TLS 321 Final

Presentation
Sarah Hirsch

Teaching Philosophy
My philosophy on teaching is to focus on an anti-bias
approach to the way I teach. I want to make all children
in my classroom feel accepted and included. My goal is to
make my classroom a place where all children feel safe
and protected when they walk through the door. I also
want to take a more hands-on learning approach to keep
my children engaged and to give them a different way to
learn the material. I want to occasionally use the various
arts to support my childrens learning in all the different
subjects. I believe that using the arts as a bridge from
the known to the unknown helps to make the kinds of
connections that children can use throughout their lives.

Situating Self as a Creative

Teacher

In this class, we created a collage illustrating our creativity in our

lives. I highlighted the creativity I have through concerts, dancing,
cooking, horseback riding, nature, arts and crafts, and photography.
All of these aspects make up the creativity that I choose to
experience in my life.

Art Critiques

For my first critique I visited the The Mini Time Machine

museum of miniatures. I found this to be an enlightening
experience and had never seen anything like this before.

For my second critique, I watched a friends band play at a

neighborhood event. I really enjoyed their sound and am
now looking forward to what they will do in the future.

For my third critique, I attended the Renaissance Festival

where I witnessed a performer playing bells on an
instrument that few know exists. It was a new, unsettling,
and unforgettable experience.

Quotes from Readings

The readings throughout this course were particularly inspiring.

They provided me with ideas of how to better implement arts into a
classroom as well as inspire me to find ways to engage children in
the arts. Some of the quotes that inspired me in particular were:

Children draw to learn rather than learn to draw. Lazear

Asks what the children will learn rather than what the children will
do. Mulcahey

Be clear about your objectives and consider what children aer

learning or exploring musically in addition to any other outcomes.
Cerniglia

Teachers can take their current practices one step further by

enhancing and diversifying how they use music in the classroom.:
-Cerniglia

Overview of Integrated Unit

Design

When I was deciding what aspect

of art to focus on, I wanted to
choose something that I saw
already taking place in my
classroom that I could build and
strengthen. I realized that music
and movement would be a
perfect opportunity to do this. I
worked with my mentor teacher
to think of ideas to incorporate
this unit design into the
classroom environment. I noticed
that through the integration of
this unit that many of my
students have shown greater
interest in the art activities that
get placed out in the classroom.

Process of Creating
Lessons

Lesson 1: Ram Sam Sam Song

Going into this lesson, I was

anticipating that some of my
students wouldnt want to
participate since they
normally resist music time. I
learned that if you give the
students a really engaging
song/movement piece, that
they can really take it and
make it their own. Because
of this lesson, I now see how
young children can be opened
up and gain a new sense of
confidence through the use of
the arts.

Standards Lesson 1

Arizona Early Learning Standards

Approaches to Learning Standard, Strand 2: Attentiveness and

Persistence, Concept 1: Attentiveness

Language and Literacy Standard, Strand 1: Language, Concept 1:

Receptive Language Understanding

Social Studies Standard, Strand 1: Family, Concept 1:

Understands Family

Physical Development, Health and Safety Standard, Strand 1:

Physical and Motor Development, Concept 1: Gross Motor
Development

Fine Arts Standard, Strand 2: Music and Creative Movement,

Concept 1: Creates and Understands Music, Movement and
Dance

Process of Creating
Lessons

Lesson 2: Yoga

I wanted to do this lesson with my children because I felt

that we need something to help come together as a class
after doing independent worktime. I also wanted to show
my children examples of physical activity that can also be
used as a way to calm down their minds. Through this
lesson I realized that many of my students could make
connections to this activity and things that their parents
did. One of my students also is able to use the breathing
exercises to help calm her when her emotions overwhelm
her. Because of this lesson, I now know how to connect
the arts to the overarching theme of creating a safe and
inviting classroom environment.

Lesson 2:
Yoga

Standards Lesson 2

Arizona Early Learning Standards

Fine Art Standard, Strand 2: Music and Creative Movement, Concept 1: Creates
and Understands Music, Movement and Dance

Social Emotional Standard, Strand 1: Self, Concept 3: Self-Regulation

Approaches to Learning Standard, Strand 2: Attentiveness and Persistence,

Concept 1: Attentiveness

Language and Literacy Standard, Strand 1: Language, Concept 1: Receptive

Language Understanding

Language and Literacy Standard, Strand 1: Language, Concept 3: Vocabulary

Mathematics Standard, Strand 1: Counting and Cardinality, Concept 1: Counts

Out Loud

Physical Development, Health, and Safety Standard, Strand 1: Physical and

Motor Development, Concept 1: Gross Motor Development

Physical Development, Health, and Safety Standard, Strand 2: Health, Concept 1:

Personal Health and Hygiene Practices

Points from Final

Reflection

Challenges

One of my challenges was learning that it was okay if the

children werent doing all the words or movements correctly.
Another challenge was not having enough room in our class
for the yoga poses. I wish I would have moved this activity
to a different room that we had access to.

Successes

My students really had fun with what they were learning

through the use of the arts. The yoga activity actually
taught one of my students a skill that is helping her control
her emotions and is positively affecting her interactions in
the classroom.

Points from Final

Reflection

How I Have Grown

Before taking this class this semester, I didnt

really see the positive impact that art could have
when teaching lessons. I now am able to see
how using something that the children have a
connection to, such as art, helps them bridge
that gap from known to unknown knowledge. I
can see the benefits of using the arts in an
integrated unit design.

Points from Final

Reflection

How does this effect my future teaching?

This course has influenced the importance that I

will place on the arts in my classroom in my
teaching approach. I always knew that the arts
were important but I never knew how much the
arts could impact a childs development and
abilities. I really want to strive to make my
classroom all that it can be for all aspects of my
students development. I want to strive to give
my students as many art based opportunities as
possible to open up a world of creative and
imaginative thinking.