Today I noticed that one child came
in singing a new song. All the other children started to sign along with him.
The children all went over to the mat area and were dancing and singing along
to this new song. I saw the children were really interested in music and
singing so I asked if they wanted to play the iPod. The iPod is a great device
as it is similar to the Ipad where you can search for new songs. Through the
uses of different technology children are to explore and develop new skills (Ministry
Of Education, 1996). The children love playing with the iPod because they are
able to search for the song they like and listen to the songs they choose.
Allowing children the freedom of choice is giving the children power to make
their own decisions (Ministry Of Education, 1996).
In the video you can see all the
children participating and enjoying singing and dancing. The iPod is giving the
children the desire to dance and move around their body. Children are
developing their gross motor skills (Gonzalez-Mena, 2011) and are developing
body and spatial awareness. The children are also allowed to use the CD player
and select their CD from the CD case.
Movement and balance are also learned
through dancing as children are moving around and exploring their personal
boundaries. Children can only explore there boundaries when they feel they are
in a safe secure environment (Ministry of education, 1996).As teachers we
provide this environment by the centres culture and facilitating children
learning and development.
Music is a gateway to many different
experiences. To further the children development we decided to use no digital
technology to show children you don’t just need and iPod or CD player to make
music. The children first started playing their musical instruments along with
the beat then they started making their own beat. Making music is giving the
children opportunity to express their feelings and create a rhythm.
Music can be expressed in our centres
many different ways. As teachers we need to be providing different ways so that
we are keeping music interesting for children.
I believe that having music played all the time is important because it
set the mood in a centre. During the day we play clam peaceful music as this
follows the centres philosophy. And when its mat time the children want to
express their energy and mood the children select the songs they want to listen
to.
Hi Rachel :)
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting reflection you have written. It is fascinating to think about how far we have come with technology in recent years. From listening to songs on the radio, to downloading our favourite songs from our computers onto an mp3 player and now having a just the one portable device which allows us to download music and store it whenever we like. I think that this is an awesome tool to have as children's interests are always changing and so is their taste in music. Having an iPod allows teachers to keep in tune with children's musical needs.
It is really nice to read that you incorporated the use of musical instruments so that children had the chance to learn about different means of music.
A suggestion for you to do with the children if their interest in music continues is maybe put together a small child-led concert and record this. I think that seeing this played on a screen will make them feel very proud of what they can do.
Hi Rachael
ReplyDeleteI like how in your reflection you had noticed the children singing and dancing and asked them if they wanted the iPod. It is nice to see you getting involved in the children’s interest and taking it further by providing an iPod where they can search and find the song they like and play it. I really like that in the environment they are in, they have the freedom to make choices of their own, where they are provided with many different digital and non-digital technology to explore and use. It is nice how you took the children’s interest from using digital technology to non-digital technology so that they could explore and see the difference within the two technologies.
Just a suggestion from reading your reflection, I thought it would be really awesome if your centre could get different types of musical instruments which are from different cultures. This could extend the children’s knowledge in knowing that people from different countries have different musical instruments and learn much more about music =)
Hi Rachel, I like your reflection about Music, I myself love music as a passion!. I like how you noticed the children singing and dancing and you enhanced their play by suggesting if they wanted to play the Ipod. its so important that you don't force the idea of having the Ipod, rather you asked first and that's a great teaching technique. Your giving the power to the child for you to be part of their learning. you also mentioned that during the day you play calm, peaceful music as part of your philosophy, so do you have time for children to express themselves loudly with music? I agree that music is a way of expressing, and children love to be loud most times, so I hope they aren't too restricted to just being soft and calm all the time. :)
ReplyDeleteMusic has changed through times and I like how you went from Ipod to using the musical instruments so children can make their own music and beats. It's more meaningful when they can foster their own learning through something they enjoy.
You suggested different ways of expressing music, how else could you do this? How could you set up the environment to promote music?
a suggestion is maybe create your own musical instruments like I have also done in my blog. we made bells as a symbol of the bell we use in the centre as well as a instrument. You could do a musical band.
Hi Rachel,
ReplyDeleteGreat to read that you noticed, recognised, and responded immediately to a child's interest and facilitated this with the use of iPod, Video, and CD player! go you for being so on to it. It still fascinates me how much our world has changed with technological advancements and these young children have such a huge capacity to learn about them and how they operate. I was wondering how they children get on using the iPod, to identify which song they like, do you think they recognise the song name or just use the iPod to skip to other songs? I can see you really value this type of digital technology and its learning opportunities it provides the children in your centre. maybe you could get the children to make their own version of this song, recording their sing and music, or maybe even making a dance video for it?