Reflection Essays

 

 

1 

 https://www.dancewithusottawa.com/dancing-is-my-passion/

 

This Passion on Mine

Mickey Carton

 

This semester I had the pleasure of taking Methods of Teaching Dance. Coming into this class I had not danced in a while and the idea of teaching was a little daunting to me. As the semester progressed, however, it became clear that my journey as a dance teacher would be memorable and a ton of fun. As a reflection I will discuss my main takeaways from the semester, and how I plan to use the skills learned in DAN 385 after this course.

 

The first biggest takeaway from this course was that organization is key. When you plan ahead of time for a lesson and are organized this leaves little room for mistakes or confusion. Especially when you are teaching a group that may not be super advanced you want to make sure your lesson plan will provide your students with the greatest chance of success. As a teacher, I found that by my lesson being organized I was much less nervous about presenting to the classroom.

 

The next takeaway of this course is to try to find an emotional connection with whatever it is you are doing. For my lesson, I decided to teach a Hip Hop dance because I grew up as a Hip Hop dancer and that style of dance has always been meaningful to me. I found that my students were able to pick up on this passion of mine also as their comments after my class expressed how enthusiastic I was to be teaching.

 

My last takeaway and the most important one is that it’s always ok to mess up, and we should encourage trying new things more than we do. I loved getting to try different dance styles from my peers and I truly will remember a piece of each and every lesson. As someone who has danced their whole life it was really cool to watch my classmates who had less experience take on the same lessons as me. This really encouraged me to keep dancing as I had such a fun time with my classmates this semester.

 

Overall, I can confidently say that this class has been a true highlight of my semester and college experience. Learning from our professor was such a unique experience that I will never forget; his sensitivity and kindness towards our class is something I will carry with me in future teaching scenarios or a time when leadership is in my hands.

 

 

2 

 https://www.stagecoach.co.uk/blog/post/march-2014/benefits-of-dance-for-young-children

 

Effective Communications Skills

Paola Padron

When I initially enrolled in Methods of Teaching Dance (K-12), I was extremely hesitant and nervous. However, I am so grateful that I decided to take this course, and I could not have asked for a better experience. Although I came into the class with little-to-no expertise in dance, as I only took three dance classes when I was five years old, the course provided me with a range of valuable takeaways. 

The beginning of the course focused on knowledge of dance history and theory, which I found extremely interesting. This knowledge helped me to contextualize dance within broader cultural and historical contexts, which allowed me to develop a deeper appreciation for the art form. DAN385 also provided me with an understanding of developmental stages. By studying a method of teaching dance class, I had the opportunity to learn about the development stages of children and how to adapt my instruction to meet their needs. Participating in this course also granted me pedagogical skills such as lesson planning, classroom management, and assessment. 

This course contributed to my ability to adapt to diverse learners. I learned how to adapt instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners, including those with disabilities. Finally, Methods of Teaching Dance emphasized the importance of building a positive and inclusive classroom community. The best example of this was the community we made with students and Professor Morejon ourselves. I found it very easy to connect and communicate with all students and the Professor. They were all welcoming and encouraging, even though my dance skills and knowledge on the topic were mediocre. I was able to build meaningful connections that will aid my professional development.

      As previously mentioned, I was extremely very afraid when joining this course, but this timidness quickly diminished. This course included a lot of experiential learning, which evoked various emotions. At first, I was intimidated, as I was new to the topic of teaching dance, but the more I learned, the more comfortable and motivated I was. Learning about the history of our education system initiated a feeling of motivation to better the design for the children’s sake. It evoked feelings of empathy as I recognized the importance that dance can play in a child’s life. 

I feel a responsibility to create positive and meaningful experiences for them. I also learned that teaching kids dance requires a high level of creativity. I felt inspired to develop innovative lesson plans and teaching strategies that are tailored to the unique needs and interests of my students. Upon completion of the course, I also feel incredibly fulfilled. After completing my 30-minute dance class, I am proud of myself. This is a motivating factor for me to continue developing my skills and pursuing my passion. Methods of Teaching Dance was an inspiring and rewarding experience.

      Although my current career trajectory is not to become a dance teacher, this course provided valuable takeaways that can be applied to finance, the degree I am pursuing. I learned that teaching dance requires a high degree of adaptability to meet the needs of diverse learners. Similarly, finance professionals must be able to adapt to changing market conditions, new regulations, and evolving technologies. In dance, attention to detail is essential, as even slight movements can significantly affect the overall performance. Finance professionals must also be detail-oriented, especially when analyzing data, creating financial statements, and ensuring compliance with regulations.

