whip it good

When a problem comes along....

Very familiar lyrics to one of the great songs of my youth.

Probably, not all would agree. But when I am fortunate enough to be in a car and it comes on the radio, I blast it. My kids give each other an eye-roll, but after a minute or two, start moving and grooving to the beat. I always consider this a psych song. A song that revs you up for something. The band Devo sure did wear funny hats but they got their message across..."just whip it, whip it good." Oh, by the way the song makes no sense.

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Here are the lyrics:



Crack that whip

Give the past a slip

Step on a crack

Break your momma's back



When a problem comes along

You must whip it

Before the cream sets out too long

You must whip it

When something's goin' wrong

You must whip it



Chorus:

Now whip it

into shape

shape it up

get straight

go forward

move ahead

try to detect it

it's not too late

to whip it

whip it good.



When a good time turns around

You must whip it

You will never live it down

Unless you whip it

No one gets away

Until they whip it



I say whip it

Whip it good

I say whip it

Whip it good.



Repeat from beginning.

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Grammar Point:

The entire song can be seen as an exclamatory statement. What are exclamations?

List ten words, or statements.

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Definitions:

Familiar: commonly known

Youth: younger years

Blast: to turn up loud (to explode)

Psych(ed): to get pumped up, or excited about something

Message: to communicate information

Sense: an understanding

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Fill in the following sentences, using the words above:



1. Are you ________ with the band Devo?

2. Does the homework make ______ to you?

3. What is your favorite book from your _________?

4. I love the song _________ in a Bottle by the Police.

5. We heard it yesterday on the radio and I had to _______ it.

6. I am always _______ to hear a great tune.











1.

by heart

I've been thinking about songs that I know by heart. There aren't many. Of course there is the traditional Happy Birthday, but beyond that all I can do is mumble and hum many snippets of songs. Throughout this entire blog I have been inspired by songs, or situations that reminded me of songs. I have found the song somewhere online, and written them out verbatim. But today I am going to wing it. Yes, I am taking the bull by the horns and am going to write a song out from memory. I do recall that when desperate and I needed a lullaby this was one of my go to songs.

It is called Jingle Bells.

Jingle bells

Jingle bells

Jingle all the way

Oh what fun

it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh.

Dashing through the snow

on a one horse open sleigh

dashing over hills

laughing all the way.

Bells on bobtails sing

making spirits bright

la la la la la la la

la la all the night.

Well I got close. And after rereading it, I'm not sure about the bells on bobtail section. I don't think that makes sense. Any thoughts?

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Grammar Point:

What is onomatopoeia? Is there an example in the above song? Write down ten other examples, and use them in a story.

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Definitions:

Know by heart: an expression used to show that you know every aspect of something

Snippet: a small piece

Verbatim: when something is repeated word for word

Wing it: when you try without practice

Bull by the horns: to take control of a situation

One horse open sleigh: a large sled, usually big enough for two people that is pulled by a horse over snow and ice.

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FILL IN THE SENTENCES USING THE ABOVE DEFINITIONS.

1. She told me a _____________ of the story. I can't wait to hear the rest.

2. We went to an ice festival last winter and took a ride in a _____ ____ ____ ____ .

3. I love that song! I ____ ____ ___ ____ .

4. I am sure I can sing it _______ .

5. She wasn't sure how to do her homework. I told her to ____ _____ .

6. She took the ___ __ ____ ______ , and emailed the teacher with questions.

I'm stuck

I'm stumped! I'm having such a hard time thinking about a new song and lyrics. Do you ever get stuck thinking about something to think about? This sometimes happens to writers, they get writer's block. They can't think of anything to write about, their characters and plot remain suspended until new ideas come to them. I was telling a friend that I couldn't come up with a new song, and she suggested one. So I mulled it over, and I am feeling groovy with it!

The song is from Paul Simon and is called The Fifty Ninth Street Bridge Song (Feeling Groovy).

Slow down you movin' to fast

You gotta make the morning last

Just kickin down the cobblestones

Lookin for fun

And feelin groovy.

Hello lampost

Whatcha knowing?

Come to watch your flowers growin.

Aincha got some rhymes for me?

Doo Bee Doo Doo

Feeling groovy.

Got no deeds to do

No promises to keep

I'm dappled and drowsy and ready to sleep.

Let the morning time drop all its pedals on me...

Life I love you

All is groovy.

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Grammar Point...

What is a synonym? Can you find any examples within this post? Write ten examples of synonyms (twenty words in all).

