State of Iowa Teaching Standard 2

Standard 2  Demonstrates competence in content knowledge appropriate to the teaching position. The teacher:

Hard Copy Media: VHS: "3rd Grade Spotlight Night" 2007

1. Understands and uses key concepts, underlying themes, relationships, and different perspectives related to the content area.
   
   Data Source: The Mitten (pdf of unit lesson plan) Hard Copy: Standard 2 page 1-5
       
       Justification: This unit uses key concepts of reviewed rhythmic structures to explore 3/4 meter and to compose in 3/4 meter.  The Mitten unit uses underlying themes and relationships from literature connections.  Various perspectives used to learn musical elements within The Mitten unit include literature connections, dictation, singing, playing instruments in a monophonic and polyphonic texture, composing, and acting. 
2. Uses knowledge of student development to make learning experiences in the content area meaningful and accessible for every student.
   
   Data Source: The Mitten (pdf of unit lesson plan) Hard Copy: Standard 2 page 5
       
       Justification:  The student worksheets provided in the lesson plan aid the student in making composition meaningful and accessible.  By providing note choices, words divided by syllable, and lines above the syllable to write their note choices, students are successful in experimenting with notes, choosing notes, and relating the notes to a specified rhythmic speech structure.
3. Relates ideas and information within and across content areas.
   
   Data Source: The Mitten (pdf of unit lesson plan) Hard Copy: Standard 2 page 1-5
       
       Justification: The Mitten by Jan Brett is read in K-2 grade in their classrooms, and is read in Media in the 3rd grade in December.
4. Understands and uses instructional strategies that are appropriate to the content area.
   
   Data Source: The Mitten (pdf of worksheets included in unit lesson plan) Hard Copy: Standard 2 page 5
       
       Justification: The lesson plan identifies concepts and skills taught in the lesson aligned to the ICCSD general music curriculum.  Throughout the process, the visual, kinesthetic, and auditory learner is addressed.  During the introductory stage of the lesson, when reading the book, the visual learner is aided by the book in identifying the order of the animals.  When the song is inserted while reading the book, use of the Curwin hand signals provide aids to the kinesthetic and visual learner to identify the melodic direction and to aid in accurate singing pitch.  The auditory learner is aided by the repetition of the song resulting from the repetition in the story.