Day Ocho

WOW! We got to observe at a local elementary school and I had a great time. Me as well as one other student were placed in a 3rd grade class. We ended up helping the teacher by teaching some students, we were standing in front of the class, leading small groups, and I even took them inside the smoke house and was in charge for a little while. I'm not saying it was easy but I did enjoy it. Some of my classmates were complaining that they had to teach and it felt like they didn't get any time to sit down. Well me and my partner for the day really enjoyed it. Our teacher that we were helping was really nice and handled students very well.

I love little kids and I had a great time. I got to teach some math, draw some spiders and chickens with some students, and bonded with a few of them that begged me to sit with them at lunch. Even with all this however, I still love the High School too much to changed my educational destination. I'm still going to my Clinical Placement twice a week and starting next week I will be there three times a week. I can't wait to teach!

Day Ciete

Today Dr. Mitcham came in and we had a great discussion! We did some team building exercises which I had done before and she related them to how a classroom works. My team kind of had the better structure because not only had I done it before, but I have worked at the Broyhill Adventure Course for several years now so I just tried to make a miniature model of their climbing structure.

We also talked about different laws and policies and how they all fit together. The main item of topic was the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS). It was interesting to see how everything fit under this one big umbrella like RTI and how each Tier effected students and how we handle each situation. 

Day Ces

We have started to talk about the different laws in school. One that we looked at is the Individuals with Disabilities Act (I.D.E.A.) Public Law 101-476. It has six elements to it including: Individual Education Program (IEP), Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), Least Restrictive Environment (LRE), Appropriate Education, Parent and Teacher Participation, and Procedural Safegaurds.

We are also finishing up our Cultural Competence Project. My group did it on the Hispanic and Latino culture. I didn't know there were so many problems in the 60's. We tend to remember how badly the African American population was treated but the Hispanics got it pretty bad as well. Before Brown vs. The Board of Education there was Mendez vs Westmister.

Day Cinco

This week we went into School's report cards and little about election and who gets onto what boards. I actually learned a lot this week. I also really enjoyed the game we played in class. I was a white female with average money and living conditions. I ended up without much debt or illness because of how I spent my money and resources. I did however only end up with 8 points which I thought was awesome when I heard the negative points my classmates had beside me. But then I heard how much others had across the class and they were in the 90's. Just shows how in real life that there's always someone better off than you. There's also always someone worse off.

Day Cuatro

This week I was able to go to my old high school and help teach orchestra. I also took a couple students aside who needed help. There were two students who had just switched from cello to violin and from cello to viola. It's hard to explain what someone has to go through and their thought process behind changing instruments if you yourself are not musically inclined. It's different for me because I've been playing violin for twelve years so I just have to learn to read a different clef. In layman's terms; I have to read a different language.

I have also taken on six private students this year. Three violinists, two violists, and a girl who is playing both. One of them are in college and has played piano for years so she can read music, it's just playing the violin itself is difficult. Another student is in high school but because she does not have time to be in orchestra this year she wanted to take lessons so as to not get behind when she reunites with them next semester. The rest of my students are under the age of about 11.

In class this week we focused on poverty. A lot of people don't realize how bad it really is. We have people starving daily and countries who don't have a fraction of what America has. Even in America we throw most of our food away. One third of the worlds food ends up being thrown in the trash. Even here in the county I grew up in.

We also watched a video in class relating to poverty. I thought the video was interesting and very realistic, especially since most of my friends growing up lived like the family in the video. I've been to many houses where there was trash everywhere and broken cars and walls. I just never understood how people can let this happen. We have people who can't afford a new outfit in a class sitting nest to students who buy the newest shoes and phones as soon as they come out.

Day Tres

This week was interesting. We took a quiz in class and I don't really believe in the answer it gave me. It said I was more partial to white men. But I can't say from the bottom of my heart that as a Christian, this is not true. I love and treat every race and culture with the same love and respect.

Wednesday I was at the high school that I have been placed for Student Teaching. I stayed until their last block which was Band. Their first class was a younger string chamber orchestra, mostly 9th and 10th graders. I was given a syllabus of the class as an example and some work sheets that they take home. The teacher showed me how he takes role and puts in grades. For their second block I sat in on their electronic music class. The kids had projects they were working on so while they had their headphones in me and Teacher talked about his other classes. He showed me all the music they were playing for this semester and asked if I wanted to conduct any or play in any of them. They had a lot planned on their calendar  for this year and I'm really excited that I will be a part of it.

