1) How is your content area and/or inquiry focus interconnected with other content areas?
Going into this program, I knew I wanted to do a final project involving music and education. Throughout this journey in 402, I have narrowed my focus to find research on music/chanting in regards to language arts and literacy. However, during my research I have been able to find different content areas, such as math and science, that intertwine with music in the classroom.
Specifically, I can see how chanting can connect to many other content areas. For example, a lot of the sources that I am using are relating chanting to literacy and learning how to read. A way that I could connect this in different content areas would be to make chants or rhymes that could help my students memorize facts or important information in other subjects such as history or science. Also, math is a great way for students to integrate chanting. When trying to memorize shape names or words such as 'product' or 'sum', simple chants and rhymes can help students remember the definitions of those words. For example, when I was in my Kindergarten placement, we were learning about addition, and I created a hand motion that went along with this echo chant, "the sum (the sum) is the answer (is the answer) to an addition problem (to an addition problem)". For that unit, at the beginning of math time, I would make the students say it with me and repeat over and over what the 'sum' was. It was cool to see the students use the words and hand motions throughout their centers too. It showed me that even a simple echo chant can make an impact and enhance learning.
Although this isn't my main focus for this project, I would love to in my own classroom use hand motions along with chanting. I think that throughout all of the content areas it can be helpful and really enhance the learning community and help all learners to feel involved.
2) How does an interdisciplinary lens deepen understanding for a 'well-educated person'?
As I have mentioned in my previous blog post, in today's world, I do not think that a well-educated person exists solely in the classroom. I think those people are found on the athletic field, in the art room, and even at home with their families. A well-educated person needs to be well rounded, and have life experience to build off of. Not everything can be learned in a classroom from a teacher. Sometimes, life needs to be experienced on a different level. I feel as though an interdisciplinary lens is necessary when looking for the 'well-educated person' because there are so many different levels that go into being a 'well-educated person' that looking with only one lens isn't enough. Also, I think that in order to see a 'well-educated person' for who they truly are and what they have to offer, you yourself need to have qualities or be on your way to becoming a 'well-educated person'.
Ravtich talks about being able to learn from others and listen respectfully to others opinions. I feel that someone who is not 'well-educated' would not be able to do that and fully grasp the knowledge being shared. When someone is wise and respectful to others and is accomplishing what Ravitch describes, that person is not only 'well-educated' but is also using an interdisciplinary lens to analyze and learn new and different information. I really feel that, based on Ravitch and our previous class discussions, an interdisciplinary lens is something that people need to develop over time. It is not just something that someone can get in a day. By building their knowledge and acceptance about the world, a 'well-educated person' is also developed.
Again, as confusing as that last paragraph might be, I think that being a 'well-educated person' and using an interdisciplinary lens go hand in hand. As these 'well-educated people' are formed, their knowledge grows along with their life long learning. Since I do believe that a 'well-educated person' is not only found in the classroom, I feel as though the interdisciplinary lens is growing and more and more people are looking through it.
Commented on:
April Klassen
Tara Smallsman
Whitney! Yes! Music can be incorporated into all subjects! I too have found more research involving music/kinesthetics/dance with math more so than in language arts, but it is still extremely helpful. I like how you are thinking of adding movement to your chants, this adds a whole new learning style and element to your teaching. It sounds like our classrooms are going to have very similar pedagogical strategies. I would love to collaborate with you on this some day. I can do the movement and you the music?!?! I also agree with your views on a 'well educated' person. It takes more than a life time of classes to become educated.
ReplyDeleteHi Whitney!
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you and April--that music and chanting can be incorporated into all content areas. When I was students teaching in Kindergarten last semester, my focus student had a really hard time remembering which sounds belong to which letters. Through research, I found that singing simple nursery rhymes and pairing that short chant with a movement could help him make concrete connections. After speaking with the reading specialist at my school and implementing those thoughts, he was making huge improvements by the end of the year. I never realized how powerful singing catchy tunes could be!! Also, I really like your idea that a well-educated person can be found in all types of environments. I do believe that people who are well traveled and create varied life experiences for themselves tend to be the most well rounded and chill people. So, I guess that can only mean one thing--vacation! :)
Whitney,
ReplyDeleteI think it is so great that you see the potential to incorporate music into all different subjects! I think that music is a powerful tool for learning that is often underutilized by teachers. I remember your presentation in our Seminar class during the credential program with the chant/rhyme that you had used with your students for the water cycle. I think that chants such as that really can deepen student learning as well as make the content more fun and exciting for the students.
I would love to see how you integrate music into literacy and language arts instruction. I feel that this is one subject area which music is not typically integrated into instruction. Sounds like you have the beginnings of a very interesting and meaningful capstone project :)!
-Alaina
Hey Whitney,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your blog this week! I completely agree with you that a well-educated person is not solely a product of the classroom or a purely academic education. I agree that a well-educated person could have achieved that from a multitude of avenues, and none need be academic. In understanding how connected the different content areas are, I think there is also a understanding that learning experiences outside the classroom are just as important/beneficial as learning experiences with in it.