutely nothing of any assignment or studied for any test. I feel so over-whelmed. BUT it is only Wednesday and it can just get better from here on!

What inhibited your learning this week? Would you care to elaborate?

I would say that teaching a class makes you very exhausred and then to still coach sports till 17:30 each day is not helping. The sport will stop next week as assessment is starting at school, so then all my attention can be on my studies.

What new things did you become aware of when working through this study unit’s content?

As I said in my previous blog, I know NOTHING about music so everything is brand new to me! The one that stood out was all the different tones. I didn’t know everyone had a specific name etc.

What concept/element/idea was most significant for you in this study unit?

The tones and duration of tones was my favourite part of the study unit.

As a Foundation Phase teacher, you have to choose between utilising 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 will choose contemporary commercial music.it has a big variety of music that you can chose from.

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

Yes, the examples really helped me with the understanding of the work.

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.

For me it was perfect, me knowing nothing about music and still understanding the examples. It means a lot.

Collaborative reflection

With your partner/s, please reflect on your Foundation Phase years when you were a learner in school. Please recall and narrate any experiences about music in the classroom. Use the following prompts to reflect on the experiences and guide your collaborative discussion:

• What fond memories do you have of engaging with music when you were a FP learner?

We did a lot of singing and dancing. In my years in the foundation phase we didn’t have music as a subject.

• Can you recall any less fond memories of engaging with music when you were in the FP?

I will say when I tried to join the choir. they kicked me out

• What happened? Why did it happen?

I guess I couldn’t sing.

• What would you change if you had the opportunity?

I wish we could have more opportunity to learn more about music. We didn’t have the opportunity to learn about this and I think that would’ve made my love for music stronger.

What is your opinion about the value of the content of this study unit for your teaching practise?

We can use all of this, learning learners about tones ect is very easy if you do it practical with them.