Podcast Reflection #11: Musical Expression throughout the Curriculum

Teachers TV is a website that provides a number of videos about new ideas or events taking place in schools. On this website, I came across a series called Sharing Your Great Practice which chronicles a different school in England each week and gives you a look into exciting things that are happening at that particular school. In Musical Expression throughout the Curriculum, viewers get a look into Bayards Hill Primary School where students are getting the opportunity to receive special weekly music lessons which are linked with the curriculum students are learning in their particular classroom. Therefore, students are getting the opportunity to learn an instrument and express themselves creatively while still focusing on the core subject areas at the same time. After beginning this program, Bayards Hill has improved attendance records as well as overall student achievement, including those with special needs. This cross-curricular approach seems very beneficial because of the connection researchers have found between music and student achievement. Moreover, learning the core curriculum becomes a bit more fun and exciting for students when different methods are used for teaching the material.