Teaching Standards
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Standard 1. Subject Matter Knowledge:
One of the most exciting parts of lesson planning, is analyzing the intended product and figuring out the perfect puzzle to give the students. How can I best prepare them? What do they already know? What do I want them to know? How can I get them excited about learning this new concept? These are all questions I ask myself when creating lessons. My first job as a music educator is to know the content; it is a whole new challenge to make it accessible to the student. I attempt to anticipate issues before they occur. The idea is to fix the problem before is happens. This can often be accomplished in warm-up activities.
I have passed the Musical Content Knowledge Praxis Exam and attached my resumé. Upon graduating in Spring 2014, I will have a Bachelors in Music and a Masters in the Art of Teaching.
One of the most exciting parts of lesson planning, is analyzing the intended product and figuring out the perfect puzzle to give the students. How can I best prepare them? What do they already know? What do I want them to know? How can I get them excited about learning this new concept? These are all questions I ask myself when creating lessons. My first job as a music educator is to know the content; it is a whole new challenge to make it accessible to the student. I attempt to anticipate issues before they occur. The idea is to fix the problem before is happens. This can often be accomplished in warm-up activities.
I have passed the Musical Content Knowledge Praxis Exam and attached my resumé. Upon graduating in Spring 2014, I will have a Bachelors in Music and a Masters in the Art of Teaching.
Standard 2. Human Growth and Development:
When preparing my students for instrumental playing, I alway try to use "learning building blocks". This video clip shows my use of body percussion as a precursor to instrument playing. The body percussion helps introduce students to rhythms, placement of mallets, and hearing multiple parts at once. Before the students get behind an instrument they have identified and prepared the rhythms, practiced playing different sections as a group, and are ready to introduce the final step of translating this information to a pitched instrument. My lesson plans are examples of my understanding of human development.
When preparing my students for instrumental playing, I alway try to use "learning building blocks". This video clip shows my use of body percussion as a precursor to instrument playing. The body percussion helps introduce students to rhythms, placement of mallets, and hearing multiple parts at once. Before the students get behind an instrument they have identified and prepared the rhythms, practiced playing different sections as a group, and are ready to introduce the final step of translating this information to a pitched instrument. My lesson plans are examples of my understanding of human development.
Standard 3. Diverse Learners:
This video shows how I use different tools to communicate new ideas to students. For each lesson I create, my goal is to have a visual, auditory, and kinesthetic element with the intention of reaching every student in a way that makes sense to them as an individual. Each student learns differently, so I aim to incorporate as many avenues of approach for each concept.
My Philosophy of Teaching stresses Bernice McCarthy's 4MAT system of varying learning types.
This video shows how I use different tools to communicate new ideas to students. For each lesson I create, my goal is to have a visual, auditory, and kinesthetic element with the intention of reaching every student in a way that makes sense to them as an individual. Each student learns differently, so I aim to incorporate as many avenues of approach for each concept.
My Philosophy of Teaching stresses Bernice McCarthy's 4MAT system of varying learning types.
Standard 4. Instructional Planning and Strategies:
Each lesson is carefully thought out with objectives, avenues for teaching, learning/teaching materials, national standards, and sequencing in mind. I have several lesson plans listed on my website under the link "Lessons".
My Philosophy of Teaching addresses this standard by focusing on Bernice McCarthy's 4MAT system.
Each lesson is carefully thought out with objectives, avenues for teaching, learning/teaching materials, national standards, and sequencing in mind. I have several lesson plans listed on my website under the link "Lessons".
My Philosophy of Teaching addresses this standard by focusing on Bernice McCarthy's 4MAT system.
Standard 5. Motivation and Management:
I choose to use the classroom as a place for students to experiment. My Teaching Philosophy focuses on intrinsic motivation through a safe and stress-free environment. I strive to create self motivated students through choice. In order to help shape students to become interactive members of society and leaders in their future careers or environments, I teach musical terms through active participation and leadership roles. These "spotlight" roles are never forced upon a student. However, I find that through creative lesson planning and a safe environment, students emerge as active members of classroom community.
I choose to use the classroom as a place for students to experiment. My Teaching Philosophy focuses on intrinsic motivation through a safe and stress-free environment. I strive to create self motivated students through choice. In order to help shape students to become interactive members of society and leaders in their future careers or environments, I teach musical terms through active participation and leadership roles. These "spotlight" roles are never forced upon a student. However, I find that through creative lesson planning and a safe environment, students emerge as active members of classroom community.
