Dance Reflection

Think about the reading and the activities we did in class, as well as your own experience with dance in elementary school. Think about how this approach to childrens' creative dance might be different than studio dance (jazz, ballet, hip hop, etc.) or social dance - why do you think children's dance specialists might focus more on childrens' creative dance for education? How do you think you might use dance in your own teaching?

From my own personal dance experience, which consists of all of the previous dance forms named, and from my children's creative dance class that I took my sophomore year of college, I can truly say that there is a huge difference in the cognitive process behind creative dance and all the other forms of dance. I never had experience in creative danced, or modern dance, until I was a sophomore in high school, but it is where I truly gained my passion for dance. I always liked to dance, but after learning modern dance in high school I never look at dance in the same way. Dance moved from just memorizing steps, moves, and techniques into a way of expression, learning, and communicating feeling.

Apart from that I took a childrens creative movement class a couple years ago in college, and it was a whole semester dedicated to teaching me how to take this concept of creative movement into an elementary classroom. I love the freedom, confidence, and out let of energy it provides kids with. One thing I especially love about using this in the classroom is that it does not focus on the child who has the best form, or technique, but the child who is willing to think outside their comfort zone and really stretch their creativity. I will most definitely use this in my classroom because I feel it is beneficial in so many ways! Not only is it a good gym activity but it is also a good way to integrate arts into a variety of lessons.

Drama Reflection;)

Reflect on any new perspectives you have gained about using drama in your future classroom. Why and how do you think you will use drama techniques and strategies? What specific activities do you think you will use most as you begin teaching? What are your thoughts on integrating drama with other curricular areas?

I have really enjoyed how my perspective of using drama in elementary school has changed from putting on a play, to something you can use daily as an integration in all kinds of lessons. I think that when I actually begin teaching the two ways in which I will use these strategies will be using drama to draw kids in back to learning (after reccess, or an assembly) and to have it be a fun hook at the beginning of my lesson. I think drama will work really well for both of these ways! I am also excited about integrating drama because not only is it something fun and engaging for the students but it helps them put down there guard and move away from their clicks. I think that every classroom needs to feel a sense of security, and comfort, and drama is a great way to achieve that. It will be a great tool to be able to integrate into so many different areas of the classroom.

Reflection #1

Think about what you have learned so far through reading, discussion and class activities and reflect on how your ideas might have changed, things you want to learn about teaching (with, in, about, through) the arts, and why they are important in the education of every child.

It has been clear to me through the last few lessons just how important it is for every student to have the opportunity to take part in the arts, and how important it is for us as teachers to make that possible through integration in all subjects. I have always enjoyed the arts in different ways in my life throughout my life, but I never realized how many studies have shown what an academic difference it can make to the child. It makes me really excited to make this a part of my lesson plans because then it won't just be something that I have a passion for but actually something that I know the students need.