This course also exemplified the importance of collaboration and communication skills. Teaching dance often involves collaborating with other students, teachers, and parents. In the financial industry, professionals must also cooperate with coworkers, clients, and other stakeholders. Collaboration is only achieved with effective communication skills. In the same way that teachers must be able to communicate instructions and feedback to their students clearly, finance professionals must also be able to communicate complex financial findings to colleagues, clients, and stakeholders.

 Also, teaching dance requires a high degree of creativity to develop innovative lesson plans, choreography, and teaching strategies. In finance, professionals must be creative when solving problems and developing new financial models, products, services, and strategies. Finally, this course allowed students to network with students and professors. Similarly, finance professionals can benefit from building connections within their industry and learning about new opportunities for professional development. 

Overall, some of the takeaways from this course that can be applied to a finance profession include the importance of adaptability, attention to detail, collaboration, communication skills, creativity, and professional networking. These skills can help aspiring finance professionals like myself to navigate the industry and achieve their career goals effectively.

 

3

 

 https://danceteachingideas.com/5-ideas-for-safe-dance-in-the-primary-classroom/

 

Creating a Comfortable Environment 

 Tatiana Mailli

 

Dance education should be an essential part of the American curriculum, but unfortunately that is not the case. Since the beginning of American education history, its main focus has been on educating students for the workforce and translating the main societal ideals, of the time, to children. According to the video, “History of Curriculum in America, Part 1”, Dr. K Greene states that in the 13 colonies, “education and literacy served to teach religious beliefs and avoid cultural decline in the savage land” (0:49). Based on what adults believed was most important for children to learn, that was what the curriculum would be. Dance and other arts were not on the forefront, or even in their thought process.

 

The adults needed to build a society that would work in their favor. Additionally, the children that were being sent to school had more financial stability. At this time, child labor laws were not put into place, so if a family did not have enough money to send their child to school, then their children would not receive a substantial education. It was not until the 1820s that schools were publicly funded for all children to go. Still at this time, dance was not a part of the curriculum. A hundred years later, dance finally was being brought into schools.

 

There was a shift from just being educated to being a more well-rounded individual. Consequently, around the same time, the rise of psychology began. The study of psychology and the brain helped showcase the importance of mental health and how humans work. Harvard Medical School claims, “dance helps reduce stress, increases levels of the feel-good hormone serotonin, and helps develop new neural connections” (The Harvard Mahoney Neuroscience Institute). With more information developing about psychology and dance, it was seen more in schools here and there. However, most of the time they go underfunded.

 

If there are budget cuts in the school system, usually the arts are the first to go. In the Kettle Moraine School District, in Wisconsin, “After these budget cuts were put into place, during the 2009-2010 year for example, only 3% of schools allocated funds for dance”. Situations like these are still occurring all over the country, and quite frankly the world. The value of dance is not a universal important idea, yet. Even though in cultures, dance is seen as an activity for everyone to connect in a social setting, receiving an actual education on it is where people usually draw the line.

In my opinion, dance education is very valuable and the nuances learned from dance can be applied to all aspects of life. For example, I have trained in dance, at a studio, since I was 3 years old. I also did color guard from 6th to 12th grade. When I entered high school, we had the opportunity to audition to be a part of the dance program. You did not have to have any formal training, but the only individuals who made it usually had a dance or cheer background.

 

Also, the majority of the students who tried out were girls; the boys did not seek the opportunity. The education I received was great- we learned about the anatomy, dance terms, building a showcase, dance history, and more. I wish more students could have experienced what I had. I believe that on a basic level, dance should be brought into education for all. I also believe dance education should be implemented not only at a young age, but taught through 12th grade. In one class, I recall Dibe mentioned the brain breaks she had during high school. Having a brain break that incorporates some form of movement would be amazing if implemented in the school system.

An example of this was the Calming Exercises for Kids: Breathing and Stretching video by Moovlee shown in class. Utilizing stretching and deep breathing is an important skill to learn, so you can better regulate yourself. Dance does not have to take over all curriculum, but it should have a place within it. Tying things back to this course, I really appreciated looking at dance from an educational perspective. I value the dance education I have gotten in the past, even more now. Not only have I grown a different type of love for dance, but I feel I can better conduct a class. I have learned how important it is to create a comfortable environment for students to feel their very best. Furthermore, I now strive to inform others about the importance of dance in public school education. As time goes on, I hope dance is implemented more and more. Dance is important for the mind, body, and soul.

 

 4

 

 https://dance-teacher.com/new-school-year-tips/

 

How to Teach a Class of My Own

 Calleigh Kosman

 

After methods of teaching dance this semester, I have a lot to take away. First off being how to interact with my students or peers. It was a very interactive style of teaching. Also, my number one take away is that you must be passionate for what you do. Being able to be taught with a professor who is so passionate really makes a difference. I now also know so much history about dance, different techniques to teach children, and how to teach a class of my own. I had many take aways over this semester. 

