Anthony Zeppieri Lab B: Dancing

What:  The topic I had for Lab B was Dance.  I didn't know what to do when I was first assigned this topic because I really don't know much with this.  Once I got the references I saw a disco style dance so I thought to myself that this could be a fun and a little challenging topic.  I saw this dance in the packet and the songs that went along with it and I knew I could definitely do this topic.  I started the class off with an instant activity that had the students do karaoke, shuffles, high knees, and back pedals.  This got their legs lose and got them use to using their legs and feet before the lesson started.  I also had them stop on my whistle and do grab the apple put it in the bag, cast the fishing pole, or raise the roof.  This was fun to do because in disco they had some crazy dances so I wanted them to have a little fun with the instant activity instead of just running around.  My main goal for the class was to be able to perform the little dance I had for them with good rhythm to the song being played.  I think I did a good job at showing the cues by doing the dance in whole first and then breaking each of the four parts.  This allowed the students to grasp what I was asking from them.  Also, after each part I showed I had the class add it to the previous step I had them work on.  This I think benefited them because they got repetition on the steps so it was a little easier to remember.

Gut:  How I felt about my lab was nervous and somewhat satisfied.  I was somewhat satisfied because going into this I really didn't think or know how I was going to do and how the class would have reacted to my lesson.  While doing it I gained a little more confidence because I noticed that I wasn't doing so bad.  I saw the classes reactions to what I was explaining and if they didn't understand something they asked a question.  I was nervous throughout the whole thing I can't lie about that.  I kept catching myself messing up little things and I was trying to not show that I messed up, so all of that was just making my heart race.  So points I would let me nerves take over for a little, but then I would take a deep breath and regain composure real quick.  I am also upset at myself because I forgot to do my hook in the beginning and I also forgot my questions for the end.  This to me makes me look unprepared because I had to say "um" and look up or down while thinking of what to say.  I also didn't provide in depth feedback, I would either just say good job, or something along those lines.  Going through my video I got mad at myself because I said "guys" again way to many times.  I knew I had to focus on that too, but my nerves I guess put that in the back of my head and made me think it was the last thing to worry about.

So What:  During my lesson I wanted the class to be able to do the steps without messing up.  I wanted to do this without having to explain myself to much and having the class being active for more than half the class time.  I wasn't able to do this, I had the class listening to instructions and going over the cues for more than half the class and had the class being active for a little under 45% of the time.  I knew from the pre-assessment that only a couple of people in the class were high skilled in dancing and the rest were either medium with little practice or low skilled.  I did the dance I did because it wasn't really to difficult to do, but putting the pieces together might have been hard for a couple of people.  I really haven't had much experience with doing dance for a lesson because I never took a class for it.  My thing I worried about was how could I modify it for someone that was struggling and I was only able to think of doing it without music, doing it a little slower, and doing it all in unison so people can get used to the steps.  I don't know if that was effective, but I saw that the people struggling were doing a little better.  So once that happened I knew time was a big factor so when I saw at least 4 of the 6 people in the class doing it without a problem I continued.  To me I felt like I needed to move on because I knew we were repeating the steps again so hopefully if a student was struggling they would pick it up after doing it again.  I didn't want to stay on one part to long because I didn't want the people who were getting it without a problem to get bored and not be into it anymore.

Now What:  Thankfully Lab B was a warm up for the other labs like how Lab A was.  I was able to get more practice and had more time to get out all my bad tendencies.  I really need to work on not saying guys because it isn't fair to the girls in the class.  I'm leaving them out when I say guys and I need to start working in saying guys and girls especially if I can't stop saying guys.  I think I did a pretty good job explaining my ques, so that I will try and to bring into Lab C.  I need to calm myself down more before I start so I can have a clear mind and not forget what I want to say to my students.  For Lab C I will have to change how I spread out the class because working with the whole class I have to be able to see everyone.  I need to work on giving better feedback to others and recognizing a lower skilled student.  Another thing I have to include is a better safety statement.  I really only said just watch the people around you which might not be elaborate enough for some people.

      

Here I am performing the "roll the dough" part of the dance with the rest of the class.

Click here to watch my video of Lab B, enjoy!