Summer Reads: Accommodating Individual Learning

The Summer of 2016 was full of books both fiction and non-fiction. Two non-fiction reads include: "Creative Schools" by Ken Robinson and "Music in Special Education" by Adamek and Darrow. Both of these relate to being a teacher in the demanding high-performance age we live in the world.

I'd first like to comment on Creative Schools: The grassroots revolution that's transforming education. Robinson suggests that if we allow the freedom to choose from the students that learning will no longer be a struggle for at risk students. This theory has aided in the creating of schools around the globe dedicated to serving the marginalized student population.  Speaking from my limited experience with serving this population, I can suggest that his theory is a powerful tool for older aged students especially. However as an elementary teacher, I notice some obvious flaws in its implementation with very young students.

The second book focuses on modes of engagement with music for students with special needs. The authors suggest that it is the teachers duty to serve all students an equitable music education. To me, that looks like serving the students needs as individually specific as possible. That approach is an overlap between the the two books, making it a theme: Accommodating Individual Learning.

What practices do you use in your music

classroom that serve special needs students?