Hey Everybody!!!

Hey everybody from Bocas Del Toro, Panama. It's been a very good trip so far. Weve been in Costa for the past week and just came here to Panama. I must say that it's hard to do my homework when It's their summer here and all the kids are out of school. I'll show you pictures when I get back and might have a couple stories to tell. We've seen monkeys and tropical fish and sloths and birds and more. But to sum it up, Ive had the time of my life. Hope to see you all soon, Austin B. :)

Faveorite book

my faveorite book would be Heavy Metal, because it tells u everything about all the old bands and some of the new bands. so that is why that is my faveorite book

Dylan A

Favorite Book

This week in honor of our RIF read in day on Wednesday I would like you to recommend a book to your classmates. Briefly tell about the book without giving away the ending. Then tell why you think eighth graders would particularly like this book. For some good examples of how to this check out readingrants.org. They are my favorite site for good recommendations for tenn literature. There are lots of lists by different genre or interest.

Mrs. M

I think teaching through music has good and bad points. The good things: It might keep you from talking to other people if the music is on loud enough. And it could keep you motivated to keep working. The bad things: It might get you unfocused, and listening to the song more than working. I think overall, It's a good idea to let kids listen to music in school. Just as long as it's not on while the teacher is talking. ; )



-Brandon Messinger

music cirricula

i think this is a good idea to teach chilren through music, i couldent live without music its what i have to have every day. i chose the song 94 hours by as i lay dying because it helps me get my work done.

Dylan a

Music As Curriculum

So do you think that music is a good medium to teach with? I do! I think music can touch ideas and thoughts differently than words or dry textbook writing. Music shows us the emotion of events or facts and can deepen our understanding of them. I think this is an exciting idea and am glad musicians are putting their energy into this. Their popularity will get people's attention too like this article.

As well as responding to the article, please pick a song that you think would be good to use to teach a subject. Say what subject you think the song goes with and what grade level it would be appropriate with and why.


I like the song " there were no mirrors in my Nana's house" by Sweet Honey in the Rock. It is about how black children learned to have pride during times of prejudice before the civil rights movement. I also like the ballad "Country Clare" which is a folk song sung by Nancy Griffiths which is about when the Irish came to America after the potato famine. It talks about the opportunity and the prejudice that they experienced. I think both songs could be used to teach American History to middle and high school students.

Mrs. M

Top Musicians Are Composing Own Curricula

You Will Be My Ain' True Love
By Alison Krauss
from Cold Mountain


You'll walk unscathed through musket fire,
No ploughman's blade will cut thee down,
No cutlass pull will mark thy face,
And you will be my ain true love,
And you will be my ain true love

And as you walk through death's dark vale,
The cannon's thunder can't prevail,
And those who hunt thee down will fail,
And you will be my ain true love,
And you will be my ain true love.

Asleep inside the cannon's mouth,
The captain cries, "Here comes the rout,"
They'll seek to find me north and south,
I've gone to find my ain true love.

The field is cut and bleeds too red,
The cannon balls fly round my head,
The infirmary man may count me dead,
When I've gone to find my ain true love,
I've gone to find my ain true love.

I chose this