Zhang Xuemen's Music And Games Isomorphic Curriculum And Its Contemporary Valu

Looking at the education masters of various countries,most of them have detailed biographies and achievements recorded,such as "The Bell Curve" by Herrnstein and Murray,"Montessori’s Life" by Montessori,"Dewey’s Life" by Dewey,and "Tao Xingzhi’s Life" by Tao.Chen Heqin,who was born in the same period as Zhang Xuemen,has a biography called "Chen Heqin Biography".As a famous modern Chinese early childhood educator for nearly50 years since the 1930 s,Zhang Xuemen was once known as the “North Zhang South Chen”in China’s education circle together with Chen Heqin.The main practice base for her early childhood education is Beijing Xiangshan Kindergarten affiliated to Ciyu Normal School.Her educational works are not only rich in theoretical knowledge but also supplemented with specific implementation measures.This article mainly uses literature research methods and historical research methods to conduct comprehensive and in-depth studies on four aspects: Zhang Xuemen’s life and educational thoughts;theoretical sources and teaching contents of music-and-game homologous curriculum view;relationship between music-and-game homologous curriculum view and singing games;contemporary value of music games.This article believes that Zhang Xuemen ’ s music-and-game homologous curriculum view was born under the social background of saving the country and people in the 1930 s when China was undergoing a transition from old to new order.Various ideas emerged while new education gradually appeared.At this time,Dewey’s pragmatic educational thought entered China and attracted a large number of educators who advocated changing national destiny through education including Chen Heqin,Tao Xingzhi,and Zhang Xuemen among others.Zhang Xuemen’s formation of music-and-game homologous curriculum view is based on Froebel’s theory combined with Montessori’s educational thought,guided by Dewey’s pragmatic educational thought and also combined with some of Tao Xingzhi’s educational viewpoints at that time.It is a curriculum organization method that combines music activities with game activities by utilizing the similar structure characteristics between them in practice.This article believes that the core of Zhang Xuemen’s music-and-game homologous curriculum view lies in emphasizing the consistency between music and games.The purpose of kindergarten games is to "establish interest in social cooperation,develop self-expression,and enjoy rhythmic activity as an art",while the purpose of kindergarten music is to "develop children’s social emotions through shared singing or playing experiences".Both have commonality in education goals.Under this curriculum view guidance,Zhang Xuemen designed detailed music-and-game activities which differ from traditional kindergarten activities mainly on four aspects: firstly giving children opportunities for free creation instead of forcing them to make mechanical reactions using ready-made materials;secondly not focusing on formal results or requiring imitation exercises but allowing children to discover and correct their own mistakes;thirdly arousing children’s need for action,reminding them of their conscious purposes without interruption from partial techniques;fourthly paying attention to the value of games and music themselves rather than treating them as tools.Her theoretical achievements have made great contributions to the development of Chinese early childhood musical education.On this basis,gradually formed concept “singing game ” was clearly defined as a local concept originated from China.Recently,early childhood musical games have received more attention with increasing researches on various forms of practical activities and theoretical studies.However,blindly pursuing new things without clear understanding about sustainable development perspective will be ineffective for developing musical games in kindergartens.Therefore it is urgent to clarify the development trend towards homologization between music and games.In addition,in many years’ teaching experience,Zhang Xuemen constantly localized Montessori,Froebel,and Dewey’s educational ideas to adapt to China’s national conditions.Her educational ideas have been inherited and still show sufficient vitality and adaptability,which has practical guiding significance for the development of contemporary early childhood musical games in primary schools.