PART 1

Hey everyone last month has been a hectic. I tried my best to go through study unit 4. On study unit 4 we learn more about arts integration in the foundation phase.

PART 2

What is an arts integration?

Arts integration is Arts Integration is an APPROACH to TEACHING in which students construct and demonstrate UNDERSTANDING through an ART FORM. 

Arts integration promotes teaching and learning strategies which address outcomes in various subjects simultaneously while encouraging learners to demonstrate their understanding of concepts and skills through the arts. Arts integration is an approach to teaching, which promotes active engagement in teaching and learning activities, experiential learning, authentic learning activities, collaborative learning, problem-solving skills and reflection. It is important to note that, when designing arts integration activities, there must be a seamless integration of two or more subjects (i.e. music and visual arts; music and language; music and maths; music and life skills) and that both subjects must be experienced and engaged with at the same time within an activity.

Arts integration has been proven to contribute towards higher motivation levels among learners and supports academic achievement and socialisation among learners. When learners are encouraged to demonstrate their understanding through the arts, we create teaching and learning environments in which individual learning needs and abilities are met. Ultimately, through arts integration, foundation phase learners will develop their problem solving and critical thinking skills through engagement in authentic learning activities which foster the ability to become aware of the various ways in which we are not only connected to each other but our world while drawing attention to the ways in which the various subjects in our curriculum are connected. 

Aspects of music integration in the foundation phase:

1. Teaching and learning about music.
2.  Teaching and learning from music.
3. Teaching and learning on music.
4.  Teaching and learning with music. 
5. Teaching and learning in music.
6. Teaching and learning through music.

How music games can support the holistic development of learner and the importance of games in culturally diverse classrooms.

In a game, the goals for participating originate outside the game itself. A game is a system in which players engage in an artificial conflict, defined by rules, that result in a quantifiable outcome. Children respond positively to music. Music helps children develop their emotional intelligence. Music is a form of creative expression which develops a child's sense of self. When playing together with your children they learn how to take turns and be considerate, whether sharing equipment or allowing other space and time to sing and express themselves.

Motivation comes from within a child and nurtures as their urge to learn. It comes from a desire to be successful as well as a need to associate positively with others. During music games, kids feel good about themselves, which is important to even very young children. During a game where children are given choices, they build a sense of will by making their own decisions and choosing what to do. They learn self-control and impulse control, which means they think before acting, and stay engaged in one activity instead of moving from one to anther. Music generally relaxes, energises and motivates children. 

Introduction

My name is Bella Kedidimetse Bokgwathile. I am 45 years old and a mother of two girls ( older one is 26 years old and the little one is 9 years old). I live in Ditshilo village which is situated at Mafikeng. I am a teacher at Mokaila Primary School. I studied Grade R Diploma in teaching. I had experience of 13 years before I could become a teacher as I studied ABET at UNISA and used to teach adult night school.

Seeing myself working with children and helping them is a blessing. My is what I love the most as each and every single day I learn how children react to different things. I look forward to enjoying this module and I hope to learn more about music.

STUDY UNIT 1

1. Explain your understanding of Vygotsky's zone of proximal development

Vygotsky's development theory draws attention to the social-cultural factors that influence cognitive development which special importance of social interaction and language development. Vygotsky teach us about learning needs of a child and their developmental stage. Vygotsky believes that the social environment influences cognition through tools and that adults teach those tools to children.

Zone of proximal development is the distance between the actual development level(stage) as determined by independent problem solving and level of potential development and determined through problem solving and the level of potential adult and peer support. Zone of proximal draws attention to the potential that a learner has to master new skills or successfully solve a problem through a teacher and peer scaffolding. By means of scaffolding, this refers to children's ability to develop their thinking abilities during challenging situation through carefully planned and guided support from both teachers and peers. By doing so, teachers provide support and utilize peer scaffolding to assist learners in successfully solving problems to reach their potential and acquire new skills or knowledge.

2. Summarise the most important aspects of the leaning theories of Erikson, Piaget and Vygotsky for your teaching practice as foundation phase teacher.

Erikson's development theory for stages of psychological development draws attention to the influence of social interaction and relationships on learning. We cannot disregard the importance of fostering relationships with our learners, and having opportunities to foster meaningful relationships with their peers. Meaningful relationships are crucial if our learners are to feel safe, valued, supported and cared for in our classrooms. It is important to have knowledge of learning and developmental theories that give special importance and support this. We have important role to play in our learner's lives with regards to provide them with enough motivation and encouragement with the aim of fostering feelings of competence, promoting their self-esteem and confidence.

Piaget argues that one of the most important aspects to consider when referring children's cognitive development is to acknowledge that children think differently than adults. During pre-operational stage, children are able to represent objects and knowledge through play, drawing, imitation, images and speech. During concrete operational stage, children must experience music in authentic contexts through active engagement to make sense of their experience in a concrete, logical way through movement, imagery and conversation. As educators, we should foster foundation phase learner's abilities to recognise and respect others' opinion.

Vygotsky emphasized the role of adults and able peers in a child's learning. As a teacher you facilitate learning during the early stages of acquiring new knowledge and skills, but in such a way as to enable learners to gain the necessary understanding to solve problems on their own later on.