4/18/2019
Topic:
Students with Disabilities
Sara Johnson-Scalisi
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I presently have a student with Down Syndrome in my concert band class. He is a terrific student to be around and LOVES music. However, I have a hard time being effective with him due to several issues with my classroom itself along with me not always knowing the best approach to handle the inclusion successful. My classroom issues comprise of having a concert band of 65 students at the same time. In addition, I have 4 ESE students with no other teacher aid in that classroom all with differing abilities. At the beginning of our school year, we experimented with different instruments to see if any of them caused him any auditory or sensory issues. We found that wind instruments were not going to be appropriate along with finding that drums seemed to hurt his ears. We finally figured out that he fit best with the piano. In class, the student will sit at the piano and play when he is able. He doesn't read music and struggles with echo playing pitches but seems to be successful at echo playing rhythms. I still struggle daily with how to better incorporate him into a full concert band due to some of the accomodations that we must make for him. I wish that he was able to be enrolled in our piano course but his course schedule does not allow it . |
4/23/2019
Topic:
Tools and Strategies
Sara Johnson-Scalisi
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Option 2:
I use technology occasionally in my band room. We are encouraged to use Chromebooks in our school so on occasions I have students submit assignments through Google Classroom. Because we are a performance-based class, I utilize an easy-to-use recording app that’s on the student chromebook called “Recorder” that they can use to record their assignments to submit to me online. In each band class we do theory lessons. I utilize musictheory.net very frequently. It has quizzes on the website that they students can take in class and can practice with at home. It is very beneficial for students, on in particular who struggles with hearing, because it has step-by-step lessons for theory topics. That student can access those lessons as a form of notes at any point to learn or review each theory topic. It is also beneficial because it allows students to not have to take notes on paper. |
4/23/2019
Topic:
Assessment of Learning
Sara Johnson-Scalisi
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Option 1:
We constantly have students who are injuring themselves or have wisdom teeth removal. If they have that issue, I like to provide an alternate assignment of them playing a different instrument or singing. One example would be that I currently have a trombone player who just got out his wisdom teeth. I have asked him to perform his scales on the piano instead. That way I know that he is learning the scale patterns and notes but giving himself time to heal physically.
I also provide alternate assignments for my student who has Down Syndrome. His parents don't bring him to perform in the end of the year concerts so I have him perform for me in class. Since he doesn't read music, we schedule a time outside of our normal band class hour and he plays something for me. I encourage him to perform what music he likes (typically something recognizable with a simple melody). Sometimes I'll play the piano and he can sing. He loves it! He has a good time and gets him involved with the process of performing. |