I'm unapologetic about singing theme songs out loud in my classroom. However, it may be a little less embarrassing if I would sing something other than themes from preschool children's programming; but what's a simple guy supposed to do...My grade 5 and 6 students cower in their desks every time I announce my entrance into the classroom by singing Mail Song from Blue's Clues
Here's the mail
It never fails
It makes me wanna wag my tail
When it comes I wanna wail...MAIL!!!
I have only one preschool child left at home. Sammy. His favourite show is George Shrinks. We LOVE singing the theme song to that one. I'm usually the one who starts it, and he is quick to join in. I'm sure that everyone else in the house is completely tired of hearing it, but I JUST CAN'T HELP IT.
Kids these days have a lot to be thankful for in their T.V. programming. Gone are the days when a kid's life was all about obedience and conformity. These days, they can be whatever they want to be. All it takes is "want to" because they already have what it takes.
Kids all around T.V. land chant these words each and every day:
Blue's Clues
Now it's time for so long
But we'll sing just one more song
Thanks for doing your part
You sure are smart!
You know, with me and you
And our friend Blue
We can do anything that we wanna do!
Blue's Clues
You know what to do!
Sit down in our Thinking Chair and think...think...think!
Cause when we use our mind, take a step at a time
We can do anything...that we wanna do!
We Figured It Out
We sat on down
Figured it out
What Blue's Clues are all about
Hey, you know what?
You're really smart!
George Shrinks
Well, the boy is kinda small
But it doesn't show at all
Cuz he's always acting tall
George Shrinks, George Shrinks
He's called
If a problem should be found
He's the boy to have around
Something big or something small
George Shrinks, George Shrinks
He's called
George always seems to find a way
To make his dreams come true each day
Rolie, Polie, Olie
He's short and smart and round
Tractor Tom 
We couldn't do it without you.
We couldn't do it without you.
Arthur 
Everyday when you're walking down the street, everybody that you meet
Has an original point of view...
Get together and make things better
By working together!
It's a simple message and it comes from the heart
Believe in youself (echo: believe in yourself)
Well thats the place to start (to start)
Bob the Builder
Bob the Builder!
Can we fix it?
Bob the Builder!
Yes we can!
Everyday when you're walking down the street, everybody that you meet
Has an original point of view...
Get together and make things better
By working together!
It's a simple message and it comes from the heart
Believe in youself (echo: believe in yourself)
Well thats the place to start (to start)
Bob the Builder
Bob the Builder!
Can we fix it?
Bob the Builder!
Yes we can!
There is only one problem with all of this positive self-speak. Sometimes kids who really have no clue at all about something, think that they really do. If you don't believe me, there's nothing like an evening watching American Idol auditions to set you straight.
Thank goodness for Little Bear though and the programme's keeping up with the times. Cat and Little Bear are a lot nicer than Simon, but could perhaps be a little more honest.
10 comments:
You're good! I know some of this (Blue's Clues, Arthur), but most post-dates my kids ... I think. I wake my kids up every morning with the same stupid good morning song EVERY MORNING I learned on AM radio when I was a kid. My 14 year old has had about enough of it by now...
O.K. Andrea, what's the song. Maybe I'll give you my phone number so you can sing it for me.
good tunes! at least you're keeping up with the lastest tv fads. my dad always sang "good morning, good morning, it's time to rise and shine. good morning, good morning, i hope you're feeling fine!" in the mornings. i can't remember where that song is from.
Valerie,
Isn't that song from the Viagra commercial? :)
Your dad was a happy man, indeed.
Believe it or not, I'm familiar with this impulse! I wasn't a music teacher, but worked with elementary school kids for 23 years and once in a while would shuttle kids around for field trips. Songs like Eddie Hodge's "I'm Gonna Knock On Your Door" or pretty much anything Glenn Campbell ever sang both amused and horrified them...
Well if you want to keep that "healthy balance" you can always expose your kids to that depressing donkey(I think he's Mennonite)in Winnie the Pooh...Igor is it??? Can't remember. but a dose of him will keep you loyal to your "roots"...Lindalew...the "menno"....(found you via Shelley)
Paul,
Glenn Campbell!...Yikes. I'd be afraid too. Like a rinestone cowboy climbing up brokeback mountain, scared. Yeeehaa!
Actually kids are never really afraid or really embarrassed. Just look at their smiles when you sing. They eat this stuff up, even in grade nine.
Lindalew,
Depressing Mennonite donkey, Igor? Ha, that's a good one. I didn't know he was Russian. I think you mean Eeyor. "Not much of a house, for not much of a donkey".
Welcome to my blog Lindalew.
I LOVE these songs too..I had to listen to them with Ridley and after a while they burrow into your psyche.
Geor-ge Shrinks will be in my head for the rest of the day now!
You're right about the positive reinforcement..the world is your oyster...but you know what they will get plenty of people telling them what they can't do for the rest of their lives so let them have some of the good stuff.
I grew up alongside of a couple families where the kids were told that they could accomplish anything and that failing was just another chance to find out how to do something..no biggie..and guess what..the entire family is succesfful.
Thomas Edison discovered 2,000 different ways of how NOT to build a light bulb...yep, yep, yep.
This post brings back "5 years before the day care mast" ....Sponge Bob...is missing .... and Little Bear and Skipper the Dog.
That's a toad, not a frog!
:)))
We had our own theme song called "Walk on your feet and stop licking the fort!"
I forgot to add one little thing..and that is the question concerning whether or not other people/children 'like' your children.
The children/people who I spoke of before who are raised to 'think' that they can do anything, and usually do get ahead, are by and large unfortunately loathed by others. Pathetic but True.
A little humility and humbleness, which most of us want to instill in our kids, acts like a moral anchor that prohibits them from climbing OVER others to get ahead at any cost. That being said there are children who can do anything and always encourage and help their classmates to soar with them.
You can't help but admire them and sometimes even other parents are gracious enough to celebrate their achievements.
Why there is such a struggle between being confident and being egomaniacal is troubling to me.
We are obviously not created equal but it all comes out in the wash...we all have different talents so it should work out even-steven.
Except of course for those few who do it all at the expense of others whom we all despise regardless of their age
..and rightly so.
alternate reply
Conceited people are universally despised regardless of age...
which is why I cringe when most Professional Athletes open their Pie Holes and eliminate themselves from the Role Model category within seconds.
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