Outcome 3.1

Offers a careful interpretation & analysis of children’s early literacy/numeracy skills & interests

Also

Outcome 2.2

Recognises subtle differences & levels in literacy & numerical learning & development according to age, ability, culture & social circumstances

First, I want to analyse two clips of the same boy performing songs seen on the TV show: Glee. This young ‘Warbler’ is obviously familiar with the show and his family have encouraged this interest by buying, or making him his own ‘Warbler’ costume like those worn by Blaine and the other boys at Dalton Academy. By encouraging his interest in the show, his family are helping his literacy and numeracy development in a number of ways. In both clips, ‘Mini Warbler’ shows signs these literacy and numeracy concepts:

Spatial awareness – this is most evident in the second clip (‘Raise Your Glass’) where he avoids running into the chair, and even uses the chair as a prop late in the song. He also shows signs of spatial awareness by not running out of room on his ‘stage’. 

Pattern – especially in the first clip (‘Teenage Dream’) the idea of pattern is important as many of the same words and dance moves are used multiple times. In the clips, Mini Warbler is able to remember the words and moves in patterns, from verse to chorus, another verse and back to the chorus. 

Mirroring and direction ­– Mini Warbler’s use of mirroring is most evident in Teenage Dream, where it is as if he has learned the moves when looking at the screen and not turned them around to fit when he is facing away from the screen. During this clip, there are occasional signs to show that he understands how to flip these dance moves around correctly, but for most of the song, he is mirroring the Warblers actions on the screen. During Raise Your Glass, there is visible improvement in this area, with only a few examples of mirroring. 

Mimicking prior experiences – In both clips Mini Warbler shows signs of having seen this song performed on Glee previously. This is apparent in his memorisation of the lyrics and dance moves. In this, he was mimicking the actions shown on the screen, and in performing them in the clips (facing away from the screen) he was mimicking both the screen and his own prior actions. 

Balance – the signs of balance are obvious in both clips as Mini Warbler does not lose his balance and fall down at any point during the routines. He is able to dance, jump, walk, and skip during both clips, while singing, and keep his balance. 

Practicing verbal language and conventions of speech – By mimicking, memorising, and singing the lyrics Mini Warbler is practicing verbal language. By singing in time with the song as well as mimicking specific singing actions, such as at 1:38 in Teenage Dream, he is practicing conventions of speech. 

Timing – in keeping time with the song he is also practicing timing, both with his singing and dancing. Most impressive is Mini Warbler’s ability to keep performing even when the camera is not focused on the Warblers on the screen and to be where he should be when they next appear. 

Movement and gesture – Mini Warbler’s use of movement and gesture is evident throughout both clips.

Clip One: whatucalldat. (2011). Mini Warbler Performing to Teenage Dream. Video. YouTube, 5 June. Viewed 20 October 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxuWSXwR4Mc>.

Clip Two: whatucallthat. (2011). Mini Warbler – Raise Your Glass. Video. YouTube, 22 June. Viewed 20 October 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8FCP0ZoZiA>.

Next I would like to analyse a music video by American country music artist, Randy Houser, which features a toddler performing in the back seat of a car with a mini guitar fly swatter.

Spatial awareness - this young toddler’s knowledge of spatial awareness is less obvious than Mini Warbler’s, as he is shown in his car seat the entire clip. However, one aspect of spatial awareness he is showing is his knowledge that he has to stroke or strum the ‘guitar’ he is holding. He does not leave any room between his hand and the guitar when he is ‘playing’ it. 

Pattern – Just like Mini Warbler, the toddler in Boots On is aware of the patterns that occur in his song, memorising when it is time for the chorus and when it is time for the verses, or even the guitar solos.

Mirroring and direction – signs of mirroring and direction are less evident in this clip as there is not background video playing to show us how this toddler has learned this particular song. Some direction is evident, however, in terms of correctly positioning the guitar so it is pointed diagonally upwards not down, and he strokes down on the guitar to play it, not up. 

