Hi everyone, hope you are all doing well and are winning these endless amount of deadlines. My week has been a whirlwind and I’m still trying to find my feet. Luckily I have a wonderful group of peers that are supportive and helpful. Having a group of likeminded peers is a must!

Let’s talk about Study Unit 4…

This was a fun and very interesting study unit. Working through the content was so easy as the content kept me intrigued and thinking of all the ways how I would incorporate music in my teaching. As I’m digesting the content and considering the place of arts in the Foundation Phase I was shocked at the idea of that some might see it as a waste of time?! I mean really? I can’t even imagine a Foundation Phase classroom or any other classroom or schooling environment where there is no place for the arts. What a sad and miserable place it would be.

Here is my take on arts in the Foundation Phase.

Arts is synonymous to opportunities and options, it colours in the content and gives life to lessons. It is fun and engaging, it’s an “all for one and one for all” type of subject. Arts can be threaded into every single aspect of schooling and it has scientifically proven benefits to learners and teachers. How can one then not want to include the arts and really take advantage of this unlimited source that provides for cognitive development as well physical, emotional and social development. It speaks to all learning styles and can create an equal platform for all children to develop and learn while finding joy in their education. They are more actively engaged with their own learning and development which creates the platform where learners can take ownership of their work and responsibilities.

I can go on and on as I am so convinced and motivated for arts inclusion at school. There is one aspect that struck me close to the heart and immediately made an emotional connection with me. Upon reading it I felt the warmth and safety of arts integration. “Learning in and through the arts can help "level the playing field" for youngsters from disadvantaged circumstances”. WOW! The Champions of Change (1999) study is an absolute must read. It highlighted an aspect which I felt I missed in all the other articles and materials. Equality, without force, restrictions and/or political narratives, just plain simple arts ensuring all learners can develop and learn equally. Bridging the gaps of society so eloquently wonderful!

Almost all the advantages of arts integration and the ways of integrating with other subjects are somewhat familiar and expected, but the levelling the playing field was unexpected and made me feel empowered and motivated by just knowing it.

The Van Vreden theoretical framework was insightful and somewhat abstract. I had to reread some sections to form an understanding thereof. Maybe because I was so taken by the Champions of Change study the Van Vreden theoretical framework had a tough time competing with all the emotions. None the less it is clearly a very helpful guiding tool for the incorporation of the arts and worth taking the time to form a better understanding thereof.

If you are still not convinced of the place of arts integration I must frankly state that you ought to reread this entire study unit.

I hope you all take as much away from this unit as I did and that you have a wonderful week.

Good bye!