Reflections

I have loved my experience teaching and learning how to guide a class through experiences that will enable them to experience dance in a variety of ways. It has been wonderful to watch my kids learn and grow in their confidence and creativity. 

It was not always smooth going, and many lessons flopped. The students hopefully never knew of my struggles, I kept calm and trudged through the lessons. It was been a learning experience for them as well as me. As I tried to create lessons that were engaging, I had to make other subject integrated into them as well while making the students have time to explore concepts on their own. Time and money was spent in loads, but worth every second and penny to watch the student glow with understanding. 

Overall, I immensely enjoyed my project, though stressful. It provided me experience as a future teacher, while giving students the opportunity to learn about dance and to grow in self-confidence. 

EDGE Reflection

            My project was to create and teach the dance program at Gateway Preparatory Academy. I got the idea, motivation, and connections for this project from my professor Denise Purvis. She was the one who got me a place at GPA and taught me the necessary tools to be an effective teacher. I love dance and have taken many integration courses, so together we thought this project would be perfect for my EDGE.

            The project of course started as an idea by Denise Purvis. We got talking and created a plan/outline for what was needed: a school, a place for me to teach, materials, students, etc. We contacted Gateway Preparatory for a meeting and sat down with the administration to discuss details and what needs to be accomplished. From then on it was lesson planning like crazy and preparing to create a class from scratch; including curriculum plan, class outline and description, syllabus, rules/procedures, expectations, etc. We got the class listed onto electives so that students in middle school could sign up. My goal was to create this program for students to sign up and take a dance class, and I achieved it.

            My outcome was for students to gain confidence in dance through a variety of lessons and to have a dance class for students to sign up for. I have been so impressed with my students. Those who were too shy to dance are volunteering to do solos and to answer questions. I do often have to pry answers from students, but they all can write about dance and perform.

            I have gained so many skills while doing my EDGE project. I have gained confidence and skills in the following areas: as a leader in my classroom, classroom management, lesson planning and execution, awareness of IEP, etc. I have gained these skills by leading my students and teaching in my own classroom. Without being in my own dance class, I would not have developed these skills which I need in my future career as a teacher. By being a teacher/leader in the class I was able to develop my skills by taking charge of a class and giving assignments/assessments which evaluates their level of understanding. I never realized how much classroom management would be needed to effectively teach and lead. If there are not set rules in the environment with each person honoring those rules, chaos will reign and no learning will commence. I have definitely implemented classroom management and providing an effective learning environment to my pedagogy and philosophy because of this experience. Through teaching my class I have come to realize all the skills and abilities needed to lead effectively and efficiently, one of the most important is respect. If the people you are trying to lead do not have your respect, they will not give you their respect; thus my one rule in the classroom is respect for everyone in the environment.

            I believe that SUU decided to put this experiential learning to provide us a way to receive experience in a way to help ourselves grow while helping our community in some way. Our projects were encouraged to be part of our degree to enable us to get a learning experience that we design and carry out. It is called EDGE because it is our education designed to gain experience. As a student I gained experience in my field due to my own EDGE project.