Journal 11

This past week we were allowed to discuss our group projects with one another. On Monday, my group didn't have our book so we did as much as possible as far as how we would open and close the lesson. We weren't sure as to how we were going to open the the lesson. Since the book we picked was geared more towards 1st and 2nd graders, we had to make the lesson more understandable since not many students that age know about reduce, reuse, recycle.

I was glad that we had a chance to go first so that we could get it over and done with. there is also a disadvantage to goin first. When you go first, you don't get to see other groups so you're able to see where the starting point is and be able to surpass that. But when going first you can be the standard.

On monday our rationale for music in our assigned subject is due.

Journal 10

Last week we turned in our annotated bibliography for our individual literature project. Breaking into our groups and beginning to decide how we're going to present our subject and still incorporate music will be challenging. I say its challenging because if the subject doesn't call for you have to make music for it. What makes it even more challenging is the fact that as future teachers adding more materials to what we will already need, can make the lesson even more complicated and time consuming.

Minus the group projects we're still working on multicutural project which is very time consuming, considering the fact that the country I selected isn't one of major countries of asia. Lao is next to Thailand and because it shares a lot of similarities with it, it doesn't have many unique or different qualities that sepereates them. The research that is available takes a lot to find.

A little late (journal 8)

Before going on break we discussed a multicutural project that we will be working on, for mostly the remainder of the semester. For my project I picked Lao. I chose Lao becuase this past summer I met a girl and she was eating some food, and it looked and smelled really good. So I asked her what it was. I don't remember what it was but I tried it and liked it. I then asked her about her ethnicity and since then I've been intrigued. She was the first person I met of the Lao culture and since then she has been the only one so I decided to do my project on Lao.

While over break I had to gather information reguarding my culture project. Its sort of hard trying to find information on this country because its small and it used to be apart of another country. But since I'm really interested in it, I'll just have to find as much as I can and expand upon it.

In class we talked about dynamics. Its important to teach dynamics no matter what lesson you're teaching because if the whole class is talking loudly, me as the teacher won't know who is yelling what answer and whether its the right answer.

Literature Project (journal 9)

This past week we discussed our children's literature project. This project is a way for us to implement a class subject through literature. The example discussed in class was the listening walk. The book is good for the type of class whose learning what sounds different objects can make. It also sparks the creativity a child can have by finding different ways to make these sounds with different body parts. So for our lesson we have to find a book that teaches science, language, social skills and studies.

I believe that this is a great unit to begin discussing. I've noticed that students have an easier time learning something that they may not realize they're learning. Its almost like the learning is subliminal. Along with what is being taught, there can also be things in the reading that the student can refresh their memory.

After looking at blackboard and seeing what group I was placed it, I found it quite interesting and shocking that I was part of the science group. Its funny because with my elementary education major, I wanted to have a science endorsement. So with this experience in this class I maybe able to take this and use it in my future science class.

Thhe Test (journal 7)

On friday we took our first test of the semester. I feel confident in my test score. I tried to study as often as possible. For the most part of the test, it was all review. Becuase of my previous music experience I didn't have to worry to much about that portion. What I did have to worry about was the article we had to read about. I took some time for me to really come to a conclusion as to whether music can be used as therapy and does certain genres of music provoke a certain attitude. My presentation helped my remember the figuring of the recorder so I hope I do well on the portion. I like drawing so I'm excited to see what we have to do for the pictorial icon.
Overall I try not too worry about test becuase often time when you worry too much, when its time to actually take the test your mnd can draw a blank. I'm really excited to see what my test score is and I hope I did as well as I think.

Teaching Hey Betty Martin

Muscianship - 4
I didn't stay in my head voice while singing everytime.

Leadership - 10
Everything was great!

Preparation - 14
I didn't address the fact that that there were two different endings. I also didn't fore that we sing the correct notes.

Delivery - 20
Great energy throughout. If my lesson was really taught to 1st graders they would have really enjoyed it.

Total - 48

Presentations are over!

Some may say that the worst is over, but for me I think this week was just the beginning. This week we had to present our lessons to our fellow classmates. After turning in our lesson plan I was slighty axious to present. One reason being, becuase I wanted to get it over with, and the other reason was because I wanted to see my work come to life! On the first day I must say that I was nervous, for a fear that I might have had to present on the first day. After the first day of presentations I wasn't nervous anymore because I had gotten a chance to see how others put their lessons together.

I ended up presenting on the last day which was good and bad. It was good because I had the whole week to prepare, and bad because it built too much anticipation for me to handle almost. When I look at the evaluation sheet, my musicianship was okay, if i had to give it a score Iwould say 4 becuase when I first began singing the song, I had the right notes, but towards the middle and end of the several times that I had to sing the song, I wasn't always singin the right notes. My leadership was great! I had good intensity, and I knew when to get loud and soft so that I didn't scare them. There was hardly any flaw in my preparations so in that part, I give myself all 15 points. As soon as I began to "teach" everything flowed as planned. It felt like my lesson plan was memorized. For the delivery portion of the presentation I think I deserve a 17 because although everything went well and I had a lot of energy, direction, and focus, I think I may have been talking to fast.