 

I felt a lot over this semester. I felt nervous, excited, happy, and much more. I never thought that I would have any interest in dance. Although, after this semester I have learned more than just about dance technique, and it felt good to educate myself. You learn something new every day. I was always very excited to go to Methods of Teaching Dance. I am very fortunate to have been in this class and add more knowledge to my dance education. 

 

As you know I am going into the field of nursing. So, I will always be educating my patients. Being able to learn different styles of teaching, I will have some children, middle aged, and elderly patients I can teach. Each age group usually needs a different type of education. I am very happy that I have learned so many teaching tips that I will be able to write up a plan and implement it. Ultimately, I have had an amazing time in this class and will definitely use what I have learned in the future of my career.

 

 

 5

 

 https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiK7rw57qz2skZwUmNQzM6c4CSoHCcDakDRFTqnEwL0ZmRAQmiWnodKEBZwX6wm6OrRem_Fhr6eTxOeVgLMKiFvT3O2P-9DrWfp_NxJeyvumvAochsj_3PnqiQX1cajTE056AUPscjLLI/s1600/BlogPostImage.jpg

 

Effective Ways to Make Lesson Plans

 Maddie Fine

DAN 385 is definitely one of the memorable dance courses I have taken at UM. As someone who is a dance teacher I believe this class was very important for me to take and offered very important information I could use for the rest of my life. Through this course I learned how to create a lesson plan, use the school curriculum to aid my teaching, and effective ways to teach children K-12. 

 

Before taking this course I did not know how to use curriculum to make a lesson plan and I was kind of making my own lesson plans, but overall, now I have a much better understanding of what needs to be done. This class created such a fun and safe atmosphere for everyone to be themselves which is why we learned so much in just one semester. 

 

Everyone in this class was super supportive and the teaching method was very effective for what was being taught. I always looked forward to coming to this class because I was just excited to learn what was going to be presented next. This class never felt like actual work because I enjoyed what we were doing and the content was very interesting.

 

The content I learned in this course can be applied to both of my future professions. First, being a dance teacher, this class was very helpful and taught me effective ways to make lesson plans. It also taught me the importance of lesson plans and how without one your class may become disorganized and out of hand. On the other hand, this class is also helpful for my future job as a nurse. Making sure I have a clear understanding of what needs to be done and a plan for everything is super important in both nursing and teaching.

 

Overall, I can say that this course was my favorite class of the semester. The content, professor, and people in the class really made it fun to learn and explore new ideas. This class will help me in my future and current jobs and I am so glad I made the decision to take this course. Although this was the last semester I will be able to take dance classes, I know I can always reach out to anyone in the dance department with any questions I may still have about the topics presented in this class or any other dance course.

 

 

 6

 https://us.humankinetics.com/blogs/excerpt/exploring-dance-composition

 https://www.momjunction.com/articles/dance-games-and-activities-for-kids_00399936/

 

 Time for Fun Topics

Dibe Di Gregorio

 

After such an amazing class, I have many take aways. Although I have taught dance classes in the past and I am a tutor, I never really knew what went into teaching a course. I always wondered where the standards came from, how to organize everything, and how to stay organized. I would always make lesson plans for my tutoring students or even what I wanted to get done in the dance classes, but I felt like it was always so hard to get it all done. I realize now less is more and what is important is having a plan and getting that done. It’s not worth it to try and stuff a bunch of stuff into a class when you know it’s not all going to get done or its going to be done half way. It’s better to take more time and do things well because then your students will actually learn. Now, I feel more prepared about how to set myself up when I am in a teaching role so that both my students and I benefit from the time together.

 

Another take away is about having fun while in a learning environment. Usually people think planning is boring and it is strict plans that make school not fun, but I learned that you can have a plan and have fun at the same time. It is important to make time for fun topics and activities in class because if not your students will not stay engaged. I witnessed this through the class and when we all did our teaching projects. We all had fun every class while still getting things done.

 

Over the semester, I felt a lot of joy from this class. Every class I knew I would have a good time and learn a lot. It was nice to get to know everyone and work in groups because it promotes learning not just from the professor but also from one another. It is important to interact with those you share classes with because those are your peers, and you never know what you can learn from them. Many of us were dancers and many were not, and it was very nice to see how we could all help and support each other no matter what our background was. I learned a lot from everyone and even when I was having a bad day, I knew this class would bring me joy and get my mind off the stress of life.

 

In the future, I plan to be a doctor and a large part of medicine is teaching the next generation. After this class, I know the backside of teaching which will help me be more successful in my time in academic medicine. I will be able to not only be a better student, but also learn from my peers and teach my peers and the next generation as well. There is a saying “see one, do one, teach one” and this class helped me to be able to be the best teacher I can be when it is my turn because knowing the backside of education allows you to better understand students. Overall, I learned a lot from the class and will be able to be a better student and and teacher.

