Further Reflection:
What kinds of feelings the idea of doing things with "no recipe" brings to you?
- usually when asked to do something that is very open ended and involves little to no instruction, I tend to feel very uneasy. At the same time, I know and understand the benefits of things being done in this way from time to time. However, my fear of being "wrong" or doing something "badly" often fuels the initial feelings of anxiousness I experience when put into situations like these. At the same time, when I am able to come up with work I am satisfied with in these scenarios I feel especially accomplished as I know that I have learned and grown in some way.
What kinds of challenges do you think you'll find out there?
- I believe I will be put in many situations where I need to be able to adapt and make changes as I go. I know something that will challenge me is that no matter how much I plan for something, for example a lesson plan there is a chance that nothing will go as I expected it too. In these situations there may be no recipe for me to follow, or it will be something we never discussed in class. Additionally I will need to adapt according to fit the needs of students that learn differently, and do my best to be able to explain things in a way which they will understand, a way that may differ from how I was taught or taught how to teach.
What kind of abilities did you learn or you think you carry in yourself that you believe will be useful in the field with the people?
- I think of myself as being very compassionate and personable. I think part of my fear of doing something wrong comes from the fact that I would never want to steer a student in the wrong direction or leave them in the dark about a subject or concept. I find that I like to be told what to do and then hopefully go above and beyond to do that thing very well. Although I could do more to become more comfortable with things being more open ended and me being more creative, I think traits that I already have will hopefully enhance these skills that I hope to learn.
What kinds of feelings the idea of doing things with "no recipe" brings to you?
- usually when asked to do something that is very open ended and involves little to no instruction, I tend to feel very uneasy. At the same time, I know and understand the benefits of things being done in this way from time to time. However, my fear of being "wrong" or doing something "badly" often fuels the initial feelings of anxiousness I experience when put into situations like these. At the same time, when I am able to come up with work I am satisfied with in these scenarios I feel especially accomplished as I know that I have learned and grown in some way.
What kinds of challenges do you think you'll find out there?
- I believe I will be put in many situations where I need to be able to adapt and make changes as I go. I know something that will challenge me is that no matter how much I plan for something, for example a lesson plan there is a chance that nothing will go as I expected it too. In these situations there may be no recipe for me to follow, or it will be something we never discussed in class. Additionally I will need to adapt according to fit the needs of students that learn differently, and do my best to be able to explain things in a way which they will understand, a way that may differ from how I was taught or taught how to teach.
What kind of abilities did you learn or you think you carry in yourself that you believe will be useful in the field with the people?
- I think of myself as being very compassionate and personable. I think part of my fear of doing something wrong comes from the fact that I would never want to steer a student in the wrong direction or leave them in the dark about a subject or concept. I find that I like to be told what to do and then hopefully go above and beyond to do that thing very well. Although I could do more to become more comfortable with things being more open ended and me being more creative, I think traits that I already have will hopefully enhance these skills that I hope to learn.
Further Reflection:
What characteristics do you bring in your personality or in your background that you think would be helpful to deal with the kids and their parents
- I believe I have experience that has helped me to understand how to be patient around children. However, I have not been in many situations where I have interacted with both a parent and their child at the same time. I think I am friendly and enthusiastic about my placement which I think will come across as something positive and I am hoping to present myself as an involved student who is passionate about how music can help their children and others.
Which non-kids songs you already know that you think that could be transferred or adapted to sing/play with the children?
- I think there are many songs that I may have learned through choir or even some of the cannons and folk songs that were featured in the intro to music education course I took in first year could be adapted to teach children about musical concepts or just to get them comfortable with singing.
What characteristics do you bring in your personality or in your background that you think would be helpful to deal with the kids and their parents
- I believe I have experience that has helped me to understand how to be patient around children. However, I have not been in many situations where I have interacted with both a parent and their child at the same time. I think I am friendly and enthusiastic about my placement which I think will come across as something positive and I am hoping to present myself as an involved student who is passionate about how music can help their children and others.
Which non-kids songs you already know that you think that could be transferred or adapted to sing/play with the children?
- I think there are many songs that I may have learned through choir or even some of the cannons and folk songs that were featured in the intro to music education course I took in first year could be adapted to teach children about musical concepts or just to get them comfortable with singing.
Further Reflection:
1) You did mention that you "like structure" and it makes you feel comfortable but at the same time you think that it also makes you resistant to changes. Could you think more about that? Why do you think it happens? How do feel about that? How do you think that this affects your life or can affect your practice as a teacher?
1) You did mention that you "like structure" and it makes you feel comfortable but at the same time you think that it also makes you resistant to changes. Could you think more about that? Why do you think it happens? How do feel about that? How do you think that this affects your life or can affect your practice as a teacher?
- I think having structure to a certain degree is good, as it was for the children I observed in my placement. However when it gets to the point when everything is predictable and results in a fear of change or taking risks I think that personally it can result in me being complacent and not thinking creatively. I think sometimes this can happen simply because it is easier to stick with a plan rather than come up with something new for the class, just as it can cause the class to be unmotivated it can come from a similar attitude from the teacher. Through other class discussions I have already been warned against teaching in the same way repeatedly as it can not only mean that I as a teacher stop learning but also that I am not doing my best for my students who may need change or a more creative approach. I’m hoping that since this is something that has been brought to my attention now that it will better inform my future decisions.
- I think the good change I was talking about in my video was change that promotes creative thinking but is still comfortable for the students. I have become aware that stepping out of my comfort zone is a good thing, and that it can lead to new discoveries about myself and valuable experiences. At the same time I would not want to drastically change something to the point where some in the class are uncomfortable because of how drastic it is. I have also witnessed students who need to be slowly eased into change and I want to be mindful of those who learn more effectively in this way as well.
Further Reflection:
1) When you said that you're "really out of your comfort zone" and you felt kind of intimidated being in a different environment. Could you reflect on what means to you be really out of your comfort zone? How do you feel when it happens? Why?
- In the situation I described in the video I felt very hesitant and uncomfortable. I think I sometimes feel this way because I am someone who is afraid of making mistakes, which I discovered all over again after the article we read last class. However I think part of it was also because I was in an entirely new environment. Over the course of my undergrad I have definitely been pushed to step out of my comfort zone on many occasions, and while there are times where I initially panic like I did in this situation there are other times when while I do feel bit unsure I know that in the end the experience will benefit me. I think part of the difference is I feel more comfortable taking risks in an environment where it is being facilitated by people I trust and where I know I am supported.
1) When you said that you're "really out of your comfort zone" and you felt kind of intimidated being in a different environment. Could you reflect on what means to you be really out of your comfort zone? How do you feel when it happens? Why?
- In the situation I described in the video I felt very hesitant and uncomfortable. I think I sometimes feel this way because I am someone who is afraid of making mistakes, which I discovered all over again after the article we read last class. However I think part of it was also because I was in an entirely new environment. Over the course of my undergrad I have definitely been pushed to step out of my comfort zone on many occasions, and while there are times where I initially panic like I did in this situation there are other times when while I do feel bit unsure I know that in the end the experience will benefit me. I think part of the difference is I feel more comfortable taking risks in an environment where it is being facilitated by people I trust and where I know I am supported.