Let it Rock!

(A strategy that worked well...)

It's 3:26 in the morning, I am wide awake nursing a cough drop and contemplating the events of the day. Why a cough drop you ask? I am hoarse from the amount of discussion we had today. I haven't talked and been asked so many questions in my life...

Figured no good English class couldn't start without a little music...the beginning of class started with Let it Rock blaring out of the speakers and blasting into the eardrums of my students. Students laughed or danced in their seats or stared dumbly at me, "Music? In English class?" they seemed to ask as the music video danced crazily across the screen. I just smiled and bent about the task of taking role. Half way through the video I tapped the pause button and walked slowly to flip on the lights.

Crickets serenaded my stroll.

"Why would we do that in English class?" I asked the silent room. They couldn't answer. I saw them struggle in their minds with what it could possibly be; some made futile attempts, "Because it is your favorite song?" or "Maybe we have to do a project?"

"How did it make you feel?" I asked.

Now wait a minute? Now we have to talk about our feelings? The looks on their faces were priceless. They were so confused about what was going on in English class I almost laughed out loud.

"Like I wanted to dance or sing," a girl spoke up.

"Why?"

"It's just a good song."

"Nothing is just good. Why did you want to dance or sing?"

"It just kinda hit the spot. It has a good beat," a boy chirped.

"It just kinda hit the spot," I repeated. "Hmmm...what spot?"

"The spot inside that makes you into something," he said. Maybe a little shakily worded, but exactly what I was going for.

"So if we had to name that spot, could we name it something cheesy like...The Motivation Spot or something like that? You know, the place where it would get you out of bed if it was hit the right way?"

"Yeah. Sounds right."

"Excellent! Let us see how motivated you are. We will begin Round Two of our hot pens...take out your papers."

Yeah, I know. Cheesy way to start. But it worked.

From the hot pen on subjects like, Knowledge, Power, Godzilla, Kangaroos, Pom Poms, we dove head long into the subject of dropping out of school and how we agreed or disagreed with my own personal motto: "Knowledge is Power. Power is dangerous."

Suddenly I was wading hip deep in topics about sex, abuse, drugs, goals, how to read a statistics report, what-if scenarios and personal testimonies across the board. I injected the concept of motivation moving you in your life at every turn and what you can do to influence your motivation. How you have to make choices for yourself and if no one cares about your life, you have to care.

I ended the period with another round of hot pen. "Based on our conversation in class, let us revisit these concepts, Knowledge and Power."

After reviewing their answers later in the day I saw a much deeper understanding and expressing of themselves in the hot pen. They had begun to form full sentences and had their own opinions instead of just random words that came to their mind.

It was a long day. Full of Power Point slides, statistical reports on drop out rates, and the steady exploration of what knowledge can do for an indivdual.

Mr. Grafitti even spoke up out of his own free accord today. So did Mr. Sleeps-all-Class. And Mr. I-Only-Have-Off-Topic-Things-to-Say, well he finally got on topic. And Miss I-Always-Have-the-Right-Answer had to think a little harder today.

And me, Ms. Neal, I had to defend what I was saying and prove to them that I am not afraid of talking about the hard stuff. And they shouldn't be either.

I think this worked well because the students were interested right from the beginning. I had their attention and ran with it. While it was a little challenging getting some of them to speak up at first, they really pulled through in the end. It was a great discussion! I honestly think that if we can get their attention and really have the subject apply to them, then we have a hope of reaching them.