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Definitions:

Stumped: not to be able to think of something

Get Stuck: when a task becomes difficult, and you need to stop and think it over.

Writer's Block: a common problem for writers when they can't think of something to write.

Suspended: to hang in the air

Mulled: to think over

Groovy: when you are feeling happy, or something is good ( an expression from the 1960's, but still used today.)

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Answer the questions based on the definitions:

1. She _____________ over the test.

2. I wonder if Hemingway ever got ________________ ______________ .

3. I ________ ________ on question number three .

4. Her words remained ______________ in the air.

5. We ______________ the teacher with our question.

6. I got 100. Isn't that ____________ ?

The boys of summer are back. I love baseball. When I was younger I used to go to Shea Stadium and watch, and occasionally meet the players. One day my friend and I were riding the elevator and Daryl Strawberry stepped in with us. Believe me it was very exciting to chat with him. Imagine if Derrick Jeter rode a few floors with you! I don't get to as many professional games anymore, but I do get to the ball fields. I am lucky enough to have three budding fans to watch, and they are all in my family. I love little league!





There is a great song by John Fogarty that I love to listen to, and it is always played on the radio as opening day arrives. It is called Centerfield.

Well, beat the drum and hold the phone-the sun came out today!

We're born again, there's new grass on the field.

A'roundin' third and headed for home, it's a brown-eyed handsome man.

Anyone can understand the way I feel.


Chorus:

Oh, put me in coach- I'm ready to play today;
Put me in coach- I'm ready to play today;
Look at me I can be Centerfield.


Well I spent some time in the Mudville Nine, watchin it from the bench;

You know I took some lumps when Mighty Casey struck out.

So Say Hey Willie, tell Ty Cobb and Joe DiMaggio;

Don't say "it ain't so", you know the time is now

Repeat Chorus

Yeah! I got it, I got it!

Got a beat-up glove, a homemade bat, and a brand -new pair of shoes;

You know I think it's time I give this game a ride.

Just hit the ball, and touch them all- a moment in the sun;

(pop) It's gone and you can tell that one goodbye!

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Grammar Point
Choose your favorite sport. Use 10 adverbs to descibe the action in the sport.

Think of 10 nouns that can be used within the sport.

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Definitions:

Elevator: machine that goes up and down between floors of a buliding

Little League: baseball teams for young children

Opening day: the first day of the new baseball season

Coach: the "teacher" of a team. plyers have to listen to their coach to play their best

Mudville-Nine: a minor league team. Players who are very good, just not professional yet

Say Hey Wiilie: a nick name for Wiilie Mays, a great player

Ty Cobb and Joe DiMaggio: other great baseball players

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Fill in the blanks with the above definitions.

1.The _______ ________ players must listen to their ____________ for advice.

2. Players and fans hope for sunshine on _________ _________ .

3. Children dream of playing as well as _______ _________ , _________ ________, and

__________ _________ one day.

4. I wonder if kids dream of playing for the Yankees, Mets or the ________ _________ .

5. The _____________ is a great place to meet baseball players!

long beautiful...hair

Hair.....hmmmm

Odd topic perhaps, but a topic that all can discuss.


It comes in colors, lengths, styles, textures, softness, sheen, or one can simply be bald.


My husband has a saying, "Better grey than neigh."


My husband had gorgeous thick hair that is greying around his temples, but has kept his color from behind. Unfortunately when he sees a picture of himself he only sees the grey in the front!


My son also has thick silky hair that grows soooo fast. It actually does grow like a weed.


One of my daughters had her head shaved as a baby, and her hair took ages to grow in. She needs to keep it a certain length for it to look her best. I love when she blows it out. She always looks great. And then there is the blonde. We really don't know where it came from, but the youngest of the bunch has long curly blond hair. People used to ask me if she was mine!

There is a play on Broadway that is a revival, and believe it or not it has the same name as our topic: HAIR.



She asks me why...I'm just a hairy guy

I'm hairy noon and night; Hair that's a fright.

I'm hairy high and low,

Don't ask me why; don't know!

It's not for lack of bread

Like the Grateful Dead; darling



Gimme a head with hair, long beautiful hair

Shining, gleaming, steaming, flaxen, waxen

Give me down to there, hair!

Shoulder length, longer (hair!0

Here baby, there mama, everywhere daddy daddy



Chorus:

Hair!(hair, hair, hair, hair,hair,hair)

Flow it, Show it;
Long as God can grow it, My hair!



