Yesterday I returned to Martinez Elementary! I was very excited to see my students. We began by writing down chords in their journals. Writing down chords is a new skill we have been working on with them so they can make the chords on the guitar themselves using their brains and not teacher assistance! They have improved a lot on third diagram skills and Im so proud of them!!!!!! Some of the kids were having some anxious behavior because they are taking the STARR test the next week. We saw this and talked a lot about stress coping mechanisms that could apply both to playing guitar and to taking tests! I hope that we made them feel better and more confident for next week. Learning outcome 4 was very relevant to this experience. It is show commitment to and perseverance in a fieldwork experience. I feel that my commitment to the growth of these kids is very important to me and all I want is for them to succeed !!!!

Martinez!!!!!!!

Today I went back to Martinez  after winter break and J-Term! I missed getting to go see my students every week! My one concern going back was that they would forget everything from last semester. I went back to Martinez and was welcomed with all of my kids screaming "Ms. sushi, we missed you!" They have nicknamed me ms. sushi because I like sushi and that is 4th grade humor at its finest. I felt like returning to Martinez really aligned with earning Outcome 4: Show commitment to and perseverance in a fieldwork experience.The kids forgot most of what we did last semester, which was kind of a let down, but I toughened up and lead a review for the kids of everything we did last semester. It was difficult making them all focus and work hard, but eventually they did and caught up to where they were at the end of last semester.

Last Day at Martinez for the Semester!

Yesterday was my last day teaching guitar at Clemente Martinez Elementary school for this semester. The kids have grown a lot throughout these past few months! To round out the semester, I was put in charge of teaching the class mostly by myself. I was supported by my co-teacher, Rachel, but I lead thereclass mostly by myself! We reviewed chords and rhythm because that is what we had been doing most of the semester! Towards the end of class we did a small showcase with the violin class next door. We first went over to their room and watched them play a short piece! After, the violin class came to our classroom and we demonstrated whole notes, quarter notes, etc using the E minor chord! I think it was very beneficial for both classes to observe the other because we have talked to the kids about how part of being a great musician is being a great listener. I feel that this whole day aligns with LO 3: demonstrating how to initiate and plan a fieldwork experience. I planned the contents of the class myself and helped plan the crossover class with the violin kids and their teacher! I look forward to returning in January!!!!!!!!!!!!

Third Week At Clemente Martinez!!!

Yesterday marked my third class at Clemente Martinez Elementary School! Teaching at a new school with such short notice and transition timer was hard, but I think that my co-teacher Rachel and I are transitioning well! We now have 13 kids in our class instead of 9 or 10. We also teach an hour and a half class instead of 50 minutes, which is a large difference! Aside form these struggles, the classes are going well! We have introduced the kids to basic music theory and have taught them some basic chords like Em and A! Some of the kids are super hyper and it has been a challenge to calm them down, but aside from them being hyper, I see so much potential in all of these kids!

I feel that this whole experience aligns with Learning Outcome 2, demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process. As I said before, moving to a new school that is a completely different environment as well as teaching a longer and bigger class has been hard, but I have learned how to adapt to new circumstances and grow as a teacher and leader. I am excited to watch these kids grow throughout the year and gain skills and knowledge. I see so much potential and excitement in them and I cant wait to see them grow into mature artists!

First Day at Clemente Martinez!!!

Last week I received an email that Hope Stone, the organization I intern with, is no longer teaching at Browning Elementary. I was devastated because I had bonded so much with the kids there and wanted to return and see how much my students have grown over the summer. I was informed that Hope Stone's program was being moved to Clemente Martinez Elementary School, just down the road from Browning. Instead of teaching 4th grade ukulele and 5th grade guitar, I was told I was teaching a mixed 4th and 5th grade guitar. It was going to be shift, but I was excited for a new experience and the opportunity to impact more children.

The first day went very well! The group of kids I have is amazing! They all seem interested and willing to learn! To me this whole shift aligns with Learning Outcome #4, demonstrating that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process. I will admit that shifting schools in such a short period of time was challenging, but I learned how to adapt and think on my feet!