 

 

 7

 

 

 https://www.kohls.com/product/prd-4629290/kohls-cares-dance-is-for-everyone-childrens-book.jsp

 

 Everyone Has the Right to Dance 

Genesis “Gema” Leiva Cerna

 In this class, I learned a lot about dance and education in general, about teaching dance, and also about myself as a future educator. At the very start of the semester, we discussed the origins of education and ancient forms of curricula. This shed some light on how much change education has undergone– especially within the United States, and how education systems from separate regions have always been different from one another yet emulate similar characteristics and features. Education is more accessible now than it has ever been, despite there still being discrepancies in how accessible education is for different populations. It is not universal, however. What is considered important or crucial to a “proper” education varies from place to place.

 

Unfortunately, dance is not considered to be as important as other subjects to the education of our youth and is therefore excluded from many curricula. Even when dance is available in curricula, the schools who offer it may often not be accessible to all the potential students in the region. We also learned a lot about curricular design and how to thoroughly research a school, which was really helpful considering that I am preparing to become a teacher in the near future. The most important thing I learned, however, is that anyone can dance and everyone has the right to dance. Given this, I have an idea of how I would want to incorporate what I learned into my future field(s).

 

In the very near future, I will be applying to become a teacher for the Miami-Dade County Public Schools system. Unfortunately, I will not be teaching dance but I do plan to incorporate it into the subject I will be teaching, which is biology. Though it may be difficult to imagine the incorporation of dance into biology lessons, it is very much possible and conducive to student learning. For certain concepts that my students will learn, I can use dance movement to reinforce them. For example, when discussing the movement of molecules into and out of the cellular membrane, I can use dance movement to show my student how different molecules move and have them mimic my movements.

 

A more consistent and readily available use of dance that I foresee is having my students dance in whatever way they like to an age appropriate song or follow a Just Dance or Dance Revolution dance during their brain breaks– another thing I learned in this class that I will incorporate into my own field(s). Another way I can incorpórate dance into my field(s) is by having my students complete a dance-oriented project, where they tell a story through movement to convey a biological process. My plans for the time being are to become a teacher but, I hope to one day become a rehabilitation therapist or counselor. In this profession, I will definitely use dance and the skills I’ve developed to teach it when I begin the long process of helping individuals recover from their addictions or injuries.

 

Throughout the learning process, I always felt very engaged and comfortable expressing myself both verbally and physically. The lessons were very interesting and the videos were always interesting to watch. As we incorporated more movement into our lessons, I felt like I was having more fun. For some reason, discussion board posts are never fun or easy to do. While writing discussion posts, I felt really unmotivated. However, doing them within our groups was very helpful in overcoming these feelings most, if not all, students have toward discussion posts. Other than that, the learning process was great. I felt that it allowed me and my group members to grow closer and made me feel comfortable in the classroom. Perhaps in future classes,students could be placed into different groups throughout the semester to create experiences with more than just one group of peers. This class was truly a delight to be in and I really enjoyed learning everything I could about teaching dance

 

 8

 

 https://source.wustl.edu/2009/03/diavolo-returns-to-campus-with-innovative-dance-forms/

 

Innovative Minds on Full Display

Gabrielle Harris

 

Even after this class officially ends, I will always keep my teaching philosophy with me. It is a summary of my values, social perspectives, and goals that I hope to carry throughout the rest of my college career and into my professional one. My teaching philosophy revolves around inspiration, accessibility, and creativity and they all stand as cornerstones in our society. The creation of my teaching philosophy showed that teaching is truly more than sharing knowledge with students. It is about inspiring students to share what they know with others and to continue the cycle for years to come. I learned that knowledge is not only what you can find in a textbook but also what you can find in your environment and in the combination of divergent and convergent thinking.

 

With limitless possibilities and a lack of barriers to what we could create, I felt like I was able to expand my creativity and enjoyed the freedom that came with that. I looked forward to the new additions to our classes every single day because it was always something unexpected and a new change for us to explore the potential of our after-school program. I felt a combination of eagerness, unrestricted artistry, and fulfillment during class because of everything I was able to investigate and create. I felt even more exhilaration when I was able to experience everyone’s teaching style because it put our individually innovative minds on full display. While witnessing similar inputs from what we learned about brain breaks, standards, and teacher participation, no class was the same and showed the vast possibilities in dance and movement pedagogy. Every day was a new chance at exploration and expression, and I basked in the opportunity to envision a class of my own and see others come to life.