Mimicking prior experiences – After a little research, I found that this toddler, whose name is Drake Dixon, is the song of singer/songwriter/guitarist Dillon Dixon. It is therefore a good chance that a lot of the guitar playing, singing, and dance moves that Drake is showing in this clip have been learned from prior experiences and exposure to his dad, as well as other musicians his dad may have exposed him to (as well as regular exposure such as music channels on TV). Drake is obviously mimicking guitar playing, and he is mimicking very well. He holds the guitar correctly, and plays strokes only when the sound of the guitar is playing in the song. He is mimicking chords and different styles of playing such as more enthusiastic during the chorus, and smaller playing during the verses, as well as at 1:46 during the guitar solo, and most impressively at 2:10. Drake is mimicking his own prior experiences playing this song as he has the song, lyrics, guitar playing and pauses all nearly perfectly memorised. Drake's performance is an example of how social and cultural differences can effect the literacy and numeracy experiences of children.

Balance – Drake shows signs of balance by sitting up in his chair, holding his guitar up, as well as balancing his leg on the seat or compartment in from of him. 

Practicing verbal language and conventions of speech – Just like Mini Warbler Drake is mimicking, memorising, and singing lyrics to a song, and in this he is practicing verbal language, and is exposed to words he might not have otherwise been exposed to (such as Copenhagen). He is practicing conventions of speech by changing his singing to fit the song, such as when singing ‘and do it country style!’ 

Timing – Drake is perfecting his timing by singing and playing his guitar. As you can see, Drake has an excellent grasp of timing in this clip, singing the lyrics in time with the song as well as strumming his guitar (not to mention mimicking chord changes) in time with the guitar sounds in the song. This is shown throughout the song, from beginning to end, when he lifts his hand to a longer guitar note, and stays silent during the guitar solo. 

Movement and gesture – the use of movement and gesture is evident throughout this clip, as Drake taps his leg along to the music, plays his guitar, bobs his head, and just generally rocks out to the song.

Boots On: RandyHouserVEVO. (2009). Randy Houser – Boots On. YouTube, 15 December. Viewed 20 October 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0go5Q_v0EIk>.

Next I am going to analyse a slightly younger child, one just entering the toddler stage, as shown by the use of a table as balance support for standing and dancing. This child is shown from behind to be dancing to Beyonce’s ‘Single Ladies.’

Spatial awareness – As this child is younger and not as far along the physical development line than both Mini Warbler and Drake the spatial awareness observations is limited. One prominent example of spatial awareness shown by this boy is his ability to kneel down without losing his balance or hitting the table in front of him. He is also able to use the table as balance, standing not too close, but not too far away from it when doing this.

Pattern – This young dancer’s ability to recognise patterns is far less developed than the previous boy’s examples. At no point does this baby recognise pattern and sing or dance along with it.

Mirroring and direction – Examples of mirroring are not evident in the clip, as the young boy has not developed enough literacy and numeracy capabilities to exhibit this yet. Direction is used when he sways from side to side and bobs up and down, both significant features of his dancing during this clip.

Mimicking prior experiences – Two subtle but relevant examples of this boy having danced to and experienced this song before occur at 0:35 and at 1:22. In both cases the boy bobs his head (and body) side to side to mimic the dancing on the screen, with the case at 0:35 not being in time with the dance, hinting at prior experience with the song. 0:35 also involves the boy mimicking hand gestures used by Beyonce and the other dances in the clip.

Balance – The dancing boy’s sense of balance is not as developed as Mini Warbler’s (and probably not as Drake’s either, though this is hard to say since Drake is sitting down during his entire clip), as he is not able to stand without support yet and uses the table to help him. He is able to kneel without support, however, and does not fall over at any point during the clip, suggesting his ability to stand without support is not far off.

Practicing verbal language and conventions of speech – There aren’t any signs of speech or language conventions coming from the boy during this clip. Listening to music and being involved in it would, however, have some positive effects on his speech and language knowledge.

Timing ­– Timing is not evident in this clip, there is no stop start areas, and he has not developed enough (or been exposed to this song enough) to know which steps go with certain parts of the song. His few mimicking examples either happen separately, or as purely mimicking the screen (not remembering from past experiences)

Movement and gesture – Movement and gesture is evident in this clip as the baby continually bobs up and down, shakes his legs, kneels, moves his body from side to side, and uses his hands to move, gesture, and dance to the song. 

Being younger than both Mini Warbler and Drake, this boy shows signs of less development in all the areas I am critiquing. 

Baby Dancing: machack95. (2009). Baby dances to Single Ladies-Beyonce(funny), 27 September. Viewed on 19 November 2013. <http://youtu.be/mD-4cQz0s8E>