Good day to you all

I must agree with some of you that when I started this module I was also a little confused, because we were entering something we did not know about.  I knew music and instruments, because I love to listen to music, but that was that.  As I work through the study units I found that LSKM 221 is not something to be scared of, it is a module to use in our daily life in the classroom when we became foundation phase teachers.  Classrooms must be fun for learners, and this module taught us how to do so. 

This module taught me not all about music, but art integration as well, something I was not very familiar with because I did not take Art classes in high school.  As I am not a drama person I found this very challenging, but it let me came out of my shell and I enjoyed it very much to do all the assignments.  I learned very much about using music in other learning areas.  I also learn more about using music of other cultures, something I did not even think of.  I knew about other cultures other than Afrikaans and English, but to use other music made me aware of it. 

I do not think that I would change anything in this module, because everything I learned was meaningful and I can use it in the future in my classroom, whether I became a foundation phase of intermediate phase teacher. The one unit that I found challenging was study unit 5.  I found lesson planning a little difficult because I do not know whether I am on the right track or not.  I know that we must have to do lesson planning because we will use this in our everyday life in the classroom, but I personally think I need some more practicing in that area.

I enjoyed the individual reflections as well.  It taught me to not only read the content and to understand it, but that I can also interpret it in my own words and share it with other students.    

I hope the last stretch of the semester will be smooth for all of you. 

Love

Larise

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

In some cases the HOD does not emphasize or prioritize the assessment of music activities because they do not have the knowledge and skills about the syllabus and therefor think that other teachers also lack the knowledge. They see music in the classroom as a waist of time and use the time assessing in Performing Arts for other learning areas.  The lack of personal musical experience also plays a roll. Confidence, poor spaces and resources are also part of this neglecting of activities in music and assessing it.  

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.

First of all you must convince the HOD about this matter and not be attacking him/her.  Your HOD must be aware that you are fully capable to assess Performing Arts in your classroom, and that you can also assist other teachers in die Foundation Phase in this matter.  All she has to do is to give you permission and the time to do so.  

The importance of arts integration

1.  I think that arts integration is very important in the foundation phase because it helps the learners develop creative problem-solving skills.  It also helps learners with motor skills, language skills, social skills, decision-making, risk-taking and inventiveness.  Learners also learn the basic visual arts – color, layout, perspective and balance.  All these techniques are important, also for their academic work. Learners participate in activities which they would normally not interact with.  Through this they learn to take their time and be careful and thorough.  Learners also learn more about their culture and others that is very important in world.

Arts integration goes beyond including art projects in class.  It is a strategy for teachers to use in their classroom to make lessons fun. 

For example:  (Only 2 examples)

Science – You might see students choreographing a dance using locomotors and non-locomotors movements to demonstrate their understanding of rotation versus revolution of the planets.

Math – You might see students learning fractions by examining composition in Warhol’s Campbell’s soup paintings.

Lastly, if we agree that the arts can provide all kinds of benefits for kids, from intellectual to creative to social-emotional, then shouldn't all kids have the opportunity to learn about and experience them?

 But far too few schools have either the funding or support to make this a priority. What many arts-integrated schools across the country are showing is that by creating a richer, more memorable learning experience through the arts, they unleash not only a rising tide of academic achievement but they lay the foundation for what it means to be a truly creative community.

2.  For me I found it interesting that art can be incorporated in ALL the learning areas of a child’s development.  This also shows the importance of music and arts are to develop future entrepreneurs. I did not find anything challenging because it helped me understand the concept of music and arts in the classroom in the foundation phase and also how to use different ideas when I become a teacher one day.

What possibly made some learners uncomfortable during these activities?

The boy felt uncomfortable because he could not understand the meaning of the song and did not know what the song was about. The girl was uncomfortable dancing in front of the boys to house music, because of  her religion. 

