This module was so much fun for me.  I love music and to know all the things that we as teachers can do in our classrooms with music, was so interesting for me.

1. What did you learn from your individual reflections?

I learned that there are so much more to learn in music and teaching.

2. What did you find challenging?

Some of the learning content was a bit difficult for me.

3. Did you find the individual reflections meaningful?

Yes, I did.  It helped me to see if I was on the right track or not.

4. What would you change if you had the opportunity in future?

About the module, nothing.  The only thing I will change is the way I use music in the classroom with my learners.

5. What did you find interesting and meaningful?

The ways children learn through music.  How to work out lesson plans with easy tips.  The ways children use music to to different activities in the class.

6. What challenged you, and what do you still struggle to understand?

To read music and I really want to learn to play an instrument.

7. What didn’t you find valuable for your future teaching practice?

To be honest, nothing.  I really enjoyed this module.  I really enjoyed the group assignment, making music with an item and we had to combine it into a song.  It was so much fun for me.  I can't wait to bring more music into my classroom.

Thanks to everyone who helped me think more out of the box with music.

Part 1

I am so so busy the past few weeks. My husband needs my help a lot, so I am struggling to get everything done.  It is also hectic at work and with the studies.  But I am trying to make time for everything.

Part 2

I have realized how important lesson planning is.  The concept that was interesting for me was that as teachers we need to include everyone.  I became aware of how to identify and evaluate appropriate assessment strategies for music.

Part 3

Introduction, teach and learning phase, conclusion is important

The teacher must keep in mind that learners are not the same

Do all kinds of activities with the learners

Include everyone

Reasons why assessment is neglected in the Performing Arts and Music in the Foundation Phase. Possible reasons may be:

The classroom environment is very important

Time management

The lack of recourses in schools

This study unit was fun for me.  I really enjoyed it a lot.

I think that arts integration is a way to make learning fun for the learners.  I also think that it makes learning more interesting for the learners.  The learners interact more with each other and that helps with their social skills.  What I found to be the most interesting was, that the integration of arts help learners to perform better in mathematics.

The theoretical part of this study unit was a bit challenging for me, because I didn't know that music can be taught and learned from in so many different ways. The information on how and why arts changes learners were very interesting for me.

STUDY UNIT 3

I loved this study unit.  I have learnt a lot.  I was so interesting for me.  In the Foundation Phase it is much more than just play.  Children learn so much through different types of playing.  I found it very interesting that there are different types of play: Free play, guided play and directed play, and that the children develop different skills and concepts through each type of play.  The different types of levels of social play, taught me that children at different age groups are building relationships and developing important social skills through each level of play.  There are 7 elements of play.  That part was so nice for me.

I think is very difficult to accommodate each and every child's needs regarding cultural, diverse and religious backgrounds.  It makes it very challenging for the teachers, but I also think it makes it very interesting for teachers to teach.  Teachers can learn new ways of teaching.

1.  As a foundation phase teacher, I would choose contemporary commercial music, because it encompasses all types of music, from pop to movie or commercial music.  I would choose this because, most or all the children will know it or be familiar with some of it.  The technology these days make it easier for children to know most of the music.  It  might be from a movie, saw it on the internet, like YouTube or they heard it on the radio.

2.  Yes, I think the examples and content in Study Unit 2 are inclusive.  I think Study Unit 2 covered all the information we should know about music.  I learned a lot from this Study Unit.  I learned from different types of music.

3.  For me I don't think Study Unit 2 needs changes.  It was an interesting Study Unit.  I learned a lot from Study Unit 2.

Would you please describe your confidence in your current knowledge and skills to teach music through movement in the Foundation Phase as you start your LSKM 221 journey? In your answer, please also refer to your confidence to integrate music into your teaching practice currently.

I have never taught music in the classroom and had a lesson plan worked out for it.  I only played music for fun in a classroom.  If I have to work out a lesson plan according to music, I would be very nervous.  I also have to say that I will enjoy it at the same time.  I love doing something new and I love learning new things.

If you have to choose between incorporating Music education OR Physical education in the Foundation Phase curriculum to meet the holistic development needs of learners, which would you choose? In your answer, please explain which would be the best choice to ensure the opportunity for the holistic development of the learner and motivate your answer.

I would choose Music Education, because I think children can learn new things through music.  I think especially in the Foundation Phase, children remember better through singing and say rhymes with a nice beat.  The left hemisphere of the brain is developed by music, which improves linguistic skills.   Children remember more things when they enjoy it and when things are interesting for them.  Children can also develop their different talents, playing different instruments or they can realize that they enjoy some things more than other things.

I think music education is very important for every child.

Hello there, my name is Nadine Botes.  I am 30 years old.  I am from Groblersdal, Limpopo.

My passion is the little ones, that is the reason I chose foundation phase.  I love to see how they grow in each year.  I want to be a teacher for them, where they can look up to me, I want to be a teacher that encourage each learner to reach his/her full potential.  I am so excited about this module, LSKM 221.  I can't wait to learn new things about music.  I don't know that much about music, so my expectations for this module is to learn more about music and all the things that go with it.  I want to be able to teach the learners more about music.