Let it fly in the breeze and get caught in the trees

Give a home to the fleas, a hive for bees

A nest for birds, there ain't no words

For the beauty, the splendor, the wonder of my



CHORUS



I want it long, straight, curly, fuzzy

Snaggy, shaggy , ratty, matty

Oily, greasy, fleecy, shining

Gleaming, streaming, flaxen, waxen

Knotted, polka-dotted; Twisted, beaded, braided

Powdered, flowered, and confettied

Bangled, tangled, spangled and spaghetied!



O-oh, Say can you see; my eyes if you can,

Then my hair's too short!

Down to here, down to there,

Down to where, down to there;

It stops by itself!

doo doo doo doo doot-doot doo doo doot



They'll be ga-ga at the go-go

when they see me in my toga

My toga made of blond , brillianted, Biblical hair

My hair like Jesus wore it

Hallelujah I adore it

Hallelujah Mary loved her son

Why don't my Mother loves me?



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GRAMMAR POINT:
What is a homophone? Can you spot an example in the sentences above? Give ten more examples.





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DEFINITIONS:

Odd: strange

Sheen: a brilliant shine

Neigh: to not have

Temples: area beyond your eyes, but above your cheeks

Weed: and unwanted growth in a garden

Blows it out: to use a blow dryer for hair

Blonde: a person who has yellow hair

Blond: yellow hair

Revival: something that has come back, like a play, or a fashion

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Fill in the blanks with the above words.

My town puts on a play every year. This year it was decided that a_______________ was a great idea, I found it _______ that they wanted a _____________ to play the part of an old man. I always pictured an older person to have grey hair around their _____________.
They couldn't find a blonde to fit the part so they ordered a _________ wig. The actor playing the part had a beautiful _____________ to his hair. It was a shame to cover it up. I bet he takes hours to _____ ___ _______ every day. When I asked him about it he said, "________, I never let the heat touch my hair." To stuffy for me! But I am off for a haircut. My brown hair grows like a_________!!

Where is the sun????

I am so sick and tired of all the precipitation. When will it end? I am reminded of an old joke, it goes something like this.

Nora: Wow, it is raining cats and dogs.

Emma: I know I just stepped into a poodle.

All kidding aside, I have empathy and sympathy for the many people who have flooded homes. I have to be careful not to do laundry, and to remind my family to take quick showers, but I thankfully have none of the real worries of so many that have water rushing into their homes.

An upbeat song may be from The Beatles, Here Comes the Sun...some times positive thinking is all we can do!

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun,

and I say its alright

Little darling, it's been a long cold winter

Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here

Here comes the sun and I say it's all right

Little darling, the smiles returning to faces
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun

and I say it's all right

Sun, sun, sun here it comes...

Sun, sun, sun here it comes...

Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...

Sun, sun sun, here it comes...

Sun, sun, sun here it comes...

Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting

Little darling, it feels like years since its been clear

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun,

and I say it's all right

It's all right.

Definitions:

SICK AND TIRED: to be finished with, to not want any more

PRECIPITATION: water that falls from sky usually in the form of rain or snow, sometime hail.

REMINDED: to have a memory of an event or situation.

JOKE: a funny story, usually made up.

TO BE RAINING CATS AND DOGS: to be raining alot!!!

EMPATHY: to have strong feelings about something, because you have had a similar situation.

SYMPATHY: to have strong emotional feelings, usually about something sad.

FLOODED: to have something rushing in, in this case rain water.

WORRIES: serious concerns.

POSITIVE THINKING: good thoughts to help a situation.

FILL IN THE BLANKS:

Can you use the power of ______ _______ to help erase your _______? People may think it is a ______, but they can be __________ of stories where good thoughts really helped people during a bad situation. When it rains ________ and ________, some people don't need to be _______ to protect their homes. These people have been _________ before. They have ________ and ___________ for their friends and neighbors who may be dealing with flooded basements, and power outages. Positive thinking alone won't help your basement, hard work and prevention may help. But sometimes when enough people are ________ and tired_________ of the ________ they ban together to help each other out. That can be the power of positive thinking.

Grammar Point:

Think of 10 adjectives to describe the rain, and 10 adjectives to describe the sun.