 

While I took this class, I took part in a Peer Health Education Training that also aimed to guide us in teaching others about health and wellness. As I took this training, I began to envision my own health education class using things from our class such as macro-curriculums, micro-curriculums, and brain breaks as a foundation for my lessons. Education is a key pillar in public health, and it is important to understand how to reach various audiences effectively. Without a physical classroom, it is almost impossible to “control the class” in the way that we learned, but I can use the same lessons in maintaining control of my curriculum. By knowing what I want to teach and how I will teach it, I can effectively educate my audiences on health sciences and health behavior changes so that they leave with the knowledge they will need to maintain a healthy life.

 

 

9

 https://splendidspoon.com/blog/mindful-movement-at-gibney-dance-6461a9be01d1/

 

The Importance of Mindfulness and Mental Health

Julianna Mullinax

 

         I learned so much in this class! A big takeaway that I had was how to plan and structure a class, like how to build a curriculum and a lesson plan. I had no idea all that went into planning a class. I’m glad that I now know where the curriculum, unit plans, lesson plans, etc. come from when I take my classes and how to formulate these things myself if I teach in the future. Another takeaway I have is how dance and movement can be incorporated into teaching. You don’t have to be in a class specifically about dance in order to dance and move in class. Dance and movement can be used to teach other subjects too. I think incorporating dance and movement in class will help kids stay engaged in the lesson as well and have more fun in class. Another big takeaway I took from this class is the importance of mindfulness and mental health. I loved the idea of incorporating brain breaks in class and gratitude journals, and that is something I’ll incorporate into my own daily life.

 

         I had a lot of fun in this class! I enjoyed coming to this class every day. It was a very nice change of pace from all my other classes where I sit in a lecture hall and am fed information to memorize. I really enjoyed that we worked in groups often and got to collaborate with each other. Some of us had dance training and some of us didn’t, but no matter what we, all had knowledge we could share with each other and we could support each other. I also felt really comfortable by the end of the semester with everyone and I felt like I made new friends. I can’t say that about many of the other classes I’ve taken at the university.

 

         I will definitely use the knowledge I learned in this class in the future. I currently work as a tutor, and this class has given me a few new techniques to use when tutoring peers. I feel like I know how to better support the student I’m working with. I feel like I also now know how to plan a little bit better for our tutoring sessions together. After undergrad, I think I want to eventually go to graduate school and pursue a masters or a PhD. A part of graduate school will probably require me to be a teaching assistant at some point. Now I feel more prepared for when that time comes.

 

 

 

 

 

10

 

https://dancingclassroomsgrva.org/mission/

 

 

Mission and Vision Statements are Valuable 

Krystelle Emogne

 

This class has been very informative and fun when it came to exploring methodologies of teaching dance, specifically from K-12. We started learning about how the idea of school came about because it is critical to know the past to improve the future. We learned about the American curriculum and how it originated from religion and teaching kids arithmetic. It is interesting to see how dance and any other subjects having to do with art were never seen as crucial and put to the side.The United States created a curriculum that removed the arts after the influx of immigrants. Their reasoning being, in my opinion, to decrease the amount of diversity all these people would be bringing. They knew one main way they would be sharing their culture is through dance. I learned that creating a curriculum is not simple and takes a large amount of effort from the educator’s part.

 

I understand that everything matters including having a classroom statement, rules, classroom procedures, a schedule for every minute of the day, having positive consequences, understanding and correcting behavior, etc. A teacher needs to have a purpose and philosophy for teaching because if not their students will not take them seriously. Mission and vision statements are valuable for schools because they represent the cover letter of a resume for a parent looking to enroll their child in a school. Teachers should be forming deep connections with their students, which is why empathy maps are substantial to see where their students are coming from.

 

How I felt during the learning process was enlightened and more open-minded. I was aware that this class was going to require learning differently. I was always shocked by the discussions and videos we would watch because I never really knew how the educational system originated; however, I knew I did not like it, especially that of America. There were moments during the semester when I felt overwhelmed with, as a group, coming up with different parts of our curriculum. I think it puts into perspective what educators have to go through all the time when playing daily lessons.

 

I liked teaching lessons in a group and individually. When teaching in a group I felt more calm about it because all the pressure was not on my back if we did not do well. When teaching individually, I felt more pressure to try to be perfect and I was more nervous which I feel showed in my execution. Teaching individually really challenged what I learned this semester and how well I can apply it, especially since my students were third graders. Overall, I felt very educated and well-informed by this class.

 

I will apply what I have learned to my field by now knowing how to teach people in  general. I am currently majoring in Community and Applied Psychological Studies and as a career, I think I want to be a Social and Community Services Manager but that is just a general idea. This job requires me to be coordinating and supervising programs and organizations that support public well-being. I would need to create an action plan to ensure that the programs I oversee run smoothly. If not, I have a backup plan since I learned how to prepare for the unexpected.

