Hello there,

WHOOO The semester is coming to an end. I'm grateful to be able to study, but what a year it's been. It was a crazy year, and I am looking forward to spending time with family and friends after a year of working, learning, and trying to keep up with life. Today, I am appreciative for this year, for wonderful friends, for support, and most of all, for family and friends.

“Don't be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart.”
― Roy T. Bennett

Individual reflection

1.           Please share your story as an LSKM 221 student by comparing your knowledge, skills, experiences, abilities, and attitude towards music education from the start of the semester to the end of the semester.

Answer:

This semester's LSKM221 subject well exceeded my expectations. I had no prior experience of how to teach music or even where to begin when it came to music. I liked studying unit two the most since I like music but don't understand anything about beats, rhymes, and so on. Overall, I am optimistic about music and the many notions about music and how to incorporate them into your daily and monthly sessions in class. When I remember back to the beginning of the semester when I was overwhelmed, confused, and stressed out about the new ideas that we needed to comprehend and learn, how I feel today is nearly incomparable. I am pleased and grateful to have had the opportunity to study this subject and have a more basic understanding of music and how to teach it to students.

2.           What was your experience of the role of individual reflection as part of the teaching and learning process? Use the following prompts to reflect on your blogging experience and the role that individual reflection played (or not) in your teaching and learning experience this semester:

•            What did you learn from your reflections?

Answer: I learned to recall what I studied in each study unit by conducting individual reflections. The questions also allow you to think and conduct further research, which I liked doing.

•            What did you find challenging?

Answer: Trying to finish all the assignments and the rest of the subjects' assignments on time while also keeping up with the blogs and forums was difficult for me, but it was all worth it in the end.

•            Did you find the individual reflections meaningful? Please motivate your answer.

Answer: Yes, I believe that by doing so, Ms. Rina Francis can obtain valuable feedback from her students on what they think and how they feel, and we as students can remember what we learned, which benefits us "the students," because we learn to share our feelings, thoughts, and ideas, and we learn to think outside the box.

•            What would you change if you had the opportunity in the future?

Answer: When I think back and go through the study units, I won’t change anything.  I loved writing blogs, participating in forums, and completing tasks. I enjoyed reading and studying the lessons, as well as watching the videos offered by Ms. Rina Francis. I thought her videos were a lot of fun, and if I could suggest anything, it would be to make additional videos to teach the topics to the students. It's more enjoyable, fascinating, and we learn more when we see someone explain it in a video, and it's even better if the videos are fun and interesting. Thank you for all your hard work this semester, Ms. Rina Francis. We sincerely thank you!

3.           Please share what you would change in the LSKM221 module if you had the opportunity. The following prompts can guide your reflection:

•            What did you find interesting and meaningful?

Answer: Study unit 2 was interesting and meaningful to me because I learned a lot about music that I did not know before, such as the duration of tone, notes and values, rhythm, beat, pitch and tone, and types of music activities in Foundation Phase. It was also interesting to learn how movement activities contribute to the holistic development of Foundation Phase learners.

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

Answer: Study unit 2 pushed me; it was a lot of effort to go through and grasp because I didn't have any prior knowledge, and I don't even know how to play a musical instrument, but after working through the study units a few times, I loved learning and understanding the ideas of music and how to respond and teach music.

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

Answer: Nothing, I believe that from each study subject, we as prospective teachers may take something meaningful and learn from it, which we can then incorporate into our teaching.

I've discovered that music affects children in a variety of ways, including social skills, creativity, and imagination, the development of motor skills, the improvement of balance, coordination, and rhythm through dance and movement activities, and much more. All I can say is thank you, Ms. Rina Francis, for teaching this module to us. I hope we get the opportunity to have you as a lecturer in our third and fourth years.

“One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain” - Bob Marley

Hi everyone,

Today I am feeling slightly overwhelmed. It is tuff working and studying. I am trying to stay positive and do my best. The semester is almost at an end, and I happy very happy to get this semester done and over with. 

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

Lesson planning is important especially when it comes to music. There is a lot of things you need to consider to make a music plan successful. 

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

The section on food for thought when planning a music lesson was interesting to read and a few tips to keep in me for the future when it comes to planning a music lesson.  

Individual reflection

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

I would say it can be the following reasons, lack of knowledge and skills regarding the syllabus requirements, lack of time to plan music lessons, not enough time in the teaching day, lack of priority for music, lack of personal musical experience, and lack of appropriate resources. 

• 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.
• Part Check — Students in groups of three or four sing or play their parts together. Use VIDEO to expedite the performance process and to provide numerous views if necessary to arrive at an appropriate score.
• Google Forms — As more schools provide laptops or iPads to children, utilizing Google Forms for rapid evaluation has never been easier. The form might be a short, electronic departure ticket or a lengthier quiz with a variety of question kinds.
• Exit tickets- Are one of the simplest methods found for eliciting a fast, physical response from the whole class. Here are some exit ticket ideas that you might use in your classroom:
  1. Name at least one-stringed instrument.
  2. A half note has how many beats?
  3. This sentence should be sung by your teacher. Is it possible that it contains our enigmatic note? (Circle whether you agree or disagree)
• Make use of written assessments by having students discuss their own works.
• Have learners dictate a sentence you've pre-recorded for them as a written evaluation.

Quote: When the going gets tough, put one foot in front of the other and just keep going. 

Hi everyone,

This week I am on a roll to get things done. What inhibited me this week was my family, motivating me to continue and just try to do my best every day and take everything one step at a time. From this study unit I have learned that you need to think before you teach and take every learner into account before you start a lesson. 

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

Study unit 3 was very insightful to me. I enjoyed reading and getting ideas on what to do and what to focus on when I have my classroom someday. It was interesting to learn about the purpose and importance of play with regards to holistic development in the foundation phase and how to play in the classroom have several important contributions/ benefits and lastly, it was engaging to read about the characteristics of play. 

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

The characteristics of play. 

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

Learning and reading through the content of this study unit I learned a lot especially on how important play is in the classroom, this study unit I value and appreciate. I will most definitely keep this study unit and go through it again in the future. It was also interesting to learn about the genres of play and how you can make use of it to include them in your classroom.  

Individual reflection

What possibly made some learners uncomfortable during these activities? 

Some of them felt uncomfortable dancing in front of the boys and the use of house music and some learners did not understand the language. There was a language barrier.

• Why were some learners uncomfortable?

Because the girls danced in front of the boys, there was a language barrier and some learners felt uncomfortable due to religious reasons regarding the chosen song. 

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

Make sure all the students agree on the song, make sure the learners understand what the song is about, and ask them beforehand who would feel comfortable dancing in front of the class or who would like to not participate in the game. Explain the game and the music before you start the lesson and make sure that the learners understand what to expect from the music lesson, don’t just assume they understand.

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

1. Get to know your students
2. Maintain consistent communication
3. Acknowledge and respect every student
4. Practice cultural sensitivity
5.  Incorporate diversity in the lesson plan
6.  Give students freedom and flexibility