Part of any reading class will teach students how to find
the theme of a story. Theme is one of
those ongoing learning targets in the reading classroom. I had the opportunity to visit 5th
graders in Mrs. Stratton’s reading class and they were learning about theme—in
a nontraditional way. Of course,
students knew that the theme meant taking the lesson or moral to the story and
applying it to the world around us.
Theme was also explained as the author’s message. Mrs. Stratton led a powerful conversation
that allowed students to make connections with books they had read-in class and
outside class. Of course, they were able
to express the theme of each book shared.
However, when the discussion moved to discussing the theme of a piece of
music, students weren’t quite sure how theme related to music. Mrs. Stratton explained to the class how she
wasn’t born in Texas and didn’t quite understand country western music until
she moved here. She shared with the
students her realization after listening to quite a bit of country music that
every song had a theme. Of course, the
children did not openly disagree with her, but their faces said what they
REALLY thought about her story.
Without trying to convince the children of her theory, Mrs. Stratton challenged her students to
listen to a Rascal Flatts song called Sarabeth.
Wow! What I witnessed was
absolutely amazing! Children listening
to music from a YouTube video, singing the chorus, swaying side to side and
getting teary with the storyline. They
were so eager to share their thoughts about the author’s purpose. I challenge you to listen to what the
children heard and see if you can find the author’s purpose (theme). WARNING:
have a tissue close by.
After class, I have haven’t been able to listen to songs on
the radio without finding the theme of each of them. I challenge you to listen to music and focus
on the theme. It will change your life;
it left a lasting impact on me as well as the children.
I hope this blog helps you realize that our children are
being exposed to things that are going to impact them not only in school, but
in life outside of school too. Fun,
meaningful learning is happening each day at TWE! Thanks for allowing us to share learning with
your children.
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