Gadgets

In my gadgets for this blog I have included numerous websites that I often refer to. I have included professional sites that I use to stay current with band techniques, ideas, and assessments. I have also included different sites that I refer to to get resource materials. The main method book that I use with my classes is the Standard of Excellence, Book I. I have included a link to JW Pepper which carries this method book and so that other directors can see what this method book looks like. It has been successful with my elementary kids over the years. I like the way it introduces new concepts. It has proven to be successful for me when introducing new notes and sticking methods.

March 17, 2010

I have been having a problem at one of my schools. For some reason several kids in my 4th and 5th grade bands have decided that bringing their instrument to class just isn't important. I have spent several weeks tracking them down within the school and asking them why? Why didn't you bring your instrument? Why were you not in class? It seems very trivial to me, but it is important that I track these kids down to make them understand that you do not skip my class just because you feel like it. They are told from day one that if they do not bring their instrument they are still repsonsible for coming to class. If they do not have their instrument, sometimes I have one they can borrow for the day. Other times, they are told to sit within their section and pay attention to what is being taught in class. However, then you have the real smarties. These are the kids who have forgotten their instruments and want to make the whole class suffer by saying out loud how stupid the class is, etc. We know these kids. Everyone has these kids in their classes. The kids who want to make it hard for everyone else to learn get a nice writing assignment during class. This really makes them mad because they feel like they should not have to write during a performance based class. Oh well I say, bring your instrument and a better attitude and you won't have to write. Upon self-reflection I often try to figure out what is going on with certain students who do this on a regular basis. One phone call to the house often has a lot to do with it. You can learn a lot about a student's home life usually with one phone call. Although, as a teacher, I have learned that sometimes calling home is not always the best idea because what they do at home might be way worse than what we are doing at the school. Sometimes phone calls home can get the kids into trouble that we as educators do not feel comfortable with. As a teacher, self-reflection is important in these situtaions because you have to know that it is important enough to call home. Also, in situations where the kids are not doing what they need to for me, it is usually that way for the kids' other teachers as well. There is a very good paralell with what is happening in their homeroom classes and what they are doing for me. Band is something that has a stigma to it. Young kids feel that band is a cool way to express themselves. I can often use that to my advantage to get through to these kids. I love speaking with the other teachers in the buildings. It gives me insight as to what might be going on in the kids home life that I may not be aware of.

I have completed all of my surveys/documents that I need for the action research project. I am really excited about what I have come up with. I really hope one of the techniques I am using will actually help the students in the class. I have started my research projecta couple of weeks ago and am finding mild success. I am not sure if it just the repetitive nature or if they are actually learning something. I guess that's one of the questions for action researchers...are they really learning what you think they are? The kids have been really helpful. I explained what I was doing and why and they seemed excited about taking part in this project. I think students sometimes forget that teachers are students as well. We are also trying to study what is right for the kids and what would be better for the kids. We are always trying to find ways that these kids learn better and in turn we are studying how to make ourselves more efficient. I think also that students sometimes don't understand that we are students off campus as well. They think we go home and thats it. They don't realize that many of us go to college in the evenings and do professional learning classes such as this one to keep learning and to keep studying. Of course, students do not have a really good perspective on their teachers anyway. Most students think all of their teachers are realy old and go home to sit and wait for school the next day. Many of them would not even dream of teachers having kids of their own, much less personal lives of any kind. Yes, this project at least will help some of my students understand that teachers are students as well!

I came to the realization yesterday of what I finally wanted to do for my project. It came to me after I posted my last blog. I was re-reading some of my earlier posts and I had mentioned in November about how the kids are having trouble elarning notes. I thought Of course!! Self assessment can come after the functionality of learning the notes. This has been a major problem for me this year and I am not sure why. The kids are having a lot of trouble with comprehending how we name notes and then applying that to their instrument. I am starting my project today and I have, I think, a clear understanding of what I need to include and incorporate.
On a different note, it is that time of year. Testing time. This is what really hurts fine arts programs. Principals start cutting the time we get with the students so that they can sit in the rooms and learn even more about math, reading, etc. Some of these schools are just running these kids ragged. I see some of the backpacks going home loaded down with books and I wonder if that is really the way to go. It seems that we are spending a lot of time and money on new programs for math, reading, etc. Whatever happened to just learning the basics the old fashioned way and going from there? Do we really need expensive learning programs for studnets to learn? Fundamentally band has been taugh the same basic way for decades. Sure, with the invention and use of technology it has gotten more advanced, but the fundamentals are still the same. You still teach a clarinet player correct embouchure, a trumpet player where to correctly put the pinky finger, etc. I am just getting so frustrated with all of the new inventions, gizmos, and gadgets that don't seem to be making a difference. I think if teachers were just given the opportunity to teach, without the pressure of all of this extra stuff, that everyone might just see an improvement. Thats just my two cents!

