Our class just finished writing an essay about their favorite songs. What struck me as most interesting about these essays was the fact that many of my students are able to look beyond the literal meaning and rhythmic dance beats of the songs they like and were actually able to delve into the deeper meaning of songs and how they affect them.
Music plays a central part in almost everyone's life, and we depend on it to cheer us up when we're feeling down, give meaning to our lives when all seems hopeless, occupy our minds when doing some unpleasant task, (like writing essays?) or simply just to feel the sheer joy of listening to a song that means something to us.
I know that whenever a particular song is played on the radio, it brings me back to the memory that I've associated with that song. For example, I remember the day that Elvis Presley died. I was working with my father on a construction job when the song "In the Ghetto" started playing. After it was finished, the DJ came on and announced that Elvis had died. Whenever I hear that song now, it brings me right back to that hot summer day, and how sad the faces were on so many people that day.
I've posted a list of my favorite songs on this blog. That list changes from day to day, as music flows in and out of my life. The only constant will be my number one all time favorite song, "Thunder Road" by Bruce Springsteen. I first heard this song as I was heading off to college. It was 1982, and as the now-familiar harmonica started playing, I knew right then I would love that song forever. This song of hope and independence has stayed with me for the past 28 years, and I've always felt a kinship with the words that Mr. Springsteen offers us all at the end of the song. It's exactly how I felt that day as I left Deposit, heading off for my future...
"This is a town full of losers, and I'm pulling out of here to win...."
Friday, February 19, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
What is Family?
We've just started reading The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton. This is a story about gangs, friends, and family. It got me to thinking, just what is a family? Of course, there's always the family in the traditional sense, a mom, a dad, brothers and sisters, and maybe even a pet, but family can be more than just who we're related to. Family is part relationship, part ideal.
Here's what I mean; In my life, I have my wife, brothers and sisters and parents, and all my other relatives, and they're my family. But I also have my school family, those people I work with every day, principals, teachers, and students. Of course, I have a different relationship with all of them than I do with my relatives, but they're family just the same. I depend on them for support, I help them when they need me, and we laugh and cry together.
Family can come from other areas too. Say you play an online game, the people you hang out with there are your family as well, or a club you belong to, or a team you play on. These can all be considered family. I guess what it all boils down to is this, you can have family in many parts of your life, whether it be emotional, in activities, or even in the workplace.
Family is just that, family. It's people you depend on, and can depend on you whenever you or they need it. I think cultivating these type of relationships is very rewarding, and I'm going to work hard to keep all my families strong!
Here's what I mean; In my life, I have my wife, brothers and sisters and parents, and all my other relatives, and they're my family. But I also have my school family, those people I work with every day, principals, teachers, and students. Of course, I have a different relationship with all of them than I do with my relatives, but they're family just the same. I depend on them for support, I help them when they need me, and we laugh and cry together.
Family can come from other areas too. Say you play an online game, the people you hang out with there are your family as well, or a club you belong to, or a team you play on. These can all be considered family. I guess what it all boils down to is this, you can have family in many parts of your life, whether it be emotional, in activities, or even in the workplace.
Family is just that, family. It's people you depend on, and can depend on you whenever you or they need it. I think cultivating these type of relationships is very rewarding, and I'm going to work hard to keep all my families strong!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
What good is Grammar?
My students and I just finished working on an essay about the pros and cons of texting and internet lingo. The next unit of learning for these students is proper punctuation. This led me to thinking, if everyone (or nearly everyone) texts and uses internet lingo, what's the point of teaching proper grammar and punctuation? I mean seriously, if I can tell someone I'll "brb" instead of be right back, why not use the abbreviated text and save myself some time? Who really cares if I put a comma after each item in a series, or that I end my sentences with periods, as long as I get my meaning across, right?
Consider this:
"On June 6, 1944 soldiers stormed the beach at Normandy."
While this sentence may seem correct, it really isn't, because in reality, 150,000 soldiers stormed the beach that day. A simple misplaced comma can upset the entire meaning of what we are trying to say. Another great example of this is this funny little story:
A panda walks into a bar. He orders a sandwich, eats it, then draws a gun and fires two shots in the air.
"Why? Why are you behaving in this strange, un-panda-like fashion?" asks the confused waiter, as the panda walks towards the exit. The panda produces a badly punctuated wildlife manual and tosses it over his shoulder.
I'm a panda," he says, at the door. "Look it up."
The waiter turns to the relevant entry and, sure enough, finds an explanation.
"Panda. Large black-and-white bear-like mammal, native to China. Eats, shoots and leaves."
The English language is all about communication and making sure that others understand what we mean. We all need proper grammar and punctuation in our lives to ensure that everyone understands what we really mean when we write.
Consider this:
"On June 6, 1944 soldiers stormed the beach at Normandy."
While this sentence may seem correct, it really isn't, because in reality, 150,000 soldiers stormed the beach that day. A simple misplaced comma can upset the entire meaning of what we are trying to say. Another great example of this is this funny little story:
A panda walks into a bar. He orders a sandwich, eats it, then draws a gun and fires two shots in the air.
"Why? Why are you behaving in this strange, un-panda-like fashion?" asks the confused waiter, as the panda walks towards the exit. The panda produces a badly punctuated wildlife manual and tosses it over his shoulder.
I'm a panda," he says, at the door. "Look it up."
The waiter turns to the relevant entry and, sure enough, finds an explanation.
"Panda. Large black-and-white bear-like mammal, native to China. Eats, shoots and leaves."
The English language is all about communication and making sure that others understand what we mean. We all need proper grammar and punctuation in our lives to ensure that everyone understands what we really mean when we write.
Monday, February 1, 2010
A Beginning
You always need to start somewhere, and thus, here we are at my first post. Welcome to my world. I hope this page will serve as a forum for me, my students, and others to discuss books, writing, and other topics of interest to those who study the English language.
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