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

From the start of the semester it was a bit difficult for me to understand some of the content of music education. But now I have not knowledge with regards music education. I learnt about the value of music on a child's development as well as their learning. The types of music education approaches. At first I thought music(songs) was all about different beats but after studying throughly I I understand there are music elements meter and rhythm, pitch(melody) and dynamics.

2. What did you learn from your individual reflections?

I learned about the value of music and art integration in the foundation phase and also how to plan for a music lesson.

• What did you find challenging? 

I find difficulty in integrating music with other subjects. Because it is difficult to see if the subjects outcomes are reached through music integration.

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

Yes, because I was able to see what I have learned and where I need to study more to understand.

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

I wouldn't change anything. I will use all I have learnt in my future teaching practice.

3. What did you find interesting and meaningful?

I find art integration interesting and meaningful. Because it is an enjoyable way for learners to grasp the lesson. Through art integration learners are given a chance to demonstrate their understanding and individual learning needs and abilities are met.

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

I still struggle to understand art integration with regards to finding ideas to integrate art in a subject and deciding if it is suitable for that subject.

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

I find everything valuable,because it is guidance for me to use in the future to make teaching easier for me.

  1. What are the important aspects to keep in mind when planning foundation phase lessons?

-Introductory phase

Plan a creative attention-grabbing activity to kick off a lesson in a fun way, actively engaging learners in an activity that connects to prior knowledge while also connecting to new concepts to be learned.

-Teaching and learning phase

Allow learners to discover what you want to teach by facilitating new knowledge/skills, activities, giving problems, and asking questions before you want to explain.

-Assessment

When planning a lesson, consider the type of assessment that is best suited to certain activities based on the lesson outcomes, goals, learner needs and abilities, development stage and learning.

-Learner support

When planning a lesson, you must consider how you’re your teaching and learning will accommodate various activities, as well as the needs and abilities of your learners.

-Conclusion

The concluding phase should allow teachers to determine whether the learners met the lesson objectives by encouraging them to demonstrate what they had learned.

2. What is your opinion about the value of utilising arts integration and play in the Foundation phase lesson?

Play and art integration both play important roles in a child’s learning. When learners engage in play and art integration, they improve their problem-solving abilities, social development, and critical thinking abilities. It gives teachers the opportunity to promote and support students’ developmental needs. They also engage in teaching and learning activities that are enjoyable, promote collaboration, and encourage learner’s natural curiosity. We create teaching and learning environments in which individual learning needs and abilities are met in this way.

3. Has your perception and priorities with regards to lesson planning and the inclusion of music art integration) throughout your teaching and learning in foundation phase changed? Motivate your answer.

Yes, prior to beginning the study unit (5), which is based on lesson planning and inclusion of music, I had the impression that incorporating music into a lesson was difficult. Now I realize that music integration is important in the development of learners. Learners’ social and creative thinking skills improve, as does their motivation to learn. While learning about themselves, learners become more focused, resilient, and have meaningful relationships with others as a result of the inclusion of music and other arts.

Art integration in foundation phase is an approach to teaching which promotes active management in teaching and learning activities, collaborative learning , problem solving skills and reflection. Art integration encourages learners to demonstrate their understanding in ways and at level which they are comfortable in. In foundation phase learners develop their problem solving and critical thinking skills through engagement in authentic learning activities.

What I found interesting is art integration provides tecahers with opportunity to promote and support the needs of the learners while offering learners the opportunity to engage in teaching and learning activities which are fun, enhancing collaboration, curiosity, creativity and imaginative abilities.

What I found challenging is that teachers often find it hard to practice art integration because it requires time, other teachers lack appreciation for art and do not have necessary equipment for art integration.

  Answers based on the scenario

What possibly made some learners uncomfortable during these activities?

Learners in the classroom have different languages some do not understand the language that is used to teach the activities, cultural backgrounds and religious beliefs that oppose them from doing certain activities.

Why were some learners uncomfortable?

Some learners did not understand the song’s language (Zulu), they were unable to understand what the song was about and the lyrics. Some due to religions, their religious beliefs do not encourage them to listen to some songs and dance in front of boys (a learner was uncomfortable dancing to house music and in front of boys)

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

To address these issues, I will select a song that its lyrics are translated into two or more languages to accommodate learners different home languages. And change the type of play to open play whereby the rules of the game can be changed to accommodate learners needs while playing. Also select the activities that learners can choose from rather than doing what they are uncomfortable.

How can we accommodate diverse learners’ profile in our classroom? What must we be aware of?

It is important to be aware that learners come from different backgrounds and they have different needs. To accommodate diverse learners, the teacher must always in time and have alternatives plans for all learners. The teachers can also practice bilingual use in their instructions and learn about other cultures backgrounds and religious beliefs to know how to accommodate them.