Creative Arts is a Big Hit in Field!!

  With music and movement and visual arts incorporated in our Navajo lessons we found an element that children love and respond to.  We were able to see why art is so important to use in the classroom.  Now granted the students did not go wild when I played the Navajo music and told them to dance, but I did get them to move, and it did give them a feel for a different culture through music.  They did however respond to the lesson on the symbolism of colors of the Navajo.  When they were told that they got to choose their families color... it was amazing to see their enthusiasm.  

     We were able to see the response of the students with their teacher when she would implement creative arts into their lessons.  They would always ask her to leave the music running a little longer and they would sing and dance along to the songs on the cd player when she would.  They made turkeys for Thanksgiving and loved putting their own creative touch to their artwork.  They loved when they got to draw on the back of their worksheet when they finished before others.  I was amazed at how much the students love to draw.   This was incentive for many of the students. 

     The students were able to attend Art specialty when we were in field and we asked our teacher if we could go to observe.  We loved going to art and had so much fun with their teacher.  Some of the students have quite an artistic ability.  This is a great place for them to shine.  I loved the teachers creative ability and the students are so lucky to have such an amazing teacher!

     Field was amazing for so many reasons.  We learned so much and appreciated the creative element that art brought to the lessons we planned.  If the students remember only one thing from our lessons,  I would bet it would have something to do with art.  If the arts is what makes students smile and retain knowledge...we can teach outside the box.  The results of an enthusiastic class are worth the effort.  

       

A Visual Explosion!

     Our visual arts lesson on Thursday was a feast for our eyes!  We were well taught about many artists and illustrators.  When we entered our classroom, we felt as if we had entered a museum of art.  It was amazing to see the collection of works and to listen and learn about each work.  I was amazed at the insight of many of the interpretations we learned about.  I was thrilled that we were given time to think about what the pieces meant to us personally.

     I am happy to have learned that schools have collections of the Utah artists on hand.  I will use this collection no matter what grade I teach.  This is an amazing collection and can teach and inspire youth in so many ways.  Students will see that they can be artists too when they learn about the local talent. 

     Having prepared our illustrator activity/lesson was good preparation for this class.  We were so moved by learning about the visual arts that we were already invested.  I was excited to hear about the different illustrators also because we had learned a great deal in preparation about our illustrator.  This sparked my interest and when the other presentations were made we wanted to learn about them all.  I also tried to visit as many tables would allow because I was intrigued with the presentations.  I wish I could have visited every single one.

      This was an amazing day and I am excited to use the visual arts in my lessons in school.  I feel that it can be plugged in to all subjects of lessons and will look to incorporate it often.  I also want to learn even more about illustrators of children's books.  A little personal note about the authors life will bring a personal element to the reading and hopefully help children connect with the books even more as I do this. 

     

Visual Arts ahhhhh!

     The visual arts are amazing!  The creative elements and span of variety make it fun to learn and teach about.  Seeing the artists' interpretation of their own expressions open the eyes of students. Visual arts teach creativity in a way that is fun and interesting.  

     Mixing paints and creating your own colors is fascinating.  Learning about tints, tones, and shades, helps a person appreciate all the colors within our visual spectrum.  After learning about the color wheel a person will appreciate the visual arts even more.

     Creating texture in visual arts is a challenge and rewarding.  It is a test of imaginative ability to create texture in artwork.  Artists have mastered this technique and to allow students the chance to try this would be fun to present as a project.  

     Learning about different lines is a fundamental element of art.  It simplifies the lessons of art and helps a student appreciate even the smallest ideas.  Students will be able to expand their ideas if they start out with the foundation of artistic ideas.  

     Using shape in art work gives the students ideas to expand with.  Shapes can create depth and interest in a art piece.  Shape will add emotion to artwork and create feelings that may be different for different students.  It also allows for the dimension of a piece to have an effect on the audience.

     I will use the visual arts in many ways.  I will teach students about artists in world history and about the elements of art.  I feel that I will use art in a variety of ways in different subjects as well.  It is applicable to any subject.  I will teach students that visual arts are valuable and should be appreciated.  We will visit museums and create our own museum.  I am so excited to to share my passion for visual arts with my students. 

Dancing Sets Us Free!

     If dance in the classroom is about "creative problem solving" and using "hands on, feet on--whole body on" experiences, then educators must take note of the awesome possibilities they have to teach students through dance.  A formal dance class in a studio would be repetitive learning and possibly high stress for students to get routines just right.  In a classroom students have the ability to explore the possibilities with the adventure of creative movement and variations of music.  This can relieve stress and anxiety.  This can allow for self expression in a free way that has no right or wrong answer.  

