Songs to Teach English
The link above leads to a blog that is full of ingenuity and fun. This teacher incorporates songs in her classroom to help teach English to ESL students, which I am a huge supporter of. I really likes how she used a variety of videos and creative processes to teach her students.
I thought that the blog was laid out in a clear manner and was very easy to follow. It was professional. yet personal, which I think displays just two of the many sides of a dynamic teacher. There were a few posts about her awards, which I wish she would have elaborated on and reflected on them for an educational purpose, but once I scrolled past them I began to enjoy her many ideas. I will be able to put this blog in my metaphorical tool box for my future teaching days.
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Technology in the Music Classroom
As I am writing this blog, my boyfriend is working on an Italian aria in the background, La Vendetta. He is going over the diction slowly of each word to get the correct pronunciation and the emphasis on the syllables in the words. He is doing so with a CD on his computer that says each phrase for him, with the IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) translation in front of him to make sure that he repeats it back correctly. He then sings along with a recording so that he is more prepared of what to expect for when he rehearses with his accompanist.
There are many articles and studies out on the internet that describe the use of technology in the classroom, including the music classroom. I personally like to see the proof, like that of my boyfriend's practice tonight. I find that technology has an incredibly important role in the teaching of music. I have observed classes that use Smart Boards to help the students interact with the score of a piece as they listen to it, or use the AirPlay feature on their iPads to display the music that they have been working on the the entire class. Technology plays such an important and helpful role in classes that one would be a fool not to utilize it. It helps students with special needs and students without special needs to be creative and to learn quickly.
The link below is a website that a music educator created to show off his students and explain how he uses technology to teach music to his students better. This is the best proof that there is: to usse technology to explain the use of technology.
Music Tech Teacher
There are many articles and studies out on the internet that describe the use of technology in the classroom, including the music classroom. I personally like to see the proof, like that of my boyfriend's practice tonight. I find that technology has an incredibly important role in the teaching of music. I have observed classes that use Smart Boards to help the students interact with the score of a piece as they listen to it, or use the AirPlay feature on their iPads to display the music that they have been working on the the entire class. Technology plays such an important and helpful role in classes that one would be a fool not to utilize it. It helps students with special needs and students without special needs to be creative and to learn quickly.
The link below is a website that a music educator created to show off his students and explain how he uses technology to teach music to his students better. This is the best proof that there is: to usse technology to explain the use of technology.
Music Tech Teacher
My Teaching Philosophy
I am a musically driven person; I always have been, and I always will be. I believe that music should be used as an important tool for teaching students how to approach life. Music can be used as a positive outlet to stress, and helps bring out creativity in students. It also teaches social skills such as working together and working separately. Students learn how to communicate through multiple forms and more importantly, learn to tell a story through more than just words. Music helps make connections between the audience and the performer, just like a speech or a business presentation. It also brings pure joy to those who listen, and to have a medium that can evoke such strong emotions inspires me to help pass that part of culture along.
I also am a firm supporter of having a liberal education. To me, this means having a well-rounded and diverse learning experience that prepares a student to be open to learning anything and everything. A liberal education means being able to create multiple connections between different subjects and seeing how every aspect of life works together like a well-oiled machine. One cannot have something without the other. I believe that I can focus my specialty in music while still being able to learn and teach other subject areas by doing so the best way that I know how, which is through the avenue of music. Music helps teach history, language, culture, math, literacy, poetry, science, etc. All of these subject areas are entangled together and I believe that it my job as a teacher to help my students make sense of the web of life by exploring it and dissecting it piece and piece.
I understand very well all of the struggles that current teachers are going through in their profession. I will not get into the politics behind these struggles, because I know that they can seem very grim. I like to be more optimistic about my profession. I know that although the job may not seem to come with many financial benefits, but the largest, most grand benefit is not one that is listed in the job description. I get the pleasure of watching students grow and the seeing the delight in their faces when they finally understand a concept. That is so incredibly rewarding to me that the frightening political battles do not matter as much to me. My philosophy of teaching includes how I want to teach, which is with whatever tools that I am given to provide a better opportunity for a better. more intelligent life.
I also am a firm supporter of having a liberal education. To me, this means having a well-rounded and diverse learning experience that prepares a student to be open to learning anything and everything. A liberal education means being able to create multiple connections between different subjects and seeing how every aspect of life works together like a well-oiled machine. One cannot have something without the other. I believe that I can focus my specialty in music while still being able to learn and teach other subject areas by doing so the best way that I know how, which is through the avenue of music. Music helps teach history, language, culture, math, literacy, poetry, science, etc. All of these subject areas are entangled together and I believe that it my job as a teacher to help my students make sense of the web of life by exploring it and dissecting it piece and piece.
I understand very well all of the struggles that current teachers are going through in their profession. I will not get into the politics behind these struggles, because I know that they can seem very grim. I like to be more optimistic about my profession. I know that although the job may not seem to come with many financial benefits, but the largest, most grand benefit is not one that is listed in the job description. I get the pleasure of watching students grow and the seeing the delight in their faces when they finally understand a concept. That is so incredibly rewarding to me that the frightening political battles do not matter as much to me. My philosophy of teaching includes how I want to teach, which is with whatever tools that I am given to provide a better opportunity for a better. more intelligent life.
About Me
Hello!
My name is Caitlin Graf, and I am a senior at the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh. I am studying Choral and General Music Education, which will one day allow me to teach high school and middle school choir, and any general music class at any age. My dream job is to teach general music at the elementary level.
In the photo above, I am pictured with my boyfriend, Joshua, who is also a Choral and General Music Education major. We have been together for two and a half years, and are seen here at the opera La Boheme in Milwaukee, WI. I come from a family of five that includes myself, my mother and father, and my two younger sisters, who are twins. I have lived in Oshkosh for my entire life. which influenced my choice to stay here for school. Although I began at this school to save money, I stayed because I love my classes, professors, and peers. I have gained many great experiences from going to school here in Oshkosh that I could have never imagined, and I am forever grateful that fate has led me here.
I currently work at the Boys and Girls Club of Oshkosh, where I teach art and music to children ages 6-12 years old. It has been an incredible experience so far and I am learning so much about teaching and working with children that come from a variety of backgrounds.
I am currently involved in Chamber Choir, which is the top ensemble choir on campus. I am also involved in two a cappella groups, OshCappella and Musicopian. If it is not already noticeable, singing is my favorite thing to do, especially in a choral setting. It has been, and always will be my passion.
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