 

Reaching a managerial position will have me automatically set some standards and boundaries for myself and others. As a manager, I would be the primary contact for the company or companies I work at. To help alleviate some questions people may have about  the company, I would most likely have to make mission and vision statements or at least update the ones there previously. As a manager, I would have to lay out some rules on what I want to see in the office from my staff and certain procedures we have to follow to make the environment comfortable and safe. In general, I would want the area I work in to be organized and punctual with their time.  If I do not become a Social and Community Services Manager, then I would want to do work in the community or work for a non-profit organization. Working in any occupation that deals with the community requires strategic planning that I feel capable of doing well.

11

 

 

 https://www.creativedance.org/

 

Wanting to Improve Children's Expression and Creativity

  Kayla Hollman

 

 

Going into this class, I was not sure what it would entail. I grew up dancing so I knew I would feel comfortable with learning from others, but I did not have much experience with teaching. Throughout highschool, I helped assist in an adaptive dance therapy class for children and young adults with special needs. While I did not lead the class, it was an extremely rewarding and amazing experience. I learned how much of an impact dance can have on mood, creativity , expression and confidence. I believe that dance should be incorporated in people's lives much more, and I wish everyone knew the benefits of Dance therapy. So I was excited to expand my knowledge on teaching Dance.

 

I loved how hands-on this class was. I liked that we watched a lot of videos and then we would always apply what we learned in class to what we were working on in our groups. In my group we were teaching an afterschool program for elementary aged children, and because of that we would be working with students who were not dancers and maybe never would become dancers, so we really focused on our vision statement of wanting to improve the children's expression and creativity. I really liked that we worked in groups because it allowed for new perspectives and we all had different dance backgrounds.

 

Moving forward I hope to still keep dance as a part of my life even though it may not be my career. Throughout highschool, I  worked with an afterschool program. In New York that was for underprivileged children. I wanted to make sure that dance was always an option for the kids. As one of my projects, I was able to have a 3 month long flamenco program. Through it, students were able to learn from a very knowledgeable teacher about the culture and technique of the dance as well as perform a routine. Dance and the arts are an extremely important part of education and I hope to continue to work with local programs applying what I have learned in class.

 

 

 

 

 

 

12

 

 

 https://www.danceplug.com/article/4-easy-ways-dancers-can-help-protect-the-environment

 

An Open Loving Environment

Caro Mojena

There were so many takeaways from this class. The classes consisted of many lessons, self-taught classes, and even history. We started the semester off with learning the history behind “education” that rolls into dance education as well. Then we learned methods of teaching, how to structure lesson-plans, create a curriculum, and plan a “class”. We learned how to work with kids of all ages and of all types and how to adapt our instruction and lesson plans to each of them.

 

This class was very educational and towards the end we were all able to showcase our knowledge on what we learned through the semester. Our class was so enjoyable and fun to teach and we made it such an open - loving environment.

 

I can use so much learned from the class in my everyday life. I am currently a dance teacher so this class was a perfect fit. I learned the importance of knowing your lesson plans quite well so it gives the students no free time to wonder or misbehave and since learning that my classes at the dance studio have been so peaceful and the kids have been more into and focused. I will carry all the other lessons and information learned with me through my years teaching dance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

13

 

 https://www.edutopia.org/article/using-dance-promote-sel-skills

 

 Interpersonal Relationships Were Built

 Laralyn Jackson  

I learned so many different things from this class.  I was always curious about what it would be like to be on the other side of the classroom and this class gave me the best idea of what it would be like.  From learning about dance teaching history nationwide and then worldwide, to learning about different learning styles, we were exposed to all areas.  The lesson planning portion of the class was probably the most difficult part for me.  We took a good look about all the areas of lesson planning.   

One must look at one's class and consider yearly goals, monthly goals, weekly goals, and daily goals.  The different diagrams helped my learning a lot as I am a visual learner.  The clothes string model helped me the most to break down the lessons that would partake under all the units planned for the year.   

Something that took me out of my comfort zone was the flyer making.  We had to take into account a realistic budget for a startup dance studio this semester.  Helpful tools such as videos and diagrams were used in the class.  I was inspired because each day we were doing something new.  I realized the practices that we were learning were also being implemented in our class by our professor (full circle moment)! 

As a journalism major, I plan on incorporating a lot of the valuable skills I learned in this class in my studies and my career.  Interpersonal relationships were built in this class.  I now know how to navigate different personalities and how to talk to people who may not be 100% interested in what I have to say.   

Also, I learned how to be accommodating to different skill levels.  In our class, some students were studio trained dancers with a lot of experience whereas some were trying something new and never took a dance class before.  Similarly, some journalists may not be strong writers but rather better speakers.  But this is beneficial because that area of journalism is called broadcast.  Writers and anchors collaborate in the newsroom to create shows.  If a writer is not particularly confident in their work, that is what they have an editor for.   It is all about having a team in journalism and the interpersonal skills I learned in this class will really come through when I network with so many different personalities.  