     I will use dance in my classroom as tool.  Children need movement.  Movement helps motivate learning by promoting activity in a fun way.  When children incorporate movement with learning it helps them learn by experiencing not just memorizing.  It is invigorating.  I will allow children to get up and get their wiggles out in creative ways.  I will use music to promote a mood for the dance.  I will use dance to teach about different cultures and customs.  I will use dance to teach focus, and concentration.  Dancing to bring fun into a math lesson might be a challenge that I would like to explore.  Dance and creative movement with music and creativity will be a fun element in my classroom.  

Sweet Melody in Life and Learning

     Music is happiness.  Plain and simple.  If professionals "play music to jump-start creative problem solving", and it is known to "kindle emotional responses while firing up cognition"... if it makes "time seem to speed by", and helps make "exercise palatable"... Then why not use it in the classroom.  The classroom is in need of all of these benefits.  It is where formal education blooms and flourishes and music should be a part of this daily.  A teacher who uses music in the classroom might feel that they are doing so for the benefit of the students, but may I submit, that music will be just as much a benefit to the teacher. 

     Patterns are pleasing.  Children love rhythm and repetition in melody.  The patterns in music stimulate the brain.   Music and rhythm are both a natural part of life.  Music helps keep attention and triggers memory.  A familiar melody helps maintain memory long-term.  Music is a great resource in every culture and is key in many traditions.  Music is also for everyone.  There are many types and genres.  Everyone loves and is benefitted by music.

     As a teacher I will incorporate music in my classroom everyday.  I plan to use it in presentations, classroom management, and for memorization.  I will use it in drama lessons, math learning, and other subjects.  I will play classical music when students are in the creative mode for artistic projects.  I will use it in times of celebration, for patriotism, and to unify our class.  I will sing the school song with our students to promote school pride.  I plan to use different instruments, such as the recorder, piano (I better practice!) and drums.  I plan to use it more so with technology.  We have such an abundance of resources to use music in the classroom.  I know that it will be a big help to my teaching experiences.

     

Importance of Arts in the Classroom

    I have always loved the arts.  The arts can be the most challenging classes a person can take.  The arts require skills that other subjects don't necessarily.  They require you to trust.  I think classes in the arts sometimes are more difficult for a person who comes in with the expectation that these are fun and easy classes.  Classes in the arts are fun but they require hard work in a different way then say a math class.  If your expectation is to work hard and put yourself out there, whatever it takes...then a person will have fun.  

     So what is it about the arts that is so addicting?  If artistic classes are so challenging why do so many people indulge their schedules with classes in the arts?  Art classes teach students in a way that requires a person to learn by active experiences.  To pull ourselves out of our comfort zone and trust our fellow classmates to an incredible degree.  This will bond students and teachers like no other class.  You become more than just friends you become a class family.  

     Children who have positive artistic experiences when they are young, will have more confidence in the arts as adults.  It allows a student to let go and be free from worries even if it is only for the duration of the project.  When the endorphins are released because of a pleasurable activity, the child will associate a happy memory because they let go of their worries even if it was only for a moment.  

     I have always thought the arts were important because I enjoy them so much, but I later learned that it is more than enjoyment for a short time.  The discipline that is required to perform artistically, is admirable for all who are lucky enough to witness it and a fantastic memory for a lifetime. 

Drama in the Classroom

     A few years ago I remember admiring teachers who used drama in the classroom and felt very intimidated by the thought of using it in my future classroom.  I was very nervous to take the class Theatre for Elem. Ed. Teachers, but had I known how much I would have learned, I would have taken it long before I did.  That class sparked something in me that I hope never dies.  In addition to learning about the resources available and the skill of teaching and incorporating Drama in the classroom, we learned concentration, focus, and gained an immense amount of confidence.  These are a few of the things children gain when they are taught drama in the classroom.

     The techniques and strategies that I plan on using will be, to develop trust with my students so that they know that our class is a safe environment.  I will use many focus games and exercises to develop concentration.  I will use drama vocabulary such as upstage and center-stage etc. I will allow for creative role playing and puppet making lessons.  I will have a class play, even if I don't teach 3rd or 5th grade, when it is commonly done.  

     I would love to pull lessons from other subjects and tie drama into them.  I can see myself having students act as mad scientists as they present their science project.  I would encourage students to dress up in appropriate costumes and come as the person they chose for their Presidents report or Explorer.  I would like to dress up as the author or characters of books we read in class and have fun with reading.  Drama can be a memorable tool for children that can last a lifetime.