After lunch we had the advanced string chamber orchestra, as opposed to a full orchestra which includes band instruments. This group is much smaller than usual and what will be in there next semester. This is due to certain classes only offered at certain times. So they kids are broke up into trios with their classmates which is a great experience learning method for them because they will have to work together and really be in tuned in order to produce a good sound. One kid was alone because his two partners were not there so he and I went and played together and just did some one on one. We talked about music, played a lot, and got to know each other a little bit. Afterwards the teacher asked if he talked because he is very shy in class and doesn't talk much. But we hit it off which brought so much joy to my heart. I cannot wait to go back and I think I will be able to be there twice a week.

Day Dos

This week we focused on Diversity. I've always knew I had to differentiate in my class because unlike any other class. In a music class everyone's skill level and knowledge is displayed in front of the entire class everyday. So being able to differentiate and adapt to everyone's individual needs is a necessity for teaching music.

Growing up in a public school playing music has definitely helped me to see how different musicians process and perform differently based on their culture and background. I've played with students who could afford private lessons growing up so they were obviously better and didn't require any attention when it came to teaching technique. I've also played with students who didn't have a parent. A friend of mine didn't have a father and so he had to take care of his mother and younger siblings. You could tell when his mother was having illnesses because he would fall asleep in class due to staying up all night. But to my surprise he would continue to play even when asleep. I looked up to him for that.

This upcoming week is pretty exciting because I will begin teaching my private studio. I will have six new violin students and some viola students. I have also cleared my schedule so I have no classes on Tuesdays. I'm going to use this time to go to my high school that I've been placed at as well as my old high school to begin teaching and observing.

Day Uno

So today we had our first class. I'm looking forward to learning how to differentiate better in my class and especially learning how to handle different cultures. It'll be interesting that I'm the only guy in the class but it shouldn't hinder too much bias. Everyone seems as if they're pretty intelligent.

The thing that will probably take up most of my time this semester will be going to my assigned school, that of which I am very excited. The teacher is fantastic and I've already got to work with the kids a little. I'm taking on five extra private violin students this semester so it'll will add on time and a little stress but it'll also add on experience and teaching methods.

Day Eleven

In class we went down to another room and got to arrange it how we would like it. This was pretty neat and a good intro into becoming a teacher. We as music teachers will not as much say in what happens to our room but it's still nice to arrange and make things the way you think the students would learn best.
We also got to see a 3D printer in action which was pretty fun. And we played with some boomwackers. The year is almost over and it's starting to get close to graduation time. And even closer than that is student teaching. I'm pretty excited and can't wait to start teaching. I also had my recital this week which went very well and I'm very pleased with how it turned out. The cookies afterwards were worth it all.

Day Ten

So today we talked about writing strategies in our classroom and using the RAFT. I've never thought about making a RAFT for a music classroom but it would actually help with composition a lot. We also got to go over some scenarios which for some reason I love doing. It helps me think about the future and prepare for different situations. I've had some rough and different school events happen to me. I've had a girl have a seizure beside me on the bus and I was only High schooler on the bus so I had to tell these little kids what to do. I've had fights break out in front of me and I might have started one. It was nothing really, This guy was picking on this girl and shoving her so I might have gave him one in the face. But it was over instantly because he sat down to deal with the blood and I sat down like it never happened. Probably could have handled the situation better but we learn from our mistakes.

I'm pretty excited about the woman coming on the 28th. I like "crowd control" and don't mind running games with little kids. I've asked around to find some friends who could help and actually found a few. Now we just need to make a plan and execute it. This semester has actually gone by slower than the usual Spring semester. But it's almost over and then it's the summer.

Day Ten

So today we had to teach the "class" using literary devices throughout our individual concentration. We had the After Class Literary Devices such as assessment. We pretty much used what we would usually teach in a class and explained how we could make them think about a certain idea. We analyzed the piece "Sing Sing Sing" which was wrote near the early twenties. It is definitely a jazz piece but with some unorthodox rhythms. A lot of what the students will have to play will need to felt and not read.

