Study Unit 4- Arts integration in the Foundation phase
Why is it
important in the FP?
Through arts
integration, foundation phase learners will develop their problem-solving and
critical thinking skills through participation in authentic learning activities
that foster the ability to become aware of the various ways in which we are not
only connected to each other, but also to our world, while drawing attention to
the ways in which the various subjects in our curriculum are connected.
Arts
integration and the CAPS document
The CAPS is
also written in a way that encourages teachers to draw connections between
various subjects by integrating them. We can create learning environments in
which learners can develop holistically, experience personal and social
wellbeing, and foster creativity and imagination by drawing on their innate
love of music, movement, and visual arts when we use arts integration in
teaching.
How can
we transform education through music and the arts?
We can
transform education through music and arts a little bit at a time, by slowly incorporating
it, it has already made an impact on future educators such as myself, who will
be the future teachers, we will be able to change the way of teaching and improve
it. I am excited to see how it will change and how music and art will be incorporated
more in the future.
Individual
reflection
1. Some people might say that arts
integration is a waste of time in Foundation Phase education. Please explain
how you would respond to such a statement by explaining your view on arts integration
in the Foundation Phase.
I feel that
the people who say that arts integration is a waste of time in the Foundation Phase
education, are clearly people who are not foundation phase teachers, who have
never taught foundation phase children and frankly have no idea what they are
talking about, because if they have not tried to incorporate it, how would they
know it is a waste of time. If the children benefit from arts integration more
than what teachers would, well then that is a good thing, we as teachers foster
children’s thinking and it should be more beneficial to them than the others,
and of course, any Foundation Phase teacher would enjoy some fun like arts
integration in an already stressed world in being a teacher.
I would
respond to this statement as being untrue and unnecessary, yes all have a right
to their opinion, however, I personally feel this opinion is uncalled for.
My view on
arts integration is that it carries more benefits than disadvantages. It is a new way a learner cantered way of teaching, a step towards the fourth industrial
revolution, and the start of a much healthier school system and curriculum.
Arts integration can connect imagery to reading comprehension, contextualizes
arithmetic, and gives science and social studies students an experience
perspective
2. Which aspects of study unit 4 did you
find the most interesting and challenging?
Please use the following prompts to reflect on your experience:
• What did you find interesting? Please
explain why.
Aspects that
I found interesting were the ways in which arts integration can support the
holistic development of a child and how it can promote a positive learning environment.
It was interesting to read about the six areas where arts and academic and
social skills were linked together. The six areas are Reading and Language
Development, Mathematics, Fundamental Cognitive Skills and Capacities, Motivations
to Learn, Effective Social Behaviour and the School Environment.
Now the one
out of these six that was particularly interesting to me was the Reading and
Language Development. Now it is no secret that this is an area where children do
struggle the most, it is a big area to master and many things need to
collaborate together for children to be able to speak, write and read, so the fact
that arts integration can improve this area for children in school is fundamental,
and so very important, I found it interesting as I would like to try this,
especially in literacy where children can engage in dramatic enactments of stories
to improve their reading comprehension.
• What did you find challenging? Please
explain why.
I did not find anything in particular that I struggled with in this study unit, there were a few things that I went to go read about, such as how CAPS is included, so this is something I found slightly more challenging in understanding the viewpoint of the Department of Education regarding arts integration and how exactly they would apply this or how it has been applied.
a nice read about arts integration by The Kennedy Center. Really informative.
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