Rachels Teaching Philosophy
Who am I and what motivates me?
What are my core doctrines, and do I keep them private or public?
Public vs. Private
I want to keep my doctrines generally private. They are part of who I am, and define what I do. I shouldn't have to say what they are to live them.
Eternal Progression
Life-long learning - David A. Bednar's book, "Increase in Learning"
Going to college (first time, or going back to finish degree
Taking online/night classes to certify oneself and become more hire-able
Reading textbooks/delving into a topic online for the sake of learning something new
Always seeking new knowledge
Charity - Moroni 7:45
Inclusion and Non-othering (no respecter of persons) - Imani Perry's experience in public and private schools
Treating each child as a person with an equal opportunity to learn
Working with all students to create the sum of something greater than all the parts
Creating a culture of kindness
Be supportive of the success of others by applauding after playing tests and in-class performances
Collaboration in small groups - sectionals, duets, quartets, trios, etc. to get to work with everyone
Fixing passages, not because they were bad, but because we can be better. "We aren't in the 'pretty good' business
Agency
Individual and Class Goals
"What do you want to accomplish? How are we going to do that?"
Do you want to present a good concert for our audience?
Weekly Practice - with the intent of helping self/class accomplish goals
set goals for the year/semester/month/week/day that aren't based on practice time, but success with goals
Grading and Progress
Playing tests - based on small, difficult passages in repertoire, graded by performance rubric, demonstrate where they are and if they're on track. Performed in different settings: classroom w/ peers, privately in office, or via individual video upload.
Concerts - based on participation and the accomplishment of class goals
Knowledge
Technical Skills
Vibrato, shifting, articulation, tone, fundamentals, etc.
Posture, playing position, bow hold, etc.
Theory and Terms - mainly dependent on the age of the students
Scales, time signatures, musical terms
History and Culture
Composers and their background and style
Learning and growing together to understnad new things, such as current advances in music
I'm Rachel Felt. I love music, and the profound impact it's had on my life. I've learned a lot about myself through songs, lyrics, symphonies, social interactions in music groups, personal practice, and composing my own works. I love that my life was greatly benefitted because of public music education, and I want to do the same for other students. It's not that I want them all to be great and amazing musicians someday, because the world doesn't just need musicians. But the world does need people who know how to connect to others, and communicate. I want to promote those things by teaching music to the people who will someday be doctors, senators, teachers, and astronauts.
What are major motivations that people tend to have? Do they work?
Money... well, sort of
Money works... until there is cognitive skill involved. Then performance tanks. But, mechanical skills are a great combination with monetary reward.
Autonomy
Freedom to choose what you do for yourself. It seems to work for the people in Australia mentioned in the video linked to the Essential Question.
Mastery
This one is one of my motivators. I strongly desire to do my best, and to master my craft, regardless of the reward at the end.
Fear
While not mentioned in the video, fear is definitely a motiivator. Kayli Jensen said of this topic, "If you don't include fear as part of this thing, you're lying to yourself." And I agree with her. There are times when fear is a main motivating factor for me to accomplish something. It's not necessarily the most mentally healthy state to live in, but it has its useful moments. (Like waking up at 7:35 for my 7:45 class.)
How Do I View Those I Teach?
Am I a banker? Friere
Do I simply dispense information?
I need to be aware of instances of banker-ism, and avoid stuffing students with information that I expect them to regurgitate later on a test.
Treat students as fellow learners.
Kids felt empowered and inspired to be considered scientists in the Finding Your Roots summer camp. Not diminutive positions.
What is my work as a learner and teacher?
Continuous Learning
I need to not assume that I know everything, just because I (insert academic/social/spiritual accomplishment here).
Continuously hunger for new knowledge and insights
Learn with the students, don't be a banker
Facilitate the learning, and learn with them
What is worth teaching?
Current topics and advances in technology
Don't teach to the students of 10-20 years ago. Teach them about the world they live in now, and the one they're coming to.
William James - Test of practical consequence, pragmatism
How to be a human
But seriously, though, how to connect to people, how to resolve conflict, guiding principles to help them have their own personal code of ethics, at least a level 6.
Rafe Esquith - Six levels of personal moral code
How to Think
Can I problem find? Or just problem solve? Do I have the skills necessary to even notice that there is a problem?