Even though I started the class a few days late within the add/ drop period, I was able to catch up in no time and familiarize myself with the class.  The environment was very welcoming, open, and undoubtedly a safe space.  Even outside of class before 1:00 PM which is our start time, sometimes, students would chat about their weekends, weekend plans, events taking place on campus and so on.  It was such a wholesome experience especially bumping into those students on campus and creating friendships with some.  

 I liked that some people I met in the class are dance minors like me, so we planned on taking class together again.  I felt very creative in this class, but also very supported and guided- the balance was perfect.  I was in a class this semester which was 100% independent this semester and it stressed me out because I could never understand the expectations clearly.   Our professor's teaching style is one that I would only hope to one day embody. It was a pleasure taking this class this semester and I hope that we may keep in touch we all! 

 

14

 

https://tututix.com/how-to-communicate-better-while-teaching-dance/

 The Importance of Effective Communication

Okera Hastings

This semester, I learned quite a bit and gained useful skills that I believe have contributed to my growth as an educator. Through exploring the education system in America, I grew to appreciate the challenges and opportunities that exist within the system. Furthermore, I was also able to compare my experiences to the education system in Jamaica, where I grew up and have had much experience with, and see what I would be able to apply in each learning context. I have also gained insight into the different methods of teaching for different learners and age groups, which has enabled me to cater to the unique needs of my students. 

 

Some major takeaways for me were learning how to create a lesson plan that is both engaging and effective, and the importance of factoring brain breaks and periods of reflection for students to maximize their learning potential. Furthermore, I learned how to conceptualize my own dance studio by applying the principles of entrepreneurship and business management and important components of creating a flyer to promote my potential classes. Overall, this semester has been a transformative experience that has equipped me with the necessary skills and knowledge to be an effective educator.

I like how we were given the opportunity to implement some of the things we learned during the course of the semester by teaching a class of our own. During each class, I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed it and was very proud of my classmates for incorporating what they learned in a unique way. In every class, I felt seen, heard and appreciated as students should when they go to class. They were all well structured with proper warm up and cool down and time for assessments. For my class, I enjoyed making my lesson plan (Jamaican Dancehall Class). It made me further look into my culture and be very intentional about how I wanted to relay the movement and information to my classmates. I really enjoyed executing my lesson plan and I felt at home interacting with the students and showing them the steps.

As an aspiring engineer/teacher, I have come to recognize the importance of effective communication. This class has shown me multiple ways to do so which can help to propel me to be a great asset in whichever field I end up in. The Methods of Teaching Dance course, also allowed me to hone in on my leadership skills. Specifically, I have learned how to adapt my communication style to cater to different learning styles, which will be invaluable when leading teams with diverse backgrounds and skill sets. Additionally, the course emphasized the significance of lesson planning, which is applicable to any field. The research and preparation that goes into creating a meaningful lesson, as well as planning for different scenarios, will allow me to maximize productivity and success on teams. The course also emphasized the importance of preparing for worst-case scenarios and having backup plans, which will be critical in engineering where unexpected issues can arise. Overall, my Methods of Teaching Dance course has equipped me with skills and strategies that I plan to utilize throughout my future career.

 

15

 

 https://www.researchgate.net/figure/General-Course-Backbone-Organization-1-Announcements-1-Announcements-Many-instructors_fig3_318431885

  

 

The Backbone of Any Course

 Janice Chukwu

 After taking this course, I learned the importance of curricula in the school system. I never actually thought about how a course would be different with no curriculum. I always thought you can just make lesson plans daily and the class will flow just as well. This class taught me that a curriculum is the backbone of any course. If anything happens, you can refer back to the curriculum. It is there that you state overall objectives. The curriculum articulates the expectations for the course. 

 

Learning in this class was interesting and mind opening. It allowed me to see why some teachers do things the way they do. There are actions taken by teachers that students may see as unnecessary. Through this class, I realized that teacher's instructional decisions may just be the result of the protocol stated in the curriculum. 

 

I will apply what I learned by remembering that most of the time, teachers have a purpose when doing a la lot of things. The importance of brain breaks, used by some teachers, for instance, became a clearer concept after taking this class. Subsequently, I will incorporate brain breaks through out my study sessions and even during class when I need to.

 

16

 

https://www.barbadospocketguide.com/art-and-culture-in-barbados/dance/dance-strides-barbados.html

 

Vigorous Excitement for What’s to Come 

 

Nonii Randall 

 

 

This course has taught me a lot about my personal dance experience and my own teaching style. I’ve started to figure out how I prefer to structure a class and the principles I like to focus on. I’ve found that an in depth warm up is an absolute must for my class, as well as checking in with our bodies before and after class. I’ve also learned about classroom management and how that can look different on different students. 

