“The voice of the teacher is of paramount importance in carrying out professional roles and responsibilities. It is essential that this asset is protected” (GTC, 2017).
In todays seminar we focused on the importance of the voice. We started off by looking at the GTC and their explanation of why the voice was important. They have a whole document explaining why the voice is important and what we should do if our voice is effected. This was a useful tool as it allowed me to follow instructions on how to use my voice effectively and what to do if it gets damaged.
We then went on to look at the use of voice in music and how we can use singing in the primary school classroom. We were shown a number of resources that were very useful such as Choon Baboon. Choon Baboon is a brand new, modern way to get the children singing songs they will love in the classroom. Each song is on YouTube which is quick and easy to access, and you do not need to have an account to access the resource. I would definitely use this resource as i lack confidence in music, and can allow the video to take over. Choon Baboon also fits in with the Curriculum for Excellence Level 2 music.
We then went on to sing a few songs of our own such as ” Penguin come for tea” and the “number 9” song. These were fun and engaging and suitable for the primary classroom. We were also shown Graphic Scores which was a way that children can draw their own music and follow it :
Each children will have an instrument which pairs up with one of the symbols. When ever they see the symbol they have to play their instrument. This is a fun way to get the children to compose their own music without using notes and scales. We practiced this in our own groups, following the theme of fireworks :
Overall, this was a very exciting lesson. I was engaged throughout and took some useful tips from the lesson!
Drama
In this week drama’s lesson we focused on the different conventions we have learned over the past few sessions. During the lesson, I felt as if my confidence has grown and I am starting to relax and enjoy being part of the drama. As a student teacher, I also feel like I would feel confident enough to teach drama in the classroom.
Overall, I think the arts should be integrated into all areas of the curriculum. As educators, we should encourage arts and give it an importance in the classroom.
Choon Baboon (2017) About us. [Online] Available : http://choonbaboon.com/about-us/. [Accessed : 3rd November 2017].
The General Teaching Council for Scotland (2017). Voice Management. [Online] Available : http://www.gtcs.org.uk/web/FILES/FormUploads/voice-and-the-teaching-profession1652_214.pdf. [Accessed : 3rd November 2017].