Standard 6. Communication and Technology:
I use technology, such as Microsoft Powerpoint and Smartboard, to effectively cover the span of learning types in the class. My Teaching Philosophy focuses on giving each student the opportunity to learn in the best possible way for him or her. In my lesson plans, I include auditory, kinesthetic, and visual forms of communication and teaching. My teaching videos display this range of non-verbal/verbal communication and use of technology during lessons.
I use technology, such as Microsoft Powerpoint and Smartboard, to effectively cover the span of learning types in the class. My Teaching Philosophy focuses on giving each student the opportunity to learn in the best possible way for him or her. In my lesson plans, I include auditory, kinesthetic, and visual forms of communication and teaching. My teaching videos display this range of non-verbal/verbal communication and use of technology during lessons.
Standard 7. Planning:
My Philosophy of Teaching focuses on varied instruction in order to address multiple learning types. My lessons display my use of kinesthetic, auditory, and visual learning tools.
My Philosophy of Teaching focuses on varied instruction in order to address multiple learning types. My lessons display my use of kinesthetic, auditory, and visual learning tools.
Standard 8. Assessment:
In conjunction with my Philosophy of Teaching, I believe in a low-stress, welcoming environment. My Assessing Philosophy emphasizes assessment in a non-threatening manner. Assessment should act as way to improve teaching and learning. I believe a great part of assessing is informal in order to capture the real ability of students without hindering them with stress and nerves.
The video below shows an example of informal assessment. The "Pumpkin Child" lesson can be found on my Lessons page.
In conjunction with my Philosophy of Teaching, I believe in a low-stress, welcoming environment. My Assessing Philosophy emphasizes assessment in a non-threatening manner. Assessment should act as way to improve teaching and learning. I believe a great part of assessing is informal in order to capture the real ability of students without hindering them with stress and nerves.
The video below shows an example of informal assessment. The "Pumpkin Child" lesson can be found on my Lessons page.
Standard 9. Professional Development:
My Student Teaching experience has been an excellent way to continue learning the art of teaching. Not only do I have the opportunity to see a current music teacher work, but I have someone available for assessment and reflection. My cooperating teacher is always offering advice and constructive criticism for my teaching. She asks me to self-assess strengths and weaknesses form each lesson and then contributes her own feedback. Another way I assess my self is through student assessment. The main reason I assess students is to see how I, as a teacher, can improve my teaching.
Throughout my Student Teaching experience, I kept a weekly blog. Feel free to take a look through my experience and see how I have grown through my time at the Chapin School. Student Teaching Blog
My Student Teaching experience has been an excellent way to continue learning the art of teaching. Not only do I have the opportunity to see a current music teacher work, but I have someone available for assessment and reflection. My cooperating teacher is always offering advice and constructive criticism for my teaching. She asks me to self-assess strengths and weaknesses form each lesson and then contributes her own feedback. Another way I assess my self is through student assessment. The main reason I assess students is to see how I, as a teacher, can improve my teaching.
Throughout my Student Teaching experience, I kept a weekly blog. Feel free to take a look through my experience and see how I have grown through my time at the Chapin School. Student Teaching Blog
Standard 10. School and Community Involvement:
I feel that healthy, professional relationships within the school community are vital to school success. My work in the Chapin School "Grandparent's and Special Friends' Day" required collaboration between general education teachers, administration, the art department, the music department. I worked with the other music teachers as well as the general education teachers to organize the logistics of the rehearsals and event. During the concert I worked with each of the classroom teachers to organize the students in performance order and make sure the program ran smoothly behind the scenes. I am excited for our next performance at school when I will be working with the art teachers to create props and scenery for the Fourth Grade Japanese Folk Tale play.
My Teaching Videos give a glimpse into my rapport with the students. I make a point to know each student's name and build relationships to support students' learning and well-being.
I feel that healthy, professional relationships within the school community are vital to school success. My work in the Chapin School "Grandparent's and Special Friends' Day" required collaboration between general education teachers, administration, the art department, the music department. I worked with the other music teachers as well as the general education teachers to organize the logistics of the rehearsals and event. During the concert I worked with each of the classroom teachers to organize the students in performance order and make sure the program ran smoothly behind the scenes. I am excited for our next performance at school when I will be working with the art teachers to create props and scenery for the Fourth Grade Japanese Folk Tale play.
My Teaching Videos give a glimpse into my rapport with the students. I make a point to know each student's name and build relationships to support students' learning and well-being.