Study Unit 1-Music and the Holistic development of foundation phase learners

 

Part 1:

·How are you feeling; how has your week been? – in general or just with regard to your studies

I am feeling slightly overwhelmed, which is a normal feeling for me to have in the beginning of a new semester until I know what, where and when, other than that I am feeling hopeful and kind of excited and nervous to see what will happen next, it is a very accomplishing feeling achieving goals that I set out for myself. My week has been busy, trying to set up a routine around the new semester. The rest of the subjects this semester is a bit stressful so I hope that LSKM can give a bit of fun and joy in between the craziness which is a distance student/part time study/work in between studies kind of life…

Individual reflection

1.Would you please describe your confidence in your current knowledge and skills to teach music through movement in the Foundation Phase as you start your LSKM 221 journey? In your answer, please also refer to your confidence to integrate music into your teaching practice currently.

I would describe my current confidence and knowledge to teach music through movement in the foundation phase at an intermediate level, if I could use levels to describe it. I have some knowledge about teaching music rings through whole group/whole class activities where we would play musical chairs, exploring musical instruments, dancing and listening to different types of music, I am quite confident to integrate music into my teaching, and to expand my knowledge of how to go about teaching music to different age groups, I am not musically talented myself, but if I could encourage a child to be or to realise their potential or talent, that would be amazing.

2.When thinking about facilitating holistic development in the Foundation Phase, we need to consider, for example, cognitive development, personal development, social development, emotional development and physical development. We also need to consider literacy and numeracy skills, language acquisition, creativity, problem solving and midline crossing.

Both music and physical education play important roles in the holistic development of the young learner. However, if you have to choose between incorporating Music education OR Physical education in the Foundation Phase curriculum to meet the holistic development needs of learners, which would you choose? In your answer, please explain which would be the best choice to ensure the opportunity for the holistic development of the learner and motivate your answer.

If I could choose which between incorporating Music education or Physical education in the Foundation Phase curriculum to meet the holistic development needs of learners, I would choose Music education, reason being that I feel it has more opportunities that cover the holistic needs of children, music can be used to emotionally support children, to calm them, to inspire them, it gives happiness to the child. I feel that playing music during the day can have a calmness in the classroom, like playing classical music softly when children are working, or fun music during free play or free activity time in the classroom. Music can make you feel so many things. I would also like to incorporate some Physical education in the sense that this can be joined with music through dancing and even playing games such as musical chairs or the freeze game. Overall Music education for me personally have many benefits to add to a child holistically.

*To add I came across an interesting read about music and holistic development facts in children. Please feel free to follow the link and read the article. 👇

https://www.brighthorizons.com/family-resources/music-and-children-rhythm-meets-child-development