Reflection Week #5

This week our class received the evaluation form in-class teaching assignment and went over the four parts that we will be graded on: musicianship, leadership, preparation, and delivery of instruction. On Wednesday, we got back our lesson plans and got into groups of three to get ideas from our fellow classmates. We went over tonic solfa ( do ri mi fa so la ti do) and the song phrase method, which is when you hear a song and learn it one phrase at a time. We received a handout on Zolton Kodaly who was a Hungarian musician that believed music should be the core curriculum, used as a basis for education. He also believed that singing is the best foundation for musicianship. We learned that each note on the C major scale has its own hand sign. The teacher would make hand signs and we would have to sing what note corresponded with each hand sign. Hand signs are a good way for children to practice singing the tonic solfa. We learned about rhythmic duration syllables and practiced using syllables to a rhythm that the teacher wrote down on the chalkboard. We also learned the note D on the recorder and played Barcarolle and the Polka. Sharp notes are higher by a half-step and are apart of the G major scale. Children need to be able to understand and learn all the notes on the scale.
I am really nervous about presenting my lesson plan next week. I really don't like to sing in front of people and I'm scared of messing up. This is the first lesson plan that I've ever had to teach so it will defiantly be a new experience. I am going to prepare for my presentation by practicing my song numerous times and going over the steps of my lesson plan. I will probably make my roommates watch my presentation a couple of times to get feedback. I'll just make sure that I am totally prepared so I feel confident while presenting. I know that creating and presenting a lesson plan is important because this is what I will be doing everyday at work. If I can't write and present a lesson plan, then I won't be a very good teacher.