Mr Roger's

Lately I've been thinking about television shows, and how influential they are on children. My children don't watch too many programs, and the ones they love we usually watch as a family. Some of the cartoons are a bit over the top for me, and I was remembering some of the programming from my childhood. Granted the program that I chose isn't a middle school show, but it did influence my television viewing as I grew up. I have always loved shows about neighborhoods, and how people within a community influence one another. Perhaps this show had an impact on my lifelong television pleasure. The show is called Mister Roger's Neighborhood. The theme song follows: (to listen and watch click on the bottom of my blog)

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood,

A beautiful day for a neighbor.

Would you be mine?

Could you be mine?...

It's a neighborly day in this beauty wood,

A neighborly day for a beauty.

Would you be mine?

Could you be mine?...

I've always wanted to have a neighbor just like you.

I've always wanted to live in a neighborhood with you.

So lets make the most of this beautiful day.

Since were together we might as well say:

Would you be mine?

Could you be mine?

Won't you be my neighbor?

Won't you please?

Won't you please?

Please won't you be my neighbor?

Won't you be my neighbor

By Fred M. Rogers


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What programs do you watch? Did you have a favorite show as a child?

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Grammar point:

Write out the theme song from a favorite program. Highlight all plural nouns in green, all adverbs in blue, and all adjective in yellow. Make a collection of all the rhyming words, if any.

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WOOD: lumber

WOULD: verb form of will

CHILDHOOD: the period in life when one is a child

NEIGHBORHOOD: the area or vicinity around a place

COMMUNITY: a social group of any size whose members live in a specific area

INFLUENCE: the capacity to have force on a person

PLEASURE: enjoyment or satisfaction

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What is the difference between a neighborhood, and a community? Where would you rather live, and why?

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Fill in the blanks.

Mary moved the other out of her ___________________ home. All of the memories of growing up there have flooded her mind. She remembers with ________________ taking long bike rides with friends, going to the movies on a Saturday night, and the ______________ a warm summer breeze could have on a stroll to the park. _________________ she miss her __________________. You bet! Now she is off to a new ___________, and her own apartment. She will have to paint the ______________ of her doorway, and walls. but she is looking forward to the challenge, and making new memories.

Billy Joel wrote the song Souvenir for his Streetlife Serenade album. Listen to the song by clicking Billy Joel at the bottom of blog.

A picture postcard

a folded stub

a program from a play

file away a photograph from your holiday.

And your mementos will turn to dust

but that's the price you pay

for every year's a souvenir

that slowly fades away.

Every year's a souvenir

that slowly fades away.

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What do you think Billy Joel means by "every year's a souvenir, that slowly fades away."?

What year is your favorite souvenir, and why?

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Above are some photographs from my vacations.

What details can you tell me about the picture?

Write a story based upon the four pictures above. Highlight all descriptive words in blue.

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SERENADE: (noun) a complimentary performance of instruments or vocals, especially an outside performance.

POSTCARD: (noun) a small commercially printed card, generally used to send by mail.

STUB: (noun) the returned portion of a ticket

PROGRAM: (noun) a listing of performers or pieces in a performance.

PHOTOGRAPH: (noun) a picture usually produced by a camera.

MEMENTOS: (noun) item or items usually kept to remind someone of a particular event or person.

SOUVENIR :(noun) generally a small inexpensive item purchased to remember a certain place.

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Fill in the blanks with the above words:

I am travelling in a beautiful city. I was walking around the center of town and was ______________ by the musicians as they sang for their lunch money. I find a cafe and can finally sit to write out my _____________ to my family and friends. I can't wait to tell them about the play I saw last night. I reached into my pocket to get my ticket ____________. I want to spell the actors name correctly. The _______ didn't help me, but wait I have the ______________for the performance. All the information I need! I have to remember to pick up _____________ for my friends, maybe I 'll find a snow globe, or magnets. I can't believe that my camera broke, I wanted to have _______________ of this trip. Maybe I'll buy a camera. That could be my _______________of this wonderful vacation!

Holiday

I was skiing with my family over the weekend. As I was riding on the lift, a song from my teen years was blasting over the loud speakers. A very popular musician named Madonna was singing an early number called "Holiday".

The song goes something like this: (to listen and watch,take a look at Madonna's video at the bottom of my blog)

Holiday Celebrate
Holiday Celebrate

If we took a holiday
Took some time to celebrate
Just one day out of life
It would be, it would be so nice

Everybody spread the word
We're gonna have a celebration
All across the world
In every nation
It's time for the good times
Forget about the bad times, oh yeah
One day to come together
To release the pressure
We need a holiday


You can turn this world around
And bring back all of those happy days
Put your troubles down
It's time to celebrate
Let love shine
And we will find
A way to come together
And make things better
We need a holiday.


