This week’s topic has made me realize that I have gotten stuck in a rut, teaching lessons that I wouldn’t normally write. My co-op has had me teach many of his lessons in the 7th grade, and I found myself modeling my lessons I write for eighth grade after his lessons. I don’t know why I haven’t realized it until now but this is not okay with me. After talking about multiculturalism with people from my school, I have remembered how strongly I believe that the connection between cultures and music makes multiculturalism especially important in the music classroom.
However, the multiculturalism at Newtown middle school is more superficial than meaningful. The choral groups sing in different languages…okay, but their not really understanding the cultures because of it. The seventh grade music cycle is playing African drum and learning about drum circles, but not how drum circles originated or how they affect African cultures.
I became very upset and disappointed in myself while writing my narrative because I realized that I have had chances to really write lesson my way that incorporate multiculturalism, but I haven’t taken these chances. I’m not sure why but I know that it won’t happen from now on.
It is hard having a mentor and not automatically agreeing with their opinion of what is right. It’s funny, my co-op is working where he student taught. He is teaching the same curriculum that his Co-op had set-up before he moved to the high-school.
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Perhaps instead of viewing it as "superficial", you could use it as a gateway into the depth you are looking for. Do they enjoy playing in the drum circle? Then I would bet that they would be interested to learn more about it origins. As you do lessons with these instruments, incorporate more history into them - the interest is already there.
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