Reflection #4

What have you learned? This week I learned how much drama activities can enhance everyday learning in the classroom. 
What are your new perspectives about using drama in your future classroom? Drama wasn't ever my thing in grade school and I didn't see myself using it very much in my future classroom either, until class on Tuesday. I hadn't ever thought of the idea of extending a simple picture book by incorporating a few short process drama tools before, but I love it now! I got so much from the book we read in class by stopping and doing correlating activities like Decision Alley, I can't wait to see how students react to such activities.
So What kinds of activities do you think you will use most as you begin teaching? My favorite drama activities that I have done so far have been Machines and Decision Alley, I love the way they get students up and moving and thinking. I am sure there will be many other activities that I will learn to love, maybe even come up with my own! 
Now What - Why do children need creative drama? Why is it important to integrate drama with other curricular areas? Students need to have a well rounded education that goes beyond reading and writing from their desks: they need to be active! By adding drama activities to daily lessons, students not only get the benefits from physical activity, their brains get exercise they can't get in any other way than from thinking outside the box to solve a problem and be creative.

Reflection #2

I enjoyed going beyond talking or reading about the main points in class where the different elements of visual arts such as line, color, shape, etc. and actually getting a hands on learning experience. I have a feeling that most lessons in this class will be that way and I am not going to complain about that! I think my favorite element to learn about was texture, because it is one element that I haven't had much experience with creating texture with only a pencil and paper. In the book I read, "viewing and doing art can five emotional release."(page156) and then in class got to experience that for myself as we painted, colored, and created while listening to classical music.

 As a teacher I will be able to have tools to create a relaxing and comforting classroom where creativity is continually encouraged. This will hopefully allow me as a teacher to reach students who may be struggling emotional or other ways who don't know who to deal with their feelings. Understanding this concept has proven to be very effective for myself. Tuesday was a busy day for me and by the time I got off work and hurried to be at school by 3 my mind was on the verge of exploding. I wasn't looking forward to the next 4 hours of class, but as soon as we started our projects I began to relax and enjoy myself and my brain seemed to calm down and begin working better. I left class with a brain and body that was awake, rejuvenated and ready to learn.

Now What – How will I prepare to effectively teach my future students?  How has my perspective changed? How will this change the way I teach my future students? Getting to experience the complete change of attitude I went through from being exposed to visual arts and music, has definitely altered my thoughts about art integration. I have always planned on doing various small art activities whenever I could fit them in, but seeing the effects of really integrated the arts into all parts of education, I will make them more of  a priority. I cannot wait to observe the effects of creating the same set up in my classroom!

Photos from Flickr

Visual Arts I

I would have to say that I am a fence sitter when it comes to the arts. Sometimes I love it, sometimes... not so much. I think for myself, I am a fan of enjoying  the arts of others and not so much of creating the arts. But only to a certain extent because there are things that I love to do such as crafts, painting and other hands-on type things. I do love to listen to others' music, watch plays, musicals, and enjoy others' artwork. 

Reflecting back to my elementary years I remember specific art related activities in various grades, but not one particular teacher who really integrated arts into our daily lessons.  

I liked learning about the research that has been done concerning involving the arts in the classroom and the positive outcomes including cooperation, involvement, higher test scores, and high self esteem of the students, because it gives me, as a teacher, and excellent reason to have fun creative art projects at school.

The arts have taught me how to appreciate life and see it with a open mind.I have gained a love for the arts as a whole through experiences with various individual aspects.

My favorite teacher taught me to laugh and be happy even when life got hard. Her philosophy of life was to be optimistic, learn all you can and not take life too seriously, I have learned to do the same. My least favorite teacher was probably my kindergarten teacher because I never felt a real connection with her like I did with my others. As a future teacher I feel it is crucial for every student to feel important and loved by the teacher.

At this time I can gain as much information concerning the arts and learn different ways to integrate them into elementary education so when I do have my own class room I will already have the tools I need to enhance my students education with the arts.