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| ELEMENTARY MUSIC EDUCATION: Educating the Whole Child |
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| MULTI-MODAL LEARNING |
Multi-Modal learning integrates visual, auditory, and tactile-kinesthetic elements into lesson design. It also emphasizes moving to learn. Movement sends oxygen to the brain and stimuates blood flow. Conseqently, kids' brains wake up and they are ready to learn. Current brain research underscores the importace of movement. Researchers have discovered that the cerebellum, the part of the brain that processes learning, also processes movement. In his book, Teaching with the Brain in Mind (Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 1998), Eric Jensen states that numerous studies link the cerebellum to "memory, spatial perception, language, attention, emotion, nonverbal cues, and even decision-making." Thus, movement is a central an critical part of learning.
RESOURCES: Web Sites
* www.brainconnection.com
* www.brains.org
* www.ascd.org/services/eric/brainb.html
* www.atozteacherstuff.com/stuff/brain.shtml |
| SKILLS LINKING MUSIC AND LITERACY |
In addition to enhancing learning through musical play and creating emotional involvement through the use of music, learning musical skills can be linked to learning literacy skills. By capitalizing on similarities between musical an literacy skills, music teachers can strengthen both. Among the skills these two areas share are:
* Decoding skills: Both music and reading involve relationships between sounds and symbols.
* Listening skills. Both music and reading require aural discrimination and imagination.
* Rhythm skills. Both music and language have rhythm.
* Communication skills. Both music and the written word involve verbal expression and articulation, and students can produce written responses to both.
* Creating skills. Both media are avenues for self-expression.
* Thinking skills. Both offer opportunities for high-level questioning to encourage students to think deeply.
* Vocabulary development. Both are sources of new words and meanings, often in various languages.
* Expressive skills. Both media allow students to freely convey feelings and thoughts.
* Memorization skills. Setting facts to music helps students remember them.
* Large-and small-motor development. Students use various muscles by playing rhythm instruments, through creative movement, and in writing. |
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