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The candidate uses understanding of differences in individuals, cultures, and communities to ensure

inclusive learning environments that enable each learner to meet rigorous standards.

The candidate should complete a reflective essay illustrating the differences of the students under
their supervision. Three artifacts are to be submitted and may include the Contextual Factors
template, multicultural lesson plans, unit plans, and lesson plans.

Each classroom is a community of students. To ensure each student feels welcome we


must include things from each student’s culture. The instruction in the classroom should also be
tailored to include music and cultural aspects that involve each student. This could be as simple
as having knick-knacks or posters around the room representing each student. Songs from each
student’s heritage should also be taught along with songs from cultures not represented to give
students a wide world view.
In my classroom students not only learn songs from other cultures, but they learn about
the traditions and history as well. Music is a wonderful tool to incorporate these aspects as
every culture around the world has its own music. This creates a very open and inclusive
environment where students will feel welcome and important. If there are students from the
areas being studied, it can be very valuable to have the student present music or cultural
aspects from their heritage. This gives other students a real-life experience with the culture.
Culture is not the only difference a teacher must be sensitive of in a classroom. In
secondary music classrooms, ability level is widely varied. Many bands and choirs include
students from 9-12 grades. This means students have different experiences and developmental
levels. Instruction must be varied to reach all students where they are in both experience and
development. For example, in a mixed choir that has 9-12 men and women, the warm-up could
be tailored to work on a concept in the piece. This warm-up could be thought of as both a
review for those who are comfortable with the concept and practice for those working on it.
This pushes those who have more experience while raising ability level of those who are not at
the same level.
As a student teacher I worked very closely with each high school band student
rehearsing solos for festivals. Through this experience I got to know each student and tailor my
instruction to fit their needs and ability level. I also got a better feel of the band community as I
knew everyone. This helped with my instruction of the whole group, understanding their
strengths and weaknesses and how to address them. These should all be taken into a count
when constructing lesson plans. We as teacher must include all. This promotes and strengthens
the program as well as creates well-rounded musicians.

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