I am excited to see these new students grow!!!!

Browning- Teaching by Myself

Last week, before my internship my co-teacher Rachel texted me that she was sick and she was coming to class but couldn't talk at all. I was very nervous when I went in because I had to execute her whole lesson plan by myself without verbal assistance, having never taught music classes by myself. The kids were very patient with me and when Rachel want dot talk to me and give me notes she'd write it down for me. This experience gave me a great opportunity find places where I succeed and where I need to grow, which ties perfectly to learning outcome 1, identifying my own strengths and develop areas for growth. I learned that I am great at engaging with the kids and the also relate to me more becauseI'm closer to their age. I learn one thing I need to do better is taking command of the room, but I hope next semester I will continue to grow and become a better teacher.

Browning

This week of my internship was more difficult than some of the others. It is the week after Halloween and we are on the verge of holiday time, so many of the kids were very hyper and a little inattentive. Also, many of the kids forgot to being their instruments, and to add onto it, we haven't seen the kids in two weeks, so their skills were a little rusty. My co-teacher and I had to use a lot of learning outcome 4, working collaboratively. Despite some setbacks and possible obstacles we faced today, we tried our best to catch the kids up and let them have fun and learn. We had to review things over and over to catch them up and we had to sacrifice our personal instruments for the kids. Today was hard, but the teamwork between me and my co-teacher helped us create a great (but stressful) class!

Browning

Today I went to my internship and the 4th graders walked into the classroom with their ukuleles. They all sat down and one of my students told me that a new student was joining the class. Of course it was SO convenient to have a new student who had never picked up a ukulele come into class. I was stressing, thinking about how I can catch up one new student to the skill level of all of the other students who have been playing and practicing for weeks. This situation resonates with learning outcome 2, undertaking new challenges. Mt co-teacher and I had to restructure the lesson to help teach the new student everything we had done over the pat 6 weeks while still helping and teaching the other students. She caught up quickly and I can tell she is going to be a great student

Browning Week 5

Today was my fifth week of my internship tis week. I took off last week, due to the PSAT, so I was super excited to see my students again! The students had clearly improved a lot over the past two weeks that I didn't see them, so we gave them some more advanced material. This week, I got to take on even more of a teacher role and teach and lead a majority of the exercises this class. It felt great to be able to full lead these kids in music, my biggest passion. To me this ties in with learning outcome 2, developing new skills. I have taught for Hope Stone for a long time, but today is first day that I have really felt like a full fledged teacher, getting to teach and lead new chords and scales.

CAS and Internship Week 3

Yesterday was my third week of my internship! The kids were great and excited because this week was the week they got to take their instruments home! I was so happy that they were so happy to take them home because I worked really hard to get the instruments. Over the summer, I raised over $2500 to get the instruments and equipment for the kids and now, seeing them so happy to take the guitars and ukuleles home feels so rewarding. This to me relates most to learning outcome number six, engaging with issues of global importance. Without Hope Stone, these kids wouldn't have any arts education at school and arts education is just as important for a child as math or science. I'm glad the kids are so happy to have music in their lives and Im glad I get to share my passion for music with these kids

CAS and Internship Week 1

Last week was the first day of my internship for the year.  I help teach ukulele to 4th graders and Guitar to 5th graders at Browning Elementary School, through Hope Stone Inc, a local arts outreach program. For the past two years, I've taught creative movement and theatre, but this year I'm spearheading the new music classes with my old music teacher, Rachel Hansbro.

Last month, I raised 2500 dollars for Hope Stone to get the guitars, ukuleles and the rest of the equipment for these classes. The first day went pretty well overall. The kids were very engaged and happy to be there. It was a big challenge for me because I've been playing music for years, but I have never taught music on this scale. It is difficult creating a blank slate and putting yourself in the shoes of a child who has never picked up an instrument before and starting at square one, which connects to learning outcome 2, undertake new challenges.

Overall, the first day went well and I learned as I went. I have to learn to be adaptable and be accommodating to the needs of the children. I think this will be a great year of new challenges, learning new skills and hopefully inspiring kids to learn to play music.