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

I think what the teacher could have done was to explain the meaning of the song and the words to the whole class so that they are familiar to the content of the song. The teacher can also tell the children before the time that if they feel uncomfortable dancing due to their religion, they do not have to participate in the activity and then the teacher must make sure that the whole class understand the reason why some learners are not participating. Learners must have the boldness to come forward about their religion and beliefs, and must not be penalized.

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

Teachers must be aware of the fact that there are many kinds of diverse children in their classroom and must accommodate everyone in lessons and activities. All children should feel accepted despite their culture, religion, beliefs etc. Other learners should also be aware of the diverse profiles in their particular class.

Hoe voel ek en hoe was my week?

Op die stadium voel ek uitgeput en op. My week was rof en ek hol rond soos ‘n af kop hoender… maar ek het oorleef!

Wat het my leer hierdie week belemmer?

Ek was in my mentor se klas ingedruk en moes klas gee vir die week omdat sy moes isoleer, so dit het my leer bietjie belemmer. Ek het ook tennis afrigting gehad sowel as Voortrekkers waar ek laat by die huis aankom.

Watter nuwe bewusmaking het ek in hierdie leereenheid oor musiek ervaar?

Ek het ervaar dat musiek nie net bestaan daaruit om na musiek te luister nie, maar dat daar verskillende elemente  van musiek is wat saamwerk om musiek so genotvol te kan maak. 

Individuele refleksie

1. Ek sal definitief “contemporary” musiek in my klaskamer gebruik omdat dit modern musiek is en die nuwe generasie vining vorder wat tegnologie aanbetref. Kinders is altyd opsoek na iets nuuts, daarom sal dit die perfekte tipe wees. Musiek is “fun” en kan net bydra tot hierdie “fun” element in die klas.

2. Ja definitief! Ek het baie by Leereenheid 2 geleer. Ek is mal oor musiek oor die algemeen, maar daar is baie elemente wat ek nie eers aan gedink het nie. Verskillende toonhoogtes, ritmes en selfs die verskillende Westerse en Afrika instrumente was vir my baie interessant gewees om van te leer.  Ek het ook gehou van die “youtube” videos waarna ons kon kyk oor die verskillende instrumente.

3. Volgens my is daar niks wat aan Leereenheid verander moet word nie. Die inligting was maklik verstaanbaar en interessant, selfs lekker om deur te werk.

Hello everyone.

1. I have very little knowledge of teaching music in the Foundation Phase, but I am still learning because I am a student at a primary school in Riebeeckstad. I am a student at the grade 1 class. My mentor teacher uses music to get the children’s attention through movement and rhythm. I am very confident about music in general. I can’t think of a day that I do not listen to music. I will definitely use music in my classroom one day.

2. I will most definitely choose Music Education in the Foundation Phase since it is a lot of fun for them and it plays a very important role in all the development stages in a learner, such as cognitive development, personal development, social development, emotional development and physical development. Music has a lot of benefits for a child. It sharpens children’s attentiveness, creativity and reasoning. Learners who use music in their everyday lives tend to have better listening and memory skills. Music can help to boost a child’s self-esteem as well as help them in certain learning areas.

Hello everyone!

My name is Larise Swanepoel and I am from Virginia in the Freestate. I am a Student/Educator Assistant at Riebeeckstad Primary School. I am always open to learn new things since we are never to old to learn!

My passion for teaching came from my mother who is also a teacher in the Intermediate Phase. My first career choice wasn't teaching... but I don't regret studying B. Ed. I love children and I enjoy working with them and helping them where I can. I want to inspire them and motivate them to follow their dreams. They are our future after all. ✨

I am very excited about LSKM 221 since it is about music in the Foundation Phase. I love music and our grade 1 class enjoys singing and dancing to music. Before they go home, we would put on a music video for them to dance to. Unfortunately for me ​​​​​​"Apples and Bananas" will be stuck in my head the whole afternoon... but I enjoy seeing them happy and excited.

Good luck to everyone this semester.