I started to think about the words in a very different way than I did as a teenager. It was a dancing song back in the day.
I was now thinking about how nice it was to take a break from every day routines, and be with my family. It was a quiet celebration for us as we simply were able to enjoy each other's company. Everyone really does needs a holiday, even if it is just for one day.
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SKIING/ (noun) the act or sport of gliding on skis.

LIFT/ (noun) a conveyance that carries skiers up the side of a slope, consisting typically of a series of chairs suspended from an endless cable driven by motors.

BLASTING/ (noun)a loud, sudden sound or noise.

LOUD SPEAKERS/ (noun) any of various devices, usually electronic, by which speech, music, etc., can be intensified and made audible throughout a room, hall, or the like.

NUMBER/ (noun) a tune or arrangement for singing or dancing.

HOLIDAY/ (noun) a period of cessation from work or one of recreation; vacation.
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Fill in the blanks:

Have you been watching the Olympics on T.V. this week? The men's down hill _________ event was so exciting! I was wondering if the athletes rode the ______________ together, or did they all get their own chair? What a great _____________ this must be for the proud families! I know that most of the athletes have their Ipods programmed with their favorite ____________. I am sure that some of the music is __________ as much as _________ __________!
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Which of the above words have another meaning? What are those meanings?
************************************************************************************
Grammar Point:

What would be your dream vacation? What was your best or worst holiday (day off with your family)? Tell me about them in essay form. Highlight all the nouns in blue. Highlight all the verbs in yellow.
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STEVIE WONDER & PAUL MCCARTNEY - EBONY & IVORY LYRICS

This song was written by Paul McCartney and performed by both he and Stevie Wonder.


"Ebony And Ivory live together in perfect harmony
Side by side on my piano keyboard oh lord why don't we?

We all know that people are the same where ever you go
there is good and bad in everyone
we learn to live we learn to give each other what we need to survive together alive

Ebony and Ivory live together in perfect harmony
side by side on my piano keyboard oh lord why don't we?

Ebony,Ivory living in perfect harmony
Ebony,Ivory oh..

We all know that people are the same where ever you go
there is good and bad in everyone
we learn to live when we learn to give each other what we need to survive
together alive.

Ebony and Ivory live together in perfect harmony
side by side on my piano keyboard oh lord why don't we?
side by side on my piano keyboard oh lord why don't we?"

When this song came out it was very popular. I think mostly because of the artists that were involved.

The words that I want you to think about are:

ARTISTS
EBONY
IVORY
KEYBOARD
HARMONY
SURVIVE

Also who is Paul McCartney, and did he ever work with any other musicians?

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Artist: (noun) painter, sculptor, writer , who uses their talent and imagination to create works of fine art
Ebony: (noun) the color black
Ivory: (noun) a grayish yellow color; piano keys
Keyboard: (noun) a set of keys as on a computer, or piano
Harmony: (noun) agreement in feeling or opinion, or a musical combination of notes in a chord
Survive:(verb) to remain alive
Paul McCartney: musician who wrote most of the songs for The Beatles
www.thebeatles.com
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Fill in the blanks:

My _______________________ became dirty when my chocolate milk was knocked over. The
piano keys turned different colors. The ___________________ keys turned black, and
the ________________ keys became darker. I wonder if the famous _________________
____________________ ever had this problem. Well, hopefully the piano will still
play in __________________, if not I'll ___________________.

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Grammar Point.

Now it is your turn......
Tell me if this song has more than one meaning, and what they are.

Find a song (that you like) about people or things that are in harmony. List 5 nouns from your song.

Thinking....

I have been thinking, and thinking about this blogging assignment. I want to do something that I will actually use in the future with an ESL class, and I want to enjoy the process. My assumption is, if I enjoy it, my students will too. I came upon the idea of using music somehow. I feel that music is a universal element that all cultures have. The music may not come from an Ipod, but may simply be a voice, and hand clapping.

I live with a teenager, and am acutely aware that the music I listened to back in the day greatly varies from today's top hits. I am going to base this blog for the middle school experience. I will now have to rummage in my mind for the music that I listened to in sixth through eighth grade.
I do recall that the songs had a storyline...not merely screaming, or trash talk.

My plan is to write out the lyrics, and highlight phrases, or words that my students may be unfamiliar with. Their assignment would be to choose a song and try to express the gist of the tune in English, and if the student was a bit more proficient transcribe the song from their home language into English.

Now to think of some songs.....