I wrote this essay last semester in my music education class and when you compare it to my recent papers from my English 104 class you will see an improvement. Since I wrote this paper, I have improved greatly in my writing skills. This essay is about teaching music to children who are in special education. I had to read an article, which I will link down below, before writing this paper. The article was about music in special education and how it needs to be taught correctly in order for the students to learn effectively. I believe that teaching music to disabled students is a must as it gives the students an opportunity to engage in the learning, such as singing a song or playing an instrument. It gives all the students both from special and general education the ability to learn music. I am showing this paper on my website to inform people about the importance of music and art programs in schools.
Music: No matter who it is, they can learn
Being a special education major as well as having a brother with Autism, I know a lot about the subject but not a lot about teaching music to the students. In the article, “Teaching Music to Students Who Are Intellectually Gifted,” by Hammel and Hourigan, I learned different methods and information on how special education teachers teach music to disabled students. The methods discussed in the article help me understand how I will learn to teach music to my students.
The first key concept in teaching music to gifted students is to understand the student’s identified disability as well as their needs that will need to be fulfilled in the classroom. The article gives a brief background on the identification process as what makes a student “gifted” by giving information on IQ testing, categories of giftedness. The identification of a student is important because there are specific needs and services that are required to be met by teachers, including on how to teach music to these students. Not only is the identification of a student’s disability important, but the characteristics of the gifted students are important as well.
Behavior, learning, creativity, emotion, intelligence and specific academic aptitude are characteristics of special needs students and the article explains in depth on each of them. As said in the article, gifted students may need music educators to modify their teaching methods in order for the students to learn effectively. There may need to be changes in delivery, pacing, processing, along with other modifications in the way the content is presented. For example, grouping students who are gifted is a method used in enhancing the learning for the gifted students. Grouping options include: within class grouping, gifted pull out, enrichments classes, resources room, mentoring and various other options. The authors explain that research has shown gifted students benefit more in a learning environment with both general students and gifted students. The article explains that using grouping strategies in the music classroom will benefit the academic enrichment for the gifted students. The most important part of all in teaching music to gifted students is teacher characteristics needed in order to successfully teach the students.
As discussed in the article, music educators will be more successful in teaching gifted students if they have specific behaviors and teaching methods such as enthusiasm, encouragement, acceptance and many more. The way music educators teach music to gifted students depends on how they modify the content and their attitude toward the teaching. If a music teacher is enthusiastic and caring towards the gifted students, they are more likely able to teach the students effectively. The differences in approach involve course and concept compacting and providing appropriate consideration and strategies to apply to teaching and learning.
Something from the article I am skeptical about is separating the gifted students from the general students in a music classroom. Growing up, special needs students were always in my music classes with aides and they seemed to enjoy being able to interact with us while signing and dancing or playing an instrument. I believe that the students should be integrated with each other in order to best teach music to the gifted students.
The information about teaching methods for music from the article can be applied to my future classroom. I was a peer mentor in high school and would frequently take the special needs students to their specials, including music class and I saw the way the music teacher made modifications for the students so they could participate with the other students. For example, when they general students are learning to sing, make sure to give the gifted students an opportunity to sing a long with the class.
In conclusion, teaching music to gifted students is an important aspect to their education. With the modified teaching methods and strategies, the gifted students are given the enhanced education that everyone else is learning just in a different way. Being a special education major, I realize what is required to effectively teach music to gifted students.
The first key concept in teaching music to gifted students is to understand the student’s identified disability as well as their needs that will need to be fulfilled in the classroom. The article gives a brief background on the identification process as what makes a student “gifted” by giving information on IQ testing, categories of giftedness. The identification of a student is important because there are specific needs and services that are required to be met by teachers, including on how to teach music to these students. Not only is the identification of a student’s disability important, but the characteristics of the gifted students are important as well.
Behavior, learning, creativity, emotion, intelligence and specific academic aptitude are characteristics of special needs students and the article explains in depth on each of them. As said in the article, gifted students may need music educators to modify their teaching methods in order for the students to learn effectively. There may need to be changes in delivery, pacing, processing, along with other modifications in the way the content is presented. For example, grouping students who are gifted is a method used in enhancing the learning for the gifted students. Grouping options include: within class grouping, gifted pull out, enrichments classes, resources room, mentoring and various other options. The authors explain that research has shown gifted students benefit more in a learning environment with both general students and gifted students. The article explains that using grouping strategies in the music classroom will benefit the academic enrichment for the gifted students. The most important part of all in teaching music to gifted students is teacher characteristics needed in order to successfully teach the students.
As discussed in the article, music educators will be more successful in teaching gifted students if they have specific behaviors and teaching methods such as enthusiasm, encouragement, acceptance and many more. The way music educators teach music to gifted students depends on how they modify the content and their attitude toward the teaching. If a music teacher is enthusiastic and caring towards the gifted students, they are more likely able to teach the students effectively. The differences in approach involve course and concept compacting and providing appropriate consideration and strategies to apply to teaching and learning.
Something from the article I am skeptical about is separating the gifted students from the general students in a music classroom. Growing up, special needs students were always in my music classes with aides and they seemed to enjoy being able to interact with us while signing and dancing or playing an instrument. I believe that the students should be integrated with each other in order to best teach music to the gifted students.
The information about teaching methods for music from the article can be applied to my future classroom. I was a peer mentor in high school and would frequently take the special needs students to their specials, including music class and I saw the way the music teacher made modifications for the students so they could participate with the other students. For example, when they general students are learning to sing, make sure to give the gifted students an opportunity to sing a long with the class.
In conclusion, teaching music to gifted students is an important aspect to their education. With the modified teaching methods and strategies, the gifted students are given the enhanced education that everyone else is learning just in a different way. Being a special education major, I realize what is required to effectively teach music to gifted students.
Music in Special Education Article | |
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