Keeping my students interested like musicians on the radio

When I was reading the Copland chapters, he said that "what fascinates him is the thought that by its very nature music invites imaginative treatment, and that the facts of music, so called, are only meaningful insofar as the imagination is given free play." This quote stood out to me, especially being a teacher because it is important to keep the attention of our students, much like a musician needs to keep the attention of their audience to keep selling records. The question is how? The quote talked about music being meaningful because it allows the imagination to have "free play". This is the same concept that I need to apply in my classroom to help make productive students are interested in their learning. I need to allow their imaginations to grow by giving them experiences that encourage that. One way might be to assign an activity, but give them options on how they want to complete it. This would ensure that each student was demonstrating their knowledge of a topic, but doing so in a way that was the most meaningful to them, and allowed them to use their imagination the way that they want. For example, if I gave an assignment that was strictly writing, my students who don't enjoy writing might not do so well tapping into their creative mind when completing the task. However, if I said you could draw a picture and give it a caption, write a paper, or write a poem, this might open the doors and allow more students to complete the activity in a way that was meaningful to them. Student A might choose the first option and do a much better job because they were able to use their imagination to create the picture, and still did a portion of writing by using a caption. The point is that all of my students are different and each has their own imagination. Each imagination may need different activities to get the wheels spinning, as well as make the assignment meaningful to my students. I think I will be a better teacher by trying to use multiple activities to keep my students' attention and help them develop their imaginations even more!

Music in the classroom?

     When I first began reading for this module, I thought it was a perfect thing since I use music in my teaching so often. The Burns article talked a lot about the rhythm and melody and the Wikipedia articles talked a lot about the hook. When I am working with my students, I try to get them to learn catchy songs that have hooks in them to help them learn and remember certain material. I wish there were songs for everything because my students tend to remember the information that I have linked with a song or tune. For example, we made up a song for things that sink and float and all of my students got 100% on the assessment. When I ask them what the setting is, which is something we learned at the beginning of the year, they are able to tell me while singing the catchy song we made up to help them remember. Whenever I teach them through music, they show so much more engagement and excitement. After reading these articles and the focus that was placed on the "hook" I realized that many of the songs we have learned over the year have been remembered because of the hooks that they have in them. I intentionally taught them songs to help them remember things because I have seen it work before, but I unintentionally gave the songs these "hooks"that are mentioned in the articles. I think they work for kids the same way that hip music works for us.
      On another note, I think that the idea of using the same rhythm and beat can relate to routines in a classroom. Kids work well with routines and being able to predict how their day is going to go. The same tune just different lyrics.

Why do I have to learn this?

When I read the Eisner article this week, it hit home with me and made me think about my students. In my FB post, I talked about how the article mentioned the need for us to "learn how to read them" (referring to the arts). I related it to film and how I feel I get more out of watching movies now, since I have taken classes where I learned how to read more into the film instead of staying on the top layer and simply enjoying it for the hour or so that it is on. Instead I ask questions and try to watch it from a different perspective. I know that my students wonder why they need to learn certain things because frankly they say, " Why do we have to learn this?" It is true, teaching is an art, and the concepts can be viewed as an art as well. I think that we need to take this into consideration when are kids ask questions like those because they haven't had the experience learning how to read the art of teaching. They wonder why we make them write when we are doing reading, or why they have to learn place value for math etc. I think it is important to take the time to explain to them why they are learning something. The school that I am at right now is strict, but it makes me do this on a daily basis with my kids. I have an objective for every subject every day, and I go over it with my students. They know what they will be learning and why, as well as how I am going to assess them. I think this is important to make the experience of the lesson compelling for them and hopefully they will get more out of it.