Journal Week #6

During class this week, I presented my first lesson plan. I ended up teaching the class how to sing "Hey, Betty Martin" and used the piano as my accompaniment. I enjoyed participating in my classmates lesson plans and found them all to be very creative.
Criteria Sheet:
Name: Stephanie LaMantia
Lesson: Teaching the song "Hey, Betty Martin"

Musicianship (5 pts): 5 Delivery of Instruction (20 pts): 17
In tune, accurate pitch: Also used the piano Motivation, capturing attention
Accurate rhythm Sequencing of steps
Appropriate tempo Verbal instructions
Phrasing Questioning: Provide more questions
Expression Pace of lesson, flow, transition
Flexibility
Leadership (10 pts): 10 Feedback to learners
Body language Continuity/focus of lesson
Facial expression Closure
Voice tone and volume
Eye contact
Intensity

Preparation (15 pts): 13
Knowledge of music
Knowledge of plan: Really relied on lesson plan
Written plan: Completed on time
Instruments/equipment ready: Used rhythmic sticks and tambourines
Recordings/charts/materials ready: Made drawing charts

Total Points: 45

A. What I found to be the most difficult thing about presenting a song to the class was trying to make the material simple enough for children to follow. I kept wanting to use sentences and words that young children would have a hard time following. I also found it difficult to keep track of which students were getting the words to the song and which were not. When your teaching it's hard to watch every student individually to make sure that they are understanding the material being taught.
B. I thought that I relied way too much on my lesson plan. Throughout my presentation, I could see myself constantly flipping through it. I had practiced my presentation numerous times and knew my music by heart, so I should have been more confident in myself and not relied so much on my written lesson plan. Although I had everyone in the class involved at all times, I could have asked them more questions to have made sure that they understood the material. I just kept going with my lesson and not double checking to see if my students understood what they were learning.
C. I thought that my presentation was creative and had the children doing something at all times. I felt that I had a good knowledge of the music and the musical concepts that I was teaching. I also used a good voice tone and volume, used accurate pitch while singing, and captured every one's attention.
D. For my next presentation, I am going to try and not use my lesson plan sheet at all. I want to interact more with the students and question their knowledge throughout the lesson. I would of also not used the piano as much because I had a hard time hearing my voice. The children would have had a much easier time following my voice than the piano.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9lHidGtCu0&eurl=http://musicingdream.blogspot.com/2009/02/stephanie.html&feature=player_embedded