In a way we needed to teach to ignore what is written or heard and use their imagination. It's not something very easily taught. This type of rhythm has to be learned solely by the individual student. Some of the accents and emphasis is on non-typical jazz beats. This is what the students will struggle with the most.

I enjoyed how everyone was able to use their subject to tie into the same lesson. It's interesting to see how different lessons and subjects can change the output of a certain time period or event. This is one reason why I love conservatories. To learn math and history as it relates to music would be so amazing. I've already learned more in my music history class than anything in the seven or eight years or regular history classes.

Day Nine

So Today was fun. I went to an Elementary School and helped watch over the kid's lunch while the teachers were able to get a little more of a break from things. It was pretty fun hearing the random things kids would say or do. Also reassured me of why I'm teaching high school. I saw a lot of teachers and principles there that I knew either from church or they taught at another school that I attended as a child. It's nice to live in a small community where you know people everywhere.

My spring break was pretty solid. I stayed at home for half of it. I went to my old high school a lot and taught a few classes. It was fun being there a little more consistent than my usual once a week. All of the music students know who I am and I've taught most of them individually so i'm comfortable there. I also know all of the teachers and faculty so it helps with the all around atmosphere. I feel like a real teacher when I'm there in front of all the kids. It also helps that I've played in so many different groups growing up. I've played in various ensembles from Hickory to Greensboro to Rutherford. As a section leader or concert master I've had to stand up and teach entire sections or groups multiple times. I really see these experiences starting to help when I'm in a school setting with fresh faces. I'm able to explain to them what they are doing or need to do in order to achieve a certain style or technique.

While I was there at my old school I hung around one of my friends who is currently working there and just finished student teaching here at the university. He really got my hopes up when he told me that real life teaching is very different than student teaching. A lot less stress and writing, with a lot more teaching and actually doing the thing. They said that they can actually sleep now, which is nice. They also don't have to worry as much about lesson plans being at a certain level or format. I was happy the help this past week and I look forward to going back and seeing how the students have progressed.

Day Eight

So today was interesting. We had another guest speaker who did really well. I learned a lot about star wars... We actually did a good bit to do with real teaching or, doing the thing. We learned new strategies to read at any level and can relate to music pretty well.

She talked about reading briefly through something just to get an idea about it. Then going through section by section discriminating differences throughout. This is something we do in music every time we practice. We get a new piece and try just reading through it. then we go back and practice sections, especially the hard sections. Except for music we have to practice these sections at a VERY slow pace and gradually speed it up. And instead of doing this in a few minutes, it takes us hours or days depending on the piece.

Everything in this lesson however can be used somehow in a music classroom so I actually enjoyed today. But the year is almost over. I'm excited for the summer however I do now know what to do. I've had two summer camps ask me to work for them as well as three weddings I have to play for. If it were up to me I would just rock climb everywhere. The only problem is that I need money because school says I can't have any.

Day Seven

So today was an interesting day. We had some grad students come in and teach the class. I enjoyed their lesson and thought it was extremely relevant to today. I've always had an interest in Spanish so I can speak it fairly well. I grew up in a public school where there were a decent amount of latinos. I also played a lot of soccer but not for the school. My brother and I started playing soccer after school and invited some of our latino friends and it eventually became a regular thing where every Tuesday after school we would play soccer. A lot of our friend's families started coming and playing also. My brother and I were the only white people there so it really started to help our soccer skills as well as Spanish. Even though I may not know a lot of vocabulary, I can fake it enough to seem fluent.

So I have never really gave a whole lot of thought of, what if I have a student who doesn't speak English"? I hope by the time I'm teaching full time that I'll be fluent in español that I will not need a translator. I think a second language should be "more" required of us native Americans. Frankly, I'm tired of hearing people say "this is America! Speak English"! We used to be this great, big, melting pot and now we're just making the rest of the world think that we're kind of stupid.

Day Six

Today was pretty cool. I kind of enjoyed doing the whole thing over the phone. I probably shouldn't have done it while driving but I needed to get to school cause I had a class right after that. I learned a little bit and all my questions got answered so I was pretty content with today's class.

I'm still kind of confused with the Website thing due this week for me. I have only heard various things from everyone on what to do with nothing very concrete. I hope by the time it's due that I'll have a better understanding of what exactly I need to do. I'm not too worried about it and I think it can really help with me becoming a future educator.

