Art courses, such as chorus, Latin, origami, painting, art and science popularization, have opened a window to art for local children at the Hongqi Farm School of the Sixth Division of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. July 7 was the fourth day of teaching assistance by Jiuli Sunlight Art Teaching Assistance Group. The course schedule was the same as the previous day, with music, art, and dance courses taking place simultaneously. Before the start of the course, the volunteer teachers summarized the previous teaching situation, shared the teaching experience gained from the course, and discussed the subsequent arrangements, and improved the teaching mode and methods, in order to stimulate the enthusiasm of students in class to a greater extent.
Careful Preparation for Excellent Classes
The volunteer teachers not only taught some basic music theory knowledge in the music class, but also led the students to feel the power in music, taught them how to play the beat, read the notes, and control the pronunciation and breath, helping them to better understand music, learn music, feel the beauty of the notes in playing, and feel the power of the music and the profound sense of patriotism in choral singing.
In dance class, the teacher led students to learn the basic steps of Latin dance - changing the center of gravity and time steps, so as to lay the foundation for Latin dance students with zero foundation through scientific teaching methods, experiencing the rhythm of the human body in dance and appreciating the beauty of dance.
In the painting class, students used colored pencils to outline and color their favorite patterns and animals on the drawing paper; in the handicraft class, students folded cute animals under the teacher’s guidance. One stroke, one fold, one trace, all showed the children’s love for art.
In teaching, the volunteer teachers combined the course content with the geological features of CUG to bring better course content to the students. The teachers introduced the knowledge of the planets of the solar system to the students and led them to make models of the seven planets of the solar system in the form of clay. Yu Jifei, a member of the Jiuli Sunlight Art Teaching Assistance Group, stated that “in the early stage of course preparation, everyone unanimously agreed that the art course could be combined with the geological characteristics of CUG to help children better understand the mysteries of the Earth and the universe. Through communication, we have improved the content of this art popularization course.”
The teaching of volunteers seems to be effortless, but behind their maturity and confidence lies the careful preparation. The detailed teaching plans and lesson plans, as well as well-crafted courseware, are their confidence to give good courses. After class, teachers carefully prepare class tools in order to bring students a lively and interesting art course.
At the same time, in order to deeply study the spirit of the 20th National Congress of CPC, implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important exposition on education and important instructions on language and culture, and deepen the promotion of the national common language and writing system in the western region, in addition to the art teaching, the volunteer teachers also carried out Mandarin teaching and promotional activities and led the students to practice the Mandarin through games, which helped improve the Mandarin proficiency of the local students. In the classroom, students recited traditional poetry and brought excellent traditional Chinese culture into the classroom. In the process of learning Mandarin, they learned traditional culture, appreciated it, and promoted it.
During teaching, the teachers of the teaching team gave full play to their professional strengths and advantages, and taught with great enthusiasm, and the students also actively cooperated, creating a good classroom learning atmosphere. In the next volunteer teaching life, team members will continue to integrate art elements into the children’s lives, add more artistic colors to their vacations, make art eternal in dissemination, and let love converge in action!
Reflections on Teaching:
Just as the educator Tao Xingzhi said, “Come with a heart and go without half a root of grass”, today’s one meter of sunlight makes me feel more strongly that this volunteer teaching may be a spiritual practice for me. Today, when I was giving a class to the children in Class B, I saw their eyes full of thirst for knowledge and noticed their excellent comprehension skills. I marveled at how eager they were to learn and how calmly they could accept new content. The smiles on their faces conveyed the joy of gaining knowledge. This is the greatest honor and what I want to continue working hard on in the future.
—— Chen Jiaxin, a member of the Jiuli Sunlight Art Teaching Assistance Group
In today’s course, I realized that teaching is a fulfilling and meaningful job. What we gain is not only opportunities for teaching and guidance, but also a deeper understanding and experience of the lives of local children. Seeing their progress and growth, helping and influencing them brings me great satisfaction. Thinking that the lessons I teach can impact the lives of the children, and that our efforts will provide them with better educational resources and hope, this activity has greater significance. Although there may be some challenges and difficulties, we will try to overcome them and work hard to bring better and more interesting lessons to the students.
—— Liu Wuke, a member of the Jiuli Sunlight Art Teaching Assistance Group
Today is the first day of my official lecture, and I feel a bit nervous and afraid that the children won’t understand what I’m talking about. However, when I see the children in person, I feel relieved, and they are really very cute. When those innocent eyes look at me and call me a teacher, I really feel that the whole world has been healed, and I have also gained a full sense of happiness and achievement during the teaching process.
—— Yang Mengqi, a member of the Jiuli Sunlight Art Teaching Assistance Group
