Hallo Bloggers;

Wow, what a week and what a struggle to upload this blog. Well, I hope everyone had a lovely relaxing long weekend. We had a relaxing time on the farm with family. Then I got sick, (luckily not Covid), but I still managed to do some tests and assignment through all the headaches and fever...

After working through study unit 4 it made me just realize once again how art and music can make learners more positive about their learning environment. It is after all up to us as teachers to make school fun and exciting for our learners and to make sure they learn everything they need to learn. By integrating art into the other subjects, we might just achieve that goal a little better.

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.

In response to such a statement I would say that art integration is very important in the Foundation Phase. I will give the following reasons:

• It can help learners to develop some creative problem-solving skills.
• It can help to explain some difficult concepts more visually, which will make it easier for learners to understand these concepts.
• By making use of art instruction in your classroom it can help learners to develop motor skills, language skills, social skills, help them with decision making, some learners might even take more risks but of course the most important thing is it develop their creativity.
• It also teaches learners about color, layout, perspective and balance, all which is very important techniques to know because they are necessary in presenting their academic work.
• Art integration with other subjects might also help to reach those learners who are not totally involved in their classwork.
• Art education also boost critical thinking which teaches learners to not rush their work but to take time and be more careful in how they observe the world.
• It provides challenges for learners at all levels and it does not only connect them with their own culture but also with the wider world out there.

2. What did you find interesting? Please explain why.

I actually found the whole study unit 4 interesting but what stood out for me was the ways you can introduce and integrate music into your other subjects. The YouTube videos were very interesting, it is nice to see what other teachers do and how to use music in all the subjects. The effect that arts and music have on a young learners live was also very interesting.

What did you find challenging? Please explain why.

I did not really find anything challenging. What I do believe could be a huge challenge is how to integrate music in the classroom and to accommodate the diversity of different learners that we have in our classes now a days.

Good bye Bloggers, until next time!!