Clare Na

Teaching Students with Disability

December 15, 2013

Before I took Teaching Students with Disability course I have never considered seriously
on IEP or 504 plan in my music class teaching. I was unaware and did not know how I should
teach and include learning disability students into the music classes. I am currently doing my
student teaching at PS 183, Upper East Side New York, NY. I am student teaching 2
nd
to 5
th

grade general music class, band class, and chorus class for five days a week and each music class
meets once a week for 50 minutes. Each general music class has 26 to 28 students, band has 90
students, and chorus has 150 students. My observation is focused on autism students music
learning. Leah, Alex, and Alexander are the three 3
rd
grade students with autism in general class.
I have carefully watched these three autistic students participations of general music and chorus
classes since mid September 2013.
Starting from mid September to now (mid December), I noticed Leah, Alex, and
Alexanders increase of music growth in general music class and chorus. Leah, Alex, and
Alexander are always highly active in music classes and seem enjoy music making in music
classes. They like drumming and singing songs, but most of time they were drumming the wrong
rhythms of pieces and were not singing in tune and often burst wrong words in middle of the
chorus singing. During the general music class I had to sit between Leah, Alex, and Alexander to
help them to play correct rhythm of the pieces and demonstrate playing for them. And during
chorus I stand next to them and try to sing loudly for them to hear. But Leah, Alex, and
Alexander were unaware of what I was doing even though I was right by them to help. It was
difficult to teach and/or help them during the class periods because I could not get have any of
Leah, Alex, and Alexanders attention.
My cooperating teacher and I had to come up with a specific plan how we are going to
teaching Leah, Alex, and Alexander to learn the drum pieces and chorus songs and prepare them
for the schools Winter Concert. The Winter Concert practice and preparation took during the
class time. All students were learning the concert drum pieces during the general music class and
learning songs during the chorus. In mid of October, my cooperating teacher and I got worried
with 3
rd
grade autistic students, because they were lost in music and became afraid they would
not be ready by the concert date. Teaching autistic students of the concert music material during
the general classes with other students was difficult for us and for autistic students to fully
engage in music learning. After seeing Dr. Bahadourians A Childs Awakening I decided to
use Scientifically Demonstrated Techniques to help Leah, Alex, and Alexander to learn the
concert music for the Winter Concert.
My cooperating teacher and I decided to give Leah, Alex, and Alexander an additional of
separated music class from the general classes to teach the drum part and songs for the Winter
Concert. Starting from mid October to mid December (for past 7 weeks), we asked the three
artistic students to come to the music classroom on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday
during their recess time (1:15 1:35) for extra 20 minutes of music class. My cooperating
teacher and I used Suzuki music teaching method, teaching music through ear training. We
thought Suzuki method would develop the students the ability to hear music and learn the drum
pieces and songs fast. To keep up with Suzuki music learning, we used the Token Economy
system to achieve daily music lesson with the three students. Once they accomplish and achieve
their Token Economy, they go to choose one reinforcements of snack food, listening to the pop
songs, or freeze dance.
Our first two weeks of 20 minutes of music class was very physical. It was difficult
teaching music to autistic students because it was hard to communicate to Leah, Alex, and
Alexander. They were lack of language skills and social skills. Even getting their attention and
having an eye contact were not easy. Beginning of the few weeks my cooperating teacher and I
had to physically grab by their hands/wrists to help leading them to play the drum on the right
time. During the first few weeks were very slow, I had to break down step by step for autistic
students to hear and follow what I was doing. The Token Economy I had for students had 12
boxes, which means we have to play 12 times correctly to complete the sheet. After having 4
weeks (16 times) of the additional music class, I noticed they were playing and singing what they
have remembered.
Leah, Alex, and Alexander are no longer lost in the general music and chorus classes.
They are now more with the other students, and I see that Leah, Alex, and Alexander have
gained confidence in their drum playing and song singing during the class time. This week is the
concert week and they have been practicing with the concert music for 7 weeks. Leah, Alex, and
Alexander have worked hard and made a remarkable progress in their music learning. This
Thursday is the school Winter Concert. I am very excited that they will be on the stage with their
friends to perform.