image of special need students edited by Swint
Creating a Student Centered Classroom Environment
Directions: Think about your classroom as it functions now. Please read through the information in this section. The goal of this section is to allow you to consider how you teach currently, and any options you may want to try depending on such variables as your student culture, community, financial resources, administrative support, schedule, etc. Complete the self reflection, and move onto resources and evaluation pages.
What is a student centered classroom?
Student-centered learning is an education approach focusing on the needs of the students, rather than those of others involved in the educational process, such as teachers and administrators. This approach has many implications for the design of the curriculum, course content, and process. It does not impact the standards taught, just how the standards are presented.
A student-centered classroom is focused on each student's needs, interests, abilities, and learning styles. The teacher is in the role as the facilitator of learning. A teacher centered classroom has the teacher at its centre in an active role and students in a passive, receptive role. A student centered classroom requires students to be active, responsible participants in their own learning.
There are many approaches for providing music education experiences. The very nature of the music experience suggests that the teacher set up an initial experience, and gradually move away, and allow students to take more ownership in the music making. A student centered classroom encourages teachers to allow students more power and freedom to create their own learning experience, but still provides for acquisition of knowledge and skills.
A student-centered classroom is focused on each student's needs, interests, abilities, and learning styles. The teacher is in the role as the facilitator of learning. A teacher centered classroom has the teacher at its centre in an active role and students in a passive, receptive role. A student centered classroom requires students to be active, responsible participants in their own learning.
There are many approaches for providing music education experiences. The very nature of the music experience suggests that the teacher set up an initial experience, and gradually move away, and allow students to take more ownership in the music making. A student centered classroom encourages teachers to allow students more power and freedom to create their own learning experience, but still provides for acquisition of knowledge and skills.
image of students playing barred Orff instruments and remo drums edited by Swint
Suggestions for Creating a student centered music classroom:
Options
Allow for student choice Encourage student ideas Promote student sharing Provide opportunities for students to take the lead Allow the group process to move in a new direction Respond to the cues of your students Find ways for students to encourage and teach each other Use active music making such as Orff-Schulwerk Come up with projects for students to demonstrate their skills and knowledge Consider using individualized approaches like Recorder Karate by Plank Road Publishing. If resources are there, try garage band projects, computer programs such as groovy music, ipads, and music video projects. For special needs students: Pair with a buddy Allow for individual choices as much as possible Consider computerized programs like AUMI to provide ways for full participation regardless of disability. Use music/technology to teach skills, self-soothe, provide equalization, or reward positive behavior |
Resources
Game Plan Curricula by Randy and Jeff http://kid-sounds.com/ Groovy Music Series (software) by Sibelius http://www.sibelius.com/products/index.html Orff-Schulwerk Association (resources) http://www.aosa.org/ Organization of the American Kodaly Educators https://www.oake.org/default.aspx Project Based Learning http://pbl-online.org/ Music education is in many ways already project based.. What every great project needs: 1. A need to know 2. A driving question 3. Student voice and choice 4. 21rst Century skills 5. Inquiry and innovation 6. Feedback and revision 7. A publicly presented project |
Explore the attached page that discusses iPads and provides examples of a student centered classroom lesson plan.
The attached page includes resources on the use of iPads with general education and special education students.
image of hand holding pencil over notebook entitled IEPs edited by Swint
The IEP: Individualization Education Plan
What is an IEP?
A student centered classroom ideally would have an individualized education plan for each individual student. It is critical that all teachers working with a special needs student understand what is contained in the IEP.
- An IEP starts by the student being identified by a teacher, administrator, or principal
- It is a document that specifies a year-long comprehensive educational program designed for an individual student to help them succeed.
- The IEP drives the educational process and the IEP mandates must be done in the time frame allotted and described in the document.
- An IEP is a legally binding document between the educational system, teachers, school therapists, and the parent or guardian.
- The document can be challenged through a legal procedure known as due process.
- It is usually written by the special education teacher, but the regular classroom teacher bears primary responsibility.
- Must be re-written yearly by a specific team.
- Rarely mentions music class except indirectly as an opportunity for inclusion.
- Includes academic or behavioral goals. Some of which may apply to the student’s entire program (including music class.)
- An IEP contains specifically designed modifications that are useful for all the students teachers. Modifications listed as “throughout the school day”, or “at all times during student attendance” apply to the music classroom.
What matters to the music educator:
- Communication Plan- describes the students communication needs. This sections specifies the challenges and interventions for the student. It will state if the student has an alternative reading plan.
- Positive Behavioral Support Plan- an accompanying document that supports the IEP if the student has specific behavioral issues. It specifies triggers, the student’s process when in crisis, methods to intervene, and recovery information.
- Present Levels of Achievement and Function- gives specifics of the student’s academic abilities, strength, weaknesses, and overall function of the student.
- Goals and Objectives- Review this section to determine your role in assisting with objectives implementation.
- SDI (Specially Designed Instruction)- Special methods or modifications to help the child. Modifications indicated as constant or cross-curricular are your responsibility
- It is important to read the IEP because there is a lot that we can learn about the student that may help us better serve them even though it doesn’t specifically mention music.
- The special education classroom teacher or resource room should be your contact for specific information on adapting activities.
- The music educator should be consulted during the annual IEP update period to provide an assessment and evaluation of the student's progress and continued needs.
Tips for Successful Inclusion:
- Treat all students with utmost respect no matter of their disability or ability level.
- Keep your focus on the objective- functional inclusion.
- Modifications should be simple and transferable.
- Present your lessons in a structured, well-organized, appropriately paced manner. Allow enough time for students to respond.
- Remember to consider your sub-skills and prerequisite skills when students struggle. Back up and then move forward.
- Make sure your classroom expectations, rules and consequences are clear and concise.
- Keep expectations high and allow students to rise to the occasion. NEVER settle and use the excuse that they have an IEP so they can’t do it.
- Think outside the box, be creative, and think quickly on your feet.
- Remain positive!!
Information taken from Music Education Highlights: www.musicedhighlights.word press.com