The kids and I had a busy day back from the long weekend. Our weekly newsletter has gone electronic. You should have received it by text today. Here is a link in case you missed it.
https://www.smore.com/w2kzf
Even though we had a busy day, we did make room for this week’s installment of Keep the Quote. For those that don’t know, I work at the Palace Theater here in town. I love working there because I get to see a ton of movies. I remember shortly after the start of 2018 that the theater booked a showing of “The Greatest Showman.” My initial thought was great, another “musical.” After working the first couple nights and hearing the music while I cleaned up the popcorn popper, I thought, “This might not be a bad movie to see.” The next showing I was ready to watch this movie. Man, was I surprised! It was a great movie with wonderful music. The film tells the story of PT Barnum and his circus.
After watching the movie and leaving the theater I immediately thought, this movie has so many life lessons in it. One of the songs stood out to me. I made my mind up then that one day I would explore it with my students. I am a fan of using music for reading comprehension. I love to break the lyrics down and discuss meaning with my students.
"This Is Me" is a fight song for people who are not accepted by society. It is performed by Lettie Lutz, the bearded lady, after she and the rest of the circus troupe are barred by Barnum from a party with special guests. The bearded lady refused to be cut down by the fact that Barnum was embarrassed by them. She and the rest of the troupe sings a song.
This week’s quote comes from the Song “This is Me”
I am brave. I am bruised. I am who I’m meant to be. This is Me!
I loved this quote because it piggybacks off last week’s quote. We talked a lot about leaving things that were bringing us down into the shadows. After researching the song, the writers said, “These people had lived in the shadows their whole lives and for the first time wanted to feel love and acceptance, and even when P.T. Barnum turned his back on them, they made a statement - not only to him, but to themselves - that they declare to love themselves for the first time."
I know this is deep thinking, but students only think as deep as you make them. We spent the next 25 minutes or so breaking the lyrics down. We focused on this particular stanza:
“When the sharpest words wanna cut me down
I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out
I am brave, I am bruised
I am who I'm meant to be, this is me”
We discussed the meaning of sharp words and what it meant to send in a flood. Then the favorite part of my day--the actual quote. Here are some examples of conversation from my students:
“Kids at recess say mean things. The song tells us that those things bruise us but to be brave.”
“I think the writer used bruised because bruises, well, they hurt, but eventually they leave. We do the same things when our feelings are hurt.”
“That lady with the beard had a hard life. I bet she was made fun of. But she seems happy with herself”
Pretty good responses, huh? As a teacher, I was really getting into the fact that kids were paying attention and contributing. Then I asked one last question. I asked, “What is one thing you’ve learned from this week’s quote.” One hand went up immediately. Her response: “Don’t apologize to anyone for who you are, unless you are bad, then you need to apologize to your mom, dad, your teacher, and God”
Boom! There it is! Exactly what I wanted my students to understand. During the time we spend together in the classroom we become family. We all come from different walks of life. We all learn differently, look differently, and process differently. I have students above grade level, on level, and below grade level. I have students who have physical disabilities and academic disabilities. The one thing I want most for my students is to always remember to not apologize for who they are. Is there room for improvement? Of Course. I want them to take what was handed to them in life and make it a positive and bloom!
We have so much more to discuss this week with this quote. By Friday, each student will journal their representations of this quote. I can’t wait! I let the kids know that even at 35, sometimes I need a reminder to be happy with “ME”. Enjoy the song by clicking the video below.
Until next week,
Mr. B
https://www.smore.com/w2kzf
Even though we had a busy day, we did make room for this week’s installment of Keep the Quote. For those that don’t know, I work at the Palace Theater here in town. I love working there because I get to see a ton of movies. I remember shortly after the start of 2018 that the theater booked a showing of “The Greatest Showman.” My initial thought was great, another “musical.” After working the first couple nights and hearing the music while I cleaned up the popcorn popper, I thought, “This might not be a bad movie to see.” The next showing I was ready to watch this movie. Man, was I surprised! It was a great movie with wonderful music. The film tells the story of PT Barnum and his circus.
After watching the movie and leaving the theater I immediately thought, this movie has so many life lessons in it. One of the songs stood out to me. I made my mind up then that one day I would explore it with my students. I am a fan of using music for reading comprehension. I love to break the lyrics down and discuss meaning with my students.
"This Is Me" is a fight song for people who are not accepted by society. It is performed by Lettie Lutz, the bearded lady, after she and the rest of the circus troupe are barred by Barnum from a party with special guests. The bearded lady refused to be cut down by the fact that Barnum was embarrassed by them. She and the rest of the troupe sings a song.
This week’s quote comes from the Song “This is Me”
I am brave. I am bruised. I am who I’m meant to be. This is Me!
I loved this quote because it piggybacks off last week’s quote. We talked a lot about leaving things that were bringing us down into the shadows. After researching the song, the writers said, “These people had lived in the shadows their whole lives and for the first time wanted to feel love and acceptance, and even when P.T. Barnum turned his back on them, they made a statement - not only to him, but to themselves - that they declare to love themselves for the first time."
I know this is deep thinking, but students only think as deep as you make them. We spent the next 25 minutes or so breaking the lyrics down. We focused on this particular stanza:
“When the sharpest words wanna cut me down
I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out
I am brave, I am bruised
I am who I'm meant to be, this is me”
We discussed the meaning of sharp words and what it meant to send in a flood. Then the favorite part of my day--the actual quote. Here are some examples of conversation from my students:
“Kids at recess say mean things. The song tells us that those things bruise us but to be brave.”
“I think the writer used bruised because bruises, well, they hurt, but eventually they leave. We do the same things when our feelings are hurt.”
“That lady with the beard had a hard life. I bet she was made fun of. But she seems happy with herself”
Pretty good responses, huh? As a teacher, I was really getting into the fact that kids were paying attention and contributing. Then I asked one last question. I asked, “What is one thing you’ve learned from this week’s quote.” One hand went up immediately. Her response: “Don’t apologize to anyone for who you are, unless you are bad, then you need to apologize to your mom, dad, your teacher, and God”
Boom! There it is! Exactly what I wanted my students to understand. During the time we spend together in the classroom we become family. We all come from different walks of life. We all learn differently, look differently, and process differently. I have students above grade level, on level, and below grade level. I have students who have physical disabilities and academic disabilities. The one thing I want most for my students is to always remember to not apologize for who they are. Is there room for improvement? Of Course. I want them to take what was handed to them in life and make it a positive and bloom!
We have so much more to discuss this week with this quote. By Friday, each student will journal their representations of this quote. I can’t wait! I let the kids know that even at 35, sometimes I need a reminder to be happy with “ME”. Enjoy the song by clicking the video below.
Until next week,
Mr. B
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