5/21/2016
Topic:
Assessment of Learning
Lisa Testa
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I had a blind student in my choral classroom a few years ago. I provided all her music including our standard sight-reading books in braille. During rehearsals and performances I had another student behind her who tapped the beat on her shoulder. Sometimes when I was providing an extra sight-reading rhythm or melody on the board the student next to her would tap it on her shoulder or let her hand rest on theirs while they signed the Kodaly hand signs. This allowed her to practice during study time and still perform the exercises. |
5/22/2016
Topic:
Tools and Strategies
Lisa Testa
|
Option 1: Describe how two of the strategies discussed could potentially be implemented in your music classroom. Be sure to identify the two strategies by name, and describe how they could be used to address the student's disability. Share your response in the threaded discussion.
I frequently use Peer Partners strategy during my choir class. Sometimes during warm-ups they pair up to monitor breath support or posture. Each one must be the teacher and then the student. Sometimes that peer "cheerleader/coach" can coax a beautiful sound we haven't heard from the student, yet, and we all get to rejoice. This allows a weaker student to feel confidence because they stepped "out of their box" to sing with a beautiful tone or they were able to lead their "student" to a better sound.
Mnemonic instruction is fabulous for teaching key signatures and the order of sharps and flats. When they are first introduced, I give the students several Mnemonic phrases that past students have used. I also encourage the students to come up with their own. By creating their own mnemonic phrases, I find that the students who don't simply memorize key signatures can become as fast as those who do. |
5/22/2016
Topic:
Students with Disabilities
Lisa Testa
|
I had a blind student in my choir class. Since she was learning to read braille music, we made key signature flash cards. When we reviewed and tested key signatures, she would whip out her key signature flash cards. They had the braille for her, but the key signatures written, so I could check to make sure she was correct. |