The Needs of All

On Campus Presentation - FMEA Meeting on November 7th, 2010
       Dr. Fordice presenter

Considering the Needs of All Music Students

Dr. Fordice was a very effective presenter.  He was engaging and used multiple ways to get his information across.  He gave a short introduction, then split us into groups each with a current student teacher working with students with special needs in the classroom.  The student teachers had lots of great first hand experience to share and had many good insights into what to do to teach towards the needs of every student.
Then the group reassembled and Dr. Fordice presented teaching to every student.  All students have special needs that need consideration when one is a teacher.  Just because a student does not have an Individual Education Plan (IEP) does not mean they do not have special needs that need to be addressed.  Teachers need to work to incorporate learning styles into their teaching, but also make it an effort of the entire classroom to help each other.  Dr. Fordice used the phrase and acronym Figure Me Out ASAP to illustrate him point.
A - Attention
S - Sensory
A - Avoidance of Failure
P - Power

A - Attention
    - Students want attention and will do what they need to get it.  While a student may seem to be acting out in defiance, he or she may simply be acting in a way in which they receive attention, whether or not it is positive attention they do not care.  Educators need to meet these needs of students positively, constructively, and practically.
S - Sensory
   - Many children can suffer from over stimulation.  Children, especially with autism can suffer from this and have a hard time concentrating.  Educators should work to design lesson plans that give every student the best possible opportunity to succeed.  For example: Maybe instead of having every student in a class play a drum at the same time, have four drums and have the kids share or take turns.  Use movement and dance to express musical feelings in another way.  Some students may even suffer from Amusia.  A rare condition in which normal music is not processed the same way and is harm to listen to or even painful (Musicophilia, Sacks.)  In this situation everything must be done to somehow allow these students too the opportunity to experience music.  Simply moving to a simple beat, with out any musical instruments, can allow them to experience the music that exists around them in their daily lives.
A - Avoidance of Failure
    - This is a huge part of the music classroom.  Music, like many other areas of education is a discipline which requires much practice and appreciation.  Not everyone has the drive or understanding to appreciate it.  When students are trying new things, they will sometimes be naughty to avoid failure.  In reality, this seemingly cocky, stubborn, disobedient behavior is simply covering the fact that the students are scared to fail.  In the music classroom, structure the classroom so it is okay to fail.  Students need to try new things and if they do not step outside their boundaries, they will never experience new things and find new things they like.  "If you are not afraid to try and fail, then you will never make something new."  This teaching approach can apply to other aspects of teaching as well.  Use proximal development to push children's boundaries.  Push children's boundaries slowly and expand their comfort zones giving them support and encouragement all the way.
Adaptations for students with special needs:
       -Braille Music, physically adapted instruments
P - Power
    - In the classroom today, children have a very limited or non-existent ability to choose.  Dominance and oppression reign in many classrooms, but children do not learn best in these situations.  Educators need to share power in positive and empowering ways.

Dr. Fordice's presentation was engaging and very interesting.   He charged us that when we become educators we work to learn what the needs of each student are and use every resource we have to teach towards the needs of every student.  This presentation, while geared directly for application to the music room, also has a great application in the other classrooms, as well.  While my past schooling experience leads me to believe that testing, homework, and lectures are the best way to go, as this year has been going on, I am coming to wonder and many be even agree that there are better ways out there to teach children that allow them to learn and enjoy education more and have a better effect on their lives.