KARIN VAN TONDER
What a week!
I am permanently employed at one of our local schools and COVID has hit our staff in full steam for the first time. I have been filling in for teacher who are in isolation for the past three weeks. Balancing studies and work has become a challenge this new semester. But, this too shall pass.
This week I was yet again reminded of the importance that the holistic development of a child plays in a classroom. To achieve this, focus was placed on the incorporation of music in the educational process. It is not always the first strategy that comes to mind, but it is a brilliant one!
I feel confident that I will be able to teach music through movement in the foundation phase. I am very aware of the gross- and fine motor movements that are essential for development amongst children. I will incorporate music into my current teaching practice in order to solidify the embedment of knowledge. This will be achieved by stimulating all of the senses. Associating a certain movement with a new topic will help learners to recall what has been learned as well as to make connection between previous and new knowledge.
If I have to choose between musical and physical education; I would hands down choose musical education. I feel that this will better meet the holistically development needs of learners in the foundation phase. This is because music can be stretched to aid every development factor of a child. Their cognitive development is stimulated by interpreting the meanings of the lyrics. They show personal development by developing a unique taste in music. They develop social by finding others who have the same musical interest as they do. They show emotional development by showing empathy towards the lyrics. And the develop physically when using dance with music.
Musical education does not only encourage holistic development, but it also teaches skills that are academically necessary. It teaches numeracy by counting the beat, language skills by broadening vocabulary, creativity by encouraging learners to create their own music, problem solving by letting them figure out what note has been played and it helps with midline crossing when dancing.
SU 4-34276696
18 Oct 2021, 14:03
The term has finally come to a close.
Our school has faced so many losses and sadness in the past few weeks. Even though I am not personally affected by this tragedy; I am very close to those who have and feel deeply for them. This week's rest could not have come sooner.
If I were faced with the statement that arts integration is a waste of time in the foundation phase I would strongly disagree. When hearing arts, you automatically think about visual arts, however, 'arts' refers to any form of artistic expression. this means that a child will be free to express their understanding of the topic at hand in any way they feel comfortable with. It strays away from the theoretical examining of a learners comprehension, but rather makes it practical. And I am a large fan of learning through doing. By integrating self expressive methods such as dancing, music and even visual arts and crafts; we can not only strengthen a learners understanding of the work, but also build their self-confidence and problem solving skills.
I found the theoretical framework for arts integration to be the most challenging aspect of this study unit.Whilst working through this section I found myself thinking of ways in which to accommodate arts integration in a lesson plan. I realised that finding the best suitable method to do so is not as easy as it seems.
I found the value of arts integration in the foundation phase to be the most interesting as I strongly agree with the statement that arts integration is important in the foundation phase. I liked to see what exactly the benefits of arts integration entails.