Week Two

Hi there! I am Michelle Johnston. My two concentration areas are music and child development. I chose these areas kindof by default. I started out as a music education major for two years. I loved it, but when I was 20 I got married and then pregnant with my first child. Since music was very time consuming, I wanted to find something that would not require as much time at the school. So, since I was having my first child, I figured family studies would be a good area to learn about. To make a long story short, after having my 3rd child, I realized that it would be best if I combined the two areas of music and child development and do the BIS program. So, I have been working on that slowly but surely ever since. These two areas are very reflective of my identity. Child development is a HUGE part of my life right now, having 3 kids, and I have very much enjoyed all of my classes. Music is also a big part of my life. I teach piano to 6 students, and currently love to play the piano, organ, flute, guitar, and lets not forget the recorder:)

I am doing my applied learning at McCarter Elementary School in the music room. I am very excited about this, and I hope to learn more about how children learn in each development stage, and also how to use music to inspire, and uplift children. Academically, I believe it will be a huge learning experience for me to observe all of the things I have learned about in class. Also, I will be able to increase my music ability by using my skills, such as piano and singing each day in class.

So far I have been able to do things all over the spectrum of teaching. While the teacher does the teaching out of the books, I walk around and help students one on one to follow the teacher, or help them if they have questions. I have accompanied songs, helped run the cd player, pass out things, and help with discipline problems. I have also helped with classroom things, such as copying, cutting, laminating and organizing.

This last week I was able to make up a game and present to the kids. I did a music jeapordy game, and it went over really well. The teacher seemed to be impressed and the kids learned and enjoyed it. I taught 4th and 5th graders. It was fun to use a lot of the music skills I have acquired throughout my whole musical college experience.

For now, my future goals are to finish this degree, and then I hope to get a post bacc. degree in education, possibly music education. I LOVE working with the kids, and learning from my mentor, and I think this is a great educational experience for me.

More to come next week after I have some time at the school