The most difficult part of the whole thing was presenting to my peers becuase the grade level of my lesson plan was kindergarten/1st grade. And although my peers were suppose to act as if they were in those grades, it would have been better if I taught to real k-5/1st grade students. I wish that i could have been more mindful of the notes as the class and I sang so that way my musicianship could have been better. And I had a secong chance i wouldn't really change anything in my presentation for the simpla fact that I think i did very well.

I know its a little late, but journal 5

So last week we talked about how to write out lesson plans. We were told to be specific as possible, addressing every step we took in our lesson. I also found out that we shouldn't consider our students as materials since they are the ones we are giving the lesson to, they aren't considered materials. In this lesson we had to pick a song either out of our music book or the music packet and teach it to the students. What was particularly difficult in this lesson plan was identifying the difference between a music an non-music concept and skill. After turning our rough draft lesson plan in, I found out what the difference was and now I'm able to identify the too. Now with presentations this week I'm excited to present but nervous at the same time, because I don't wanna mess up or miss parts of my lesson.

My first lesson plan (journal 4)

This past week in MUSC 373 we began talking about preparing a lesson plan. I must say that I'm really excited. In the past I have created slight lesson plans where I would just give ideas to the teacher, but nothing major that I would have to later teach. When I read the intructions that don't appear to be difficult but when its actually time to put them together an formulate the lesson, sometimes the creative juices don't always flow. But for the most part I'm not worried about it. We also learned a new note for the recorder. Every new note we learn reminds me of a note from the clarinet fingering. It makes me think that learning how to play the recorder and then the clarinet are almost one in the same. Well I hope I get a good grade for my lesson plan.

Concepts Used This Week

This past week we presented our rhymes to the rest of class. We also learned terms to what we were doing. We identified what steady beat and rhythm was. Learning these terms help us so that when we teach a class we know what we're talking about and can give a title to what the students are learning.

These skills and concepts affected me because in life everyone moves, walks, and even talks to a beat or rhythm. Identifying what it is, is the fun part. Because now that you know, you can switch, change, or play with your own beat. It is also something that makes you different from everyone else. No one else can have your rhythm.

Its important that we know these things so that if a student in our class is struggling with following a particular beat we can know how to address the issue. This also helps students because once they leave your classroom, they can follow steady beat and in the end, they're grateful because you've given them a life long lesson that they can always use.

10 songs that i remember as a child are:

Little Sally Walker
Miss Mary Mac
London Bridge is Falling Down
Head Shoulders Knees and Toes
If All the Rain Drop
Please and Thank You
Hello Everybody

Whitley's Rhyme

My name is Whitley

I like tea with honey

When its really chilly

Won't you have some with me!

Music in my life...

I've always been around or have had incorporated music in my life. In my younger years my dad was a DJ, so often times I would sit next to the big speakers and feel the air blow in my face, or feel the bass travel through different parts of my body. Sometimes I would just sit next to the speakers to just hear the music so loudly. With the music playing I would also feel the need to dance. it was quite funny to think about the move I came up with. as I got older I began to take an interest in musical instruments. I'll never forget the day I tried out for the band. The first instrument I picked up was the trumpet. It always looked so appealing to me. When I look back I realize that trumpets are loud and so am I and thats the connection we had. The instuctor told me how to buzz my lips and then gave me the trumpet. I began to play, and although I didn't know what I was doing, I sounded good. The instructor told that I sounded good and I should try joinging the band, but I didn't. But that wasn't the end of the musical song in my life. My love began to grow even bigger. All songs that came on radio I had to learn and sing them well. I guess I considered myself to be my own vocal coach. lol. When I got to high school I stayed loving music and everytime I wanted to sing, I did, even hallways. I didn't let anyones critisism stop me or slow down. In my sophmore year I joined a band class and played, that rights, the trumpet. Then I joined the marching and jazz band. Then in my senoir year, my vocals finally paid off, I joined the choir. When I came to NIU I then joined their marching band, but later quit becuase it took up too much time. And now I'm currently in the Northern Black Choir. I don't believe that music will ever stop appearing in my life. I even think about being a music teacher, but I'm not too sure.

In class we did an exercise where we sang a pretty catchy song and if the song ended on you, you then had to say your name and then it became your turn to walk around. The exercise was nice because at the end of the class, I noticed I was singing the song on th way home. But the it was used because once i begin teaching there may be students that are shy and this helps them break out of their shell and becom active. It also helps you learn your fellow classmates names and faces.