lyricsinclass

Lyrics in Class

I often use GBS and Jim Fidler lyrics in my class during Language Arts time. They don't seem to "get" personifcation or metaphor until I do poetry with them. My usual thing is to introduce the song as a poem first and look for the Literary Devices in it. Then I play the song for them. They usually LOVE the fact that their poem is being sung. And it gives me an opportunity to point out that songwriting is something everyone can do but you need to know the literary devices in order to write good ones.

Here's a thought I wrote after one really successful day in class with Sean McCann's Summer.

I am never one to let a musical opportunity go down the drain. I have had the hardest time teaching my class personification this year - they just didn't "get it." Same with metaphor. The only thing they remember about it is that I make a joke every time we discuss it. (I never met-a-phor I didn't like.)

Well, I was reading the lyrics on the CD liner last night and SUMMER just jumped out at me for several reasons. Last week we all thought Spring was here. It was 14 degrees C (65 F) and the days seemed longer. Well this week arrived with snow! All the kids at school were bummed because they couldn't have recess because of the snow. Plus it is a terrific song for teaching about imagery.

So, armed with a lyrics sheet with SUMMER on one side and Let It Go on the other, I started the Reading portion of my day by having the kids copy the words into their writing books. Then I thought up some questions for them to answer about the imagery in the "poem."

I asked who "she" was, what was the poet's favorite season and how did they know , what literary devices did the poet use to get his point across, and a few other questions. Well did they deliver!!!!!!!

Stephanie announced that " 'she' has to be summer because she never saw the coming fall.Summer ends before fall begins so 'she' wouldn't see fall at all."

George added that "Death and winter could be the same since plants die in winter and come back in the spring."

Asia and Myeesa and the other Stephanie pointed out the many instances of personification. THEY FINALLY GOT IT!!!!!!!!!!!! And Chatera asked, "Isn't this whole poem a metaphor?"

Anthony said that it made sense about opening up our bodies to the sun because in the winter we're all bundled up and scrunched up.

Alexis said, "He uses repetition to make sure we know he is excited about summer coming."

I was floored by their insight. I have been struggling all year to explain these things to them and all it took was one Sean McCann song. Maybe I need to invite him over during Reading class early next year.

I told them how wonderful they were and then went over to the CD player and pressed "Play." The look on their faces when they realized it was the poem they just analyzed was worth seeing. They looked at me and grinned all over and someone made a comment about "that's not Mr. Fidler's voice, so it must be Great Big Sea." By the time we hit the CHORUS the second time around, most of them were singing with Sean. I then fast forwarded to Let It Go because today was a problem with a couple kids because of petty things. They were singing along even quicker with that one and when we got to "learn to love a little" Sybree yelled "Alliteration!!!!"

*sigh* All things fall into place eventually. Maybe we will be able to actually perform well on the State tests in two weeks. I have had my doubts in the past few weeks whether we could pull this off.

Today made me decide something I never thought I would - I have decided to "loop" with this class. I'm into new territory for me next year - Grade 6, but with GBS and Jim Fidler, how can I go wrong?

Postscript: I never did get to "loop" with them, much to my dismay. But they remember the songs and lessons still as they greet me in the hallway. Nice to know I've had an impact.

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