A Bit of Music

Today we listened to two songs. One of the songs was A Place in This World by Taylor Swift.

The other song was Yesterday by the Beatles.

It was awesome because we listened to each song three or four times. By the third and fourth time groups of students were singing along. Why did we listen to these songs? It was simple we wanted the students to think about the most important line.

The first time we listened to the song students just listened to enjoy and try to figure out what the song was saying. It was amazing how the students were able to figure out the messages of both of these songs. Then we asked the students to listen and write down the five most important lines. Students quickly wrote, pencils flying across the page, trying to keep up with the lyrics. We shared what groups thought were the most important lines. Then we listened one more time and had students try to decide which of their five lines was the most important.

After all this work the students wrote why they picked their line as the most important. Some of the thinking that the students shared was quite complex. These thinking strategies that we are learning in class are not just for reading. We are constantly trying to let the students know that they can use these thinking strategies everywhere: in science class, in math class, on the football field, when they are watching movies, or when they are listening to music.

You can try to help to reinforce these strategies by practicing them all over. What was the most important part of that television show that we just watched? What was the most important part of what coach said tonight at practice? 

The more that students use these strategies the better they will get as using them and the easier it will be when we ask them to use them when they are writing.

I must say this has been one of the most pleasant blog writing nights. I have gone through Yesterday, Hey Jude, Let it Be, and now While My Guitar Gently Weeps. 

Hope you are having a great night and if you want let me know your favorite Beatles song in the comments section.