How are you feeling; how has your week been? – in general or just with regard to your studies:

I had a really hectic week this far. I had to stand in in a class for 2 days making my work as assistant very difficult because I can’t get my work done. Today is the first time I can actually work on my studies and I only arrived at home 16:30. This week food is optional.

I had done absolutely nothing of any assignment or studied for any test. I feel so over-whelmed. BUT it is only Wednesday and it can just get better from here on!

What inhibited your learning this week? Would you care to elaborate?

I would say that teaching a class makes you very exhausred and then to still coach sports till 17:30 each day is not helping. The sport will stop next week as assessment is starting at school, so then all my attention can be on my studies.

What new things did you become aware of when working through this study unit’s content?

As I said in my previous blog, I know NOTHING about music so everything is brand new to me! The one that stood out was all the different tones. I didn’t know everyone had a specific name etc.

What concept/element/idea was most significant for you in this study unit?

I love the fact that I learned how to do a lesson plan for music.

in your opinion, reflecting on and synthesising all that you learnt in LSKM 221, what are the most important aspects to keep in mind when planning foundation phase lessons?

I would say the contect of the lesson

What is your opinion about the value of utilising arts integration in foundation phase lessons?

That the learners must understand where everything is coming from.

Has your perception and priorities with regards to lesson planning and the inclusion of music (and the arts) throughout your teaching and learning in the foundation phase changed? Please motivate your answer.

Yes,I didn’t think that certain stuff where that important

How are you feeling; how has your week been? – in general or just with regard to your studies:

I had a really hectic week this far. I had to stand in in a class for 2 days making my work as assistant very difficult because I can’t get my work done. Today is the first time I can actually work on my studies and I only arrived at home 16:30. This week food is optional.

I had done absolutely nothing of any assignment or studied for any test. I feel so over-whelmed. BUT it is only Wednesday and it can just get better from here on!

What inhibited your learning this week? Would you care to elaborate?

I would say that teaching a class makes you very exhausred and then to still coach sports till 17:30 each day is not helping. The sport will stop next week as assessment is starting at school, so then all my attention can be on my studies.

What new things did you become aware of when working through this study unit’s content?

As I said in my previous blog, I know NOTHING about music so everything is brand new to me! The one that stood out was all the different tones. I didn’t know everyone had a specific name etc.

What concept/element/idea was most significant for you in this study unit?

I love the fact that I learned how to do a lesson plan for music.

in your opinion, reflecting on and synthesising all that you learnt in LSKM 221, what are the most important aspects to keep in mind when planning foundation phase lessons?

I would say the contect of the lesson

What is your opinion about the value of utilising arts integration in foundation phase lessons?

That the learners must understand where everything is coming from.

Has your perception and priorities with regards to lesson planning and the inclusion of music (and the arts) throughout your teaching and learning in the foundation phase changed? Please motivate your answer.

Yes,I didn’t think that certain stuff where that important

How are you feeling; how has your week been? – in general or just with regard to your studies:

I had a really hectic week this far. I had to stand in in a class for 2 days making my work as assistant very difficult because I can’t get my work done. Today is the first time I can actually work on my studies and I only arrived at home 16:30. This week food is optional.

I had done absolutely nothing of any assignment or studied for any test. I feel so over-whelmed. BUT it is only Wednesday and it can just get better from here on!

What inhibited your learning this week? Would you care to elaborate?

I would say that teaching a class makes you very exhausred and then to still coach sports till 17:30 each day is not helping. The sport will stop next week as assessment is starting at school, so then all my attention can be on my studies.

What new things did you become aware of when working through this study unit’s content?

As I said in my previous blog, I know NOTHING about music so everything is brand new to me! The one that stood out was all the different tones. I didn’t know everyone had a specific name etc.

What concept/element/idea was most significant for you in this study unit?

I love the fact that I learned how to do a lesson plan for music.

in your opinion, reflecting on and synthesising all that you learnt in LSKM 221, what are the most important aspects to keep in mind when planning foundation phase lessons?

I would say the contect of the lesson

What is your opinion about the value of utilising arts integration in foundation phase lessons?

That the learners must understand where everything is coming from.

Has your perception and priorities with regards to lesson planning and the inclusion of music (and the arts) throughout your teaching and learning in the foundation phase changed? Please motivate your answer.

Yes,I didn’t think that certain stuff where that important

Unit 2

How are you feeling; how has your week been? – in general or just with regard to your studies:

I had a really hectic week this far. I had to stand in in a class for 2 days making my work as assistant very difficult because I can’t get my work done. Today is the first time I can actually work on my studies and I only arrived at home 16:30. This week food is optional.