Well I have faith that everything will get better. Even with all the hw assignments and things due coming up and all the outside things going on in my life I'm not in the least worried about anything because I know God has a plan and it will all work out. That's why I will never stress or get flustered.

Day Five

So I always put the title as "Day .." even though it should be week. But it's too late for me to change it now. So far I feel like I've learned a lot in the class. I feel better about going out and teaching in the real world. My only thing is incorporating the standards into my lessons. So far when I have gone to other schools to help out, I have actually gotten to do a lot in front of an ensemble. I have been able to play with the ensemble, teach the ensembles, have private lessons with them, and even conducted for a concert.
I've always enjoyed teaching people how to do things, rather it's rock climbing, how to solve a rubik's cube, or play an instrument. I've had three piano students and three violin students. I've been taking piano and violin lessons for about six years. I understand what my students are going through because I've been through the same. But when I get up in front of a class I'm used to just kind of winging it. I rehearse with them until I find a section or technique that calls for attention and I try to make a learning experience for the whole class.
This whole taking standards and using them. I'm okay with it to an extent. From what I hear from a lot of teachers, they make a lesson plan or just copy and paste a lesson plan from the year before. So I'm still a little confused as to how and what I will do about that.

Day Four

So, oh my goodness. It feels like there is so much going on right now in my classes. We now have a project that we have to do and I'm pretty sure no one in class really understands what we have to do. All I really know is that we are doing something for the standards that we are assigned. There's also a bunch of websites that we have to use as "references"?? But I think after talking to a few people I finally understand it a little better.

It's hard to believe it's already Feb. We're starting to have more and more due for all of our classes. My fear is that for this class I will not know when what is due. Let alone my other classes. I'm not too worried however because I know it will be alright.

Day Three

So the days just keep on coming. More and more work and expectations from us students whom soon to be teachers which is in a way, ironic. I grow more and more excited every day to be in charge of my own classroom. To have my own desk and room that I get to make mine. I try to go to my old high school every Friday and help the Orchestra director teach lessons or give sectionals to students who need it. It's funny, I watched all my under class-men follow our footsteps and then graduate. I finally started to feel my age when I showed up to introduce myself to the new musicians and noticed, everyone I was in school with has graduated. It does give me a sense of comfort and ease of a fear I've had since I began wanting to teach. I was always worried, how do I properly instruct someone so close to my age? Repetitively going back and helping students and actually getting on the podium has really helped me to feel comfortable in "doing the thing".

Today I had to get in front of my class and give a presentation to parents and children (fellow classmates) about why their child should join a music program such as orchestra.This actually gave me huge confidence in that I know why others should learn and play music. I was surprised how many answers to questions I knew. I could have prepared more in terms of material actually on my powerpoint but I know that when the time hits I'll be ready give all the parents and children the information they need.

Day Two

Day two…

So far school is going as can be expected. Assignments are starting to be due and papers are coming up fast. It doesn't help that I'm a music major with a two jobs. I have nine classes,  three weddings to play and prepare for, a Recital to practice for, I'm the leader and founder of a club here and school, I'm taking violin lessons as well as teaching three violin students, I'm taking piano lessons, and I am preparing for a recital in a couple months with the hardest music I've ever done. So… Poop is hitting the fan.

I did learn good things in EDU 316 but man is there a lot of different things to keep up with. I feel like I may actually learn more if it were a little more simpler in terms of technology. I understand that because of the Teaching Standards and Common Core that we have to involve technology in our classrooms. With music however, I am certain that I will be able to define literacy in music and how we constantly communicate and interpret everyday in a music classroom.

With this class being one of the more important courses I am taking this semester. I want to succeed but with my recital coming up and all of these things I need to get done it will easily be one of the hardest classes I will have this semester. It would be easier if there were not as many websites and apps to keep up with. Also I think more class time would help so I could ask questions and talk with everyone to get their opinions. If only we had more time...

Day One

Day One... 11 hundred hours... We learned about team building and communication. Today was actually pretty fun because we were able to leave the regular classroom and explore campus on a scavenger hunt. I hope we do more of these so as to not become stuck in the same room for days on end.