I am required to teach at two different school. My primary school is on Monday, half-day Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. At my secondary school I teach all day on Tuesday and half a day on Wednesdays. At my secondary school I have one class of autistic children only ranging from grades second to fifth. Both schools are Title I schools. Many of our children come from low-income families and all children at my school receive breakfast and lunch at no cost. My school is based in North Carolina close to the second-largest military base. serving many children associated with active military families.
As a music teacher, I want to allow my students access and opportunity to actively engage in the required music curriculum.
Our autistic children have great difficulty learning and understanding the core curriculum by the common lesson plans created and expected to be taught through the North Carolina system. I have been pulling my own funds to supply ways to create instruments for better understanding as well as buying visual stories that are incorporated with music. I am in need of more resources that include visual and audio music books as well as materials for hands-on activities.
My Project
Autistic children learn differently. Visuals and hands-on learning are more beneficial when teaching music and literacy. Literacy is very important in maintaining its involvement throughout the music. We use word walls and focus walls in our classroom, however, children with autism should be allowed different approaches. The children I teach enjoy singing along with different songs as well as singing along with books that provide songs throughout the story. For example the storybooks "Pete the Cat" have been an eye-catcher for these children. I am asking to expand my collection of audio-visual music books for them. With these books, all children will be allowed the same opportunities to learn and understand music and literacy integration.
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