I had done absolutely nothing of any assignment or studied for any test. I feel so over-whelmed. BUT it is only Wednesday and it can just get better from here on!

What inhibited your learning this week? Would you care to elaborate?

I would say that teaching a class makes you very exhausred and then to still coach sports till 17:30 each day is not helping. The sport will stop next week as assessment is starting at school, so then all my attention can be on my studies.

What new things did you become aware of when working through this study unit’s content?

As I said in my previous blog, I know NOTHING about music so everything is brand new to me! The one that stood out was all the different tones. I didn’t know everyone had a specific name etc.

What concept/element/idea was most significant for you in this study unit?

The tones and duration of tones was my favourite part of the study unit.

As a Foundation Phase teacher, you have to choose between utilising indigenous African music, Western Art music or contemporary commercial music (including popular music and film music) in your classes. Which would you choose? Please motivate your answer.

I will choose contemporary commercial music.it has a big variety of music that you can chose from.

Do you think that the examples and content offered in SU 2 are inclusive? Please motivate your answer.

Yes, the examples really helped me with the understanding of the work.

What suggestions do you have for making the content more inclusive? Please provide examples of how the content and activities presented in SU 2 could be changed or adapted to be more inclusive.

For me it was perfect, me knowing nothing about music and still understanding the examples. It means a lot.

Collaborative reflection

With your partner/s, please reflect on your Foundation Phase years when you were a learner in school. Please recall and narrate any experiences about music in the classroom. Use the following prompts to reflect on the experiences and guide your collaborative discussion:

• What fond memories do you have of engaging with music when you were a FP learner?

We did a lot of singing and dancing. In my years in the foundation phase we didn’t have music as a subject.

• Can you recall any less fond memories of engaging with music when you were in the FP?

I will say when I tried to join the choir. they kicked me out

• What happened? Why did it happen?

I guess I couldn’t sing.

• What would you change if you had the opportunity?

I wish we could have more opportunity to learn more about music. We didn’t have the opportunity to learn about this and I think that would’ve made my love for music stronger.

What is your opinion about the value of the content of this study unit for your teaching practise?

We can use all of this, learning learners about tones ect is very easy if you do it practical with them.

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  • Who are you? Where are you from?

I am Marné Nieuwoudt, I am from Paarl in the Western Cape but I work in Cape Town.

• • Why do you want to be a foundation phase teacher?

I have a passion to work with children. I believe that everyone needs to get a chance in life and I would like to be the one to make a change in a child’s life I chose foundation phase because it is a very rewarding phase, you see the learners grow each day.

• • What are you passionate about?

I am passionate about a lot of things. I like sports. I coach hockey, athletics, mini-cricket and tennis. I also like making new resources and to make worksheets for the learners. I like to be creative and to make my lessons as interesting as possible. I love to teach mathematics and I love it to read with the learners.

• • How do you feel about LSKM 221 now, at the start of the semester?

I am a bit nervous if I have to be honest. I don’t know anything about music, so I need to learn extra hard.

• • What are your expectations for this module?

I am not really sure what my expectations is. I am sure that I will learn about music and how to teach it.

• Please note that you will be required to post at least once per study unit to diarise your journey throughout this semester (you can include these three parts in one blog post per unit or separate them depending on your personal preference). Please take time to write detailed answers to the reflective questions and to reflect on your learning critically.

Part 1:

• • How are you feeling; how has your week been? – in general or just with regard to your studies

I am quite exhausted with working and learning. The learning feels so confusing I am still getting used to the studying. I am sure everything will fall in place soon. All my assignments are up to date and I always give in my work on time.

• • What inhibited your learning this week? Would you care to elaborate?

I am very exhausted from working, learning and coaching sport at school. I am going to work very hard and make sure my planning is up-to-date.

Part 2:

• • What new things did you become aware of when working through this study unit’s content?

To be honest everything is new. But the musical development is the thing that is new for me.

• • What concept/element/idea was most significant for you in this study unit?

Musical development in the foundation phase.

Part 3:

Individual reflection

1. 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 really don’t know anything about teaching it or even anything of the content of music.

2. When thinking about facilitating holistic development in the Foundation Phase, we need to consider, for example, cognitive development, personal development, social development, emotional development and physical development. We also need to consider literacy and numeracy skills, language acquisition, creativity, problem solving and midline crossing.

Both music and physical education play important roles in the holistic development of the young learner. However, 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 rather choose physical education. I really like interacting with the learners

• • What is your opinion about the value of the content of this study unit for your teaching practise?

It makes me very excited for the semester and I can’t wait to learn all about music.