National Geographic GeoChallenge - Students learned skills such as: problem posing, action/solution, preparation and presentation, and teamwork. Click the link to visit the website
"Get away from learning about what other people do. Do what other people do." John Dewey.
"Make something that wasn't there before." -Most Likely to Succeed (film)
An audience is a powerful thing - it allows for the students to do their best for more people than just their teacher. Community, family, friends, peers, etc.
How do I learn?
I learn by doing.
Kinesthetic Learning
Let me get it under my fingers, or in my body, and I've more or less got it. I just need the experience.
Pragmatism
I learn by listening.
Auditory Learning
I can follow pretty well and understand what I'm being taught aurally. Generally, I can remember the things the teacher said. Having mnemonics or phrases to associate a topic with are especially useful for me.
I learn by watching.
Visual Learner
Teach by example.
Model a specific skill I want them to achieve, and then have them do it.
Allow them to go all the way through it once, to get an idea of the big picture before stopping and nit picking through errors.
Upon what foundation are U.S. Public schools built?
1. Town schools are established by law in Massachusetts Bay Colony (1600's)
2. Thomas Jefferson desired to have state funded public schools in Virginia (1700's, 1800's) not realized in his lifetime
3. Thomas Mann institutes the Common School (mid 1800's)
Catherine Beecher promotes women as teachers, due to the nurturing capacity not held by men of the time (mid 1800's)
Mary Antin relates how she had the privilege of going to school, where her sister went into the workforce (early 1900's)
Ten Cardinal Principles: the Board of Education determined the subjects and skills needed by a new and increased population of students attending high school.
Plessy vs. Ferguson and Brown vs. Board of Education: Supreme Court cases that determined the role of segregation in America.
Plessy v. Ferguson: Separate but equal - demoting that so long as accommodations are made for each race (regardlesss of quality), things are legal
Brown v. Board of Education: rescinds the decision in Plessy v. Ferguson because "separate is inherently unequal". Socially and mentally, segregation is a hindrance to the learning attitude of those who are seemingly classified as inferior.
LBJ enacts the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which provides a baseline for schools in America through public funding.
Special Needs in Schools
ILP: individualized learning plan. A plan concerning how a child with special needs will learn and grow successfully.
Schools gain a massive influx in the student population: 6% graduation rate to 45%
Subject matter is considered as more students go on to higher education
Tracking: sorting students (performed by teachers, administrators, counselors, TESTS, etc.) based on their abilities
Set early on in school (as early as K), begins the sorting process into high, medium, and low wage jobs
Set at graduation based on personal skills developed during school, which was the same experience (more or less) for everyone.
The Social Starting Line
What is the role of school in society?
Is school simply a social activity organized by the community to provide specific experiences and outcomes?
John Dewey - pragmatism
Do public schools only want to see specified outcomes and accuracy on tests? Imani Perry says she observed the fundamental difference between public vs. private on this subject
Teachers seem to care more about accuracy over understanding and improvement. Are the outcomes being praised more than the mental skills acquired?
B. F. Skinner - Behaviorism (Realism)
Comenius: We are natural learners, but learning has become so industrialized
States require minimum standards of learning in various subjects.
I want my students to achieve their goals along with these standards, without feeling like I'm only trying to drag them up to those standards. I want to help them have a positive attitude about learning and becoming better, while doing these standards along the way.
What are we fighting for in Education?
Equal Rights for the education of everyone
What is the role of learning and teaching in the home?
Plato: teaching and learning should reflect what is found in the relationship between a mother and child
Teaching should be natural, like it is for the first few years of life
The projected learning curve of a child is set by the age of 4 (podcast)
The little "S" on the side of this box links to an excellent podcast I listened to several years ago. It lays out a study done more than 20 years ago about how to talk to your children. It's a fascinating podcast, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in early childhood education, and if you care about your descendants.
Catherine Beecher: women should be teachers because of their capacity to nurture
The Family: a Proclamation to the World
Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.
Coem Follow Me: a home-centered, church-supported gospel learning program
Study the scriptures throughout the week individually
Study as a family
D&C 68:25
“Inasmuch as parents have children in Zion… teach them… to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, when eight years old.”