**Week 7**

This week we concentrated on our test more than anything. After taking the test I can say there were parts that I knew quite easily and very well, and other parts that I struggled with a bit. My biggest problem with the test was that I was unable to make it to class on Wednesday and there were things that were on the test that had been presented to the class that day, so I was definitally at a large disadvantage on a few questions because of that. However, because we were given the extra credit I'm confident that it will help make up for the points. Part of the way I study is by going to class and taking lots of notes. I'm an auditory learning, so I can read something out of a book and get next to nothing from it, but if I hear what is being said than it's a totally different story. I will remember everything quite easily, and writing down what I hear just helps me reinforce that. I really believe that writing is a great reinforcer for learning, so another thing I did to study was write out every answer to each question on the study guide. It helped me remember a lot of things. However, some of the questions asked very specific things, such as vocal characteristics and ability, and I just think that it is so easy to get those things confused, no matter how many times you go over them, so I'm unsure about how I did on that part. Also, a few things on the study guide, like parts of the lesson plan, I thought was supposed to be taken from the W.S. we did in class with the 8 steps, not what was written out. That was another thing I unfortunately missed in class on Wednesday. I feel that I was prepared for it as I could have been. I read the book, attended most classes, took notes, and did the study guide. For me these are the best strategies.
Mid-Semester Review- So far I have learned much more than I had anticipated. Although I knew what music was and some of the specifics about it such as the notes, I did not know the proper definition of rhythm, steady beat, melody, or any of those things we had gone over. Also, the Kodlay was all new information to me as well. I really like the overall structure in class, I think that it is very inviting and friendly. I am also enjoying learning to play the recorder. I think I may be one of the only people in the class that have never had any experience with it at all. It is a very fun instrument and now that I know how much music can impact other parts of the curriculum I would like to use it in a future classroom. My only complaint or thing I would want to change would probablly be the structure of the test. While I do think that most things on the test were fair, I just felt extremely pressed for time on it. Because it was short answer it took more time than I think many of us expected, so if it is possible, for the next test I think it would be better to either have a few less questions of tell everyone ahead of time it is okay to stay a little bit later. Especially because we had so many interruptions during it, I am easily distracted and whenever anyone is talking I can't really focus. This isn't a huge complaint or anything, I just think the test would be a better representative of what we are learning if we are just given a little more time. I really like the class this far, especially learning the recorder, and hope we continue on at the same pace!