Phil Kleven Week 16

Week 16! The last full week! Although things are winding down for me, my classes are moving full speed ahead. All orchestras are preparing for their final concerts. Although I've transferred lead teaching back to my cooperating teacher, I'm still heavily involved in classroom activities and am conducting pieces for the final concert. My cooperating teacher asked me to work with students in pairs, similar to a private lesson setting. The students saw me come alive in this type of teaching as it is most similar to what I do as a private lesson teacher. They enjoyed me playing along and demonstrating excerpts. The private or small group teaching really allows students to see what I can do and gives them more confidence in me as a teacher. I also saw my cooperating teacher get tough on students at the middle school. The 6th through 8th grade students have gone completely insane since the weather warmed up.  Keeping them on task in class has been extremely difficult and, like the high school, they still have one concert left before the end of the year. A mix of rehearsal, presentations, and musical games have helped to keep them on task.

This team teaching strategy allowed me reflect on standard 8 - collaborative relationships.  "The competent teacher builds and maintains collaborative relationships to foster cognitive, linguistic, physical, and social and emotional development. This teacher works as a team member with professional colleagues, students, parents or guardians, and community members." By working together, we built on cognitive, physical, and social development of students. The setting helped us reach the needs of each student, especially those with specific goals and learning needs. It was also done in a way that didn't isolate students. They all had a chance to work with me in pairs, and they learned a lot!

In terms of new strategies, I had the opportunity to plan and prepare for a major rehearsal with the largest group I've ever conducted. Students in the top orchestra and band have been preparing to perform Mars and Jupiter from Holst's Planets suite. They performed Mars on the last band and orchestra concerts, and my cooperating teacher is conducting Jupiter for the orchestra's final concert. She suggested that I spend a class working with the combined group of well over 100 students. I have to admit I was a bit nervous to work with such a large group, especially because I was less confident giving comments to wind, brass, and percussion students. After rehearsal began and my musical instincts set in, I wasn't nervous at all. We had a wonderful rehearsal! I'm thankful for this experience and I hope to perform music like this in the future if I'm selected for a high school position.

In the week ahead, I hope to have a successful last three days. I'd like to say student teaching is winding down, but I know I will be going full speed ahead right until the last minute of my last day. The only thing I would like to do differently would be to go into future rehearsals with more confidence. Although musical preparation is complex and stressful, I have enough experience to jump into just about any musical piece or setting. I'm looking forward to begin a teaching career with confidence!

Goals for the week ahead:
- Finish student teaching with a strong sense of accomplishment
- Continue applying to jobs
- Refine my conducting and rehearsal strategies
- Enjoy sleeping in on Thursday and Friday!