 

I think this class really emphasized equity over equality, meaning that every student needs something different from the teacher and you can’t just give the same type of support to everyone. I really appreciated all of the group work that we did, I had the best group. DB’s stories about her boyfriend’s experience in Barbados would warm my heart and we just gelled really well as a group. 

 

Through the individual lesson plan presentations, I got to see how many different ways a class can be run and how each way was effective in its own merit. Lastly, I’ve learned that though I am good at teaching on the fly, it’s not my specialty. I am a much more effective teacher and leader when I have a solid pre-set plan.  

 

When I go back home to teach at my aunt’s dance studio, the main things I will focus on are communication and classroom management.  I want to make sure that I create an open, judgment-free space where my students feel comfortable with me, each other and themselves. I want my students to have pleasurable experiences inside my classroom outside of dancing, to really engage with each other and create a community amongst themselves. The only way for this to happen is if they feel that there is an open line of communication with me and that their opinions are valid and will always be heard. 

 

When we learned about lesson objectives, it clicked for me that there is more to dance class than just dancing. One of my objectives will always be for students to connect with each other. There will be a lot of group work and collaboration will always be encouraged. Lastly, I will always develop a clear set of rules and boundaries for my classroom so that everyone feels safe and respected. I think this is the key to managing a classroom successfully and keeping all of the students on the same page. 

 

This class was always a breath of fresh air for me. This semester, I was taking a lot of serious academic courses, so I appreciated the opportunity for a creative outlet. Being my last semester at the university, it was quite bittersweet. I had a lot going on in my personal life and sometimes I found it difficult to show up and truly engage. All in all, this was a robust learning process for which I am grateful. Throughout the semester, I envisioned myself applying the principles and techniques I learned at the studio in which I was raised. I felt a lot of nostalgia, but also vigorous excitement for what’s to come.

 

17

 

 https://dance-teacher.com/4-teachers-starting-dance-late/

 

Working With Different Ages

Julia Steinberg 

 

This semester I was very excited to take DAN 385. When I first read about the course I assumed we would just be taught ways to teach kids K-12 about dance. Little did I know I would learn so much more. I came out of this course learning how to interact with children of certain ages, how to make a lesson plan and how to teach a full class. 

 

One thing I thought was really important was that Professor Morejon really emphasized that when working with different ages you need to act differently. I thought it was great when we designed our own lesson plans to teach for the class that we had to make sure to let the class know the age range so they could act that age and realize why we were doing the activities we did. Another thing I learned about teaching children is the patience one must have. I have always considered myself pretty patient, but have realized I am not when it could come to teaching children. Professor Morejon was always so calm and patient with us all and really made us feel valued and understood when we were in class. 

 

 When I first came into this class I was a little nervous. Walking in the first day people started to talk about their dance background which made me put into perspective that I really don’t have one. I would get nervous with some of the dance activities we had to do because I felt I was a little more uncoordinated than the rest and did not pick up on things very easily. But what really helped me was how nice and kind all the girls were and how welcomed they made me feel. Professor Morejon made his classroom an environment that was very welcoming and just wanted his students to enjoy what they did. 

 

I really enjoyed learning so many things about dance that I never knew. It was very fun to learn all different types of dances and act them out. I realized during this class how dance can help students in so many ways. There is a level of creativity that is required in dance but also when teaching it. I did not know a lot about how to teach dance but learned it is important to make kids feel inspired when they dance. When teaching dance it is important to teach something the children will be interested in. If you teach something the children have interest in they will be more excited to learn it and then will add their own creative style to it. 

 

  Even though I will not be teaching dance in the future as I am studying public relations and advertising, I felt I picked up on a lot of important lessons throughout the course. First in dance it is so important to know how to work with others. When teaching a class you need to know how to speak to your students so they will listen and respect you. It is important to be kind but also make sure the students respect you as a teacher. This is very similar to socializing in the workplace. In the workplace you need to make sure you are respectful to your peers but also that you are confident and deserve respect as well. In public relations you are dealing with clients everyday so learning how to speak to them and understand their concerns is very important. 

 

Another important thing I learned is how important detail is. When creating a lesson it is important to account for everything that will or may happen during that time. This helps stay on track when teaching a lesson but also keeps the class organized as a whole. In the workplace, detail is everything. When working in public relations you are making announcements for clients or even hosting events. It is important that a lot of detail is put into events since this is something for your client and you need to make sure everything is perfect for them. I feel throughout the course I learned many skills I will be able to take and implement throughout other aspects of my life.

  

Overall this course was able to teach me so much. I think by being in such a welcoming space I was really able to learn the material as well as enjoy my time in the class. I am so glad I took this course and want to take another dance course soon.