Self Assessment

I have been trying to figure out what I want to do for my project for this class. It has been a process by trying to eliminate and redo ideas. I have come to the conclusion that self assessment is a good topic. I spend a lot of time in my classess having to reteach concepts that I have just previously covered. The students simply do not feel that it is necessary or worth their time to take their instruments home and practice. There are a lot of reasons for this. Parents of these kids do not feel it is necessary, in comparison with math homework and the like in which their grades "mean more". These parents are conditioned that the subjects that are tested on the big tests are the most important. It would simply take too much time to try to explain to each parent the usefulness of a subject such as band. If you start trying to discuss right brain vs left brain, most often their eyes glaze over and you've simply lost them. TYeachers also give me a hard time because they feel that I should take students out of their class only when it is convenient for them and their class schedules. The kids themselves are trying to accomodate the teachers and do what they want them to do. Many times, this means that they have a whole backpack worth of work that they have for homework and say they don't have the time to practice for band. Therefore, I am left holding the bag so to speak. I teach a concept or a new note and I find myself reteaching that same thing the very next class because everyone has forgotten. So, I have decided that the students need to be more self aware of how they are doing, rather than hearing it from me all the time. It's interesting but the kids have a varying degree to which they can assess their own performance and the performances of others. They are always more critical of others in the class, and forgive themselves for their mistakes more often. So, I think for me I will be doing a project on how to get kids to become more self-aware of their own performance, either with a small group or individually. Now, comes the hard part..the actual project!!

I was reading Pink's chapter on Play this morning. I thought that the chapter was very interesting because it described how society has become infected with things to play with. Taken one step further, some people are almost obsessed with their toys and devices. I have often thought in the past years how interesting it is that people have blackberrys, laptops, cell phones, etc at the easiest disposal in history and yet seem unconnected to the things that are right around them. People seem to feel that they have become more connected when in fact they are not. I think about the students I teach. Some of them had their cell phone taken away by their teachers the other day and had to go see the principal in order to get them back. I thought how absurd it was that a 5th grader would have a cell phone in an elementary school. What on earth could they use them for? Then I started thinking as I was reading the chapter this morning about how our speciality is suffering because of this movement to be more connected. It seems, and this is just an opinion of course, that people are getting away from things that truly connect them with others. They can download anything at a moments notice, so why go to the actual symphony and listen to it in person? Why bother playing an instrument when you can go to Walmart and buy guitar hero and play it at home whenever you feel like? We have always had a problem in our communities with teaching the importance of aesthetics and it seems to be an even bigger problem these days because of these devices. I think in the classroom, it has become a problem for me because students are struggling to see the relevance f the class. They are preached to about the importance of the standardized tests, the academic grades in order for a good transcript, etc. Then a music teacher comes along and tries to teach them about the importance of music and aesthetics, etc. and they do not seem to have any relevance. In the area that I teach, the kids have never been to a symphony concert unless the music teacher has provided a field trip. They don't listen to classical music on the radio, they are probably not even aware that classical music is on the radio. They are just simply not exposed to these things. They are given opportunities such as honor band auditions, etc., but most have them do not have a ride there. It is a complicated matter, one that I hope will get better in years to come when people realize that to stay connected to people you have to look around where you're at, not a device.

I have been reading Pink's chapter on empathy. This has been on my mind a lot lately in dealing with some issues in the classroom. Since I see my kids only twice a week, it is imperative that they come prepared with their instruments and band books. I also require they come with pencils so that they can mark the music as needed. Since we have come back from holiday break, I have noticed that all of these things coming together on the same day is rather difficult. It seems that the students will have at best two out of three needed materials for class. Since I see students in many different schools, it is hard to really get into the culture of the school and establish myself as a true member of the faculty. Some of the teachers regard my class as just another specials class, with no merit other than giving them another break in the day. It seems that what Pink is saying is that empathy is an important tool in dealing with people in general. You have to be able to empathize with others so that they understand and know that what they are doing is important to you. Likewise, you want someone to be empathetic to you also. It seems in some buildings this is hard to come by. Students do not feel empathy when they come to my class over and over without their materials. Some of their attitudes seem to infer, "See if you can teach me now! I dare you!". Well, as a teacher, I do teach them anyway. I try and try and do my very best. I think Pink had it correct that empathy is just as important as anything else in all situations. If you are empathetic you provide the person on the recieving end the means to help you more because they feel as if you understand and can relate. Empathy is what is lacking lately. Now, I just have to find a good way to remotivate my students.