Quote of the Day

“Miss, do you know someone named Molasses? My mama keeps saying I’m slower than her…”

Livin’ on a Prayer

Every other week we do a song analysis. I have a jar that students can submit songs anonymously and I choose a song at random.

So far in 10 weeks, we haven’t analyzed any songs in this decade, and only one from this century…

I drew song a few weeks ago and, are you ready for this?, it was Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer.”

I couldn’t help myself. I laughed. I laughed for a long time.

The student shrugged his shoulder and with wide eyes said, “What? I like old songs!”

Seven Degrees of Hamlet

You’ve heard of “Seven Degrees to Kevin Bacon,” right? Well, we’ve been playing this game for months in my class, but as “Seven Degrees of Hamlet.”

Every other week we do a “song raffle” and do an analysis over whatever song is randomly chosen. At the end of the activity, I always ask them to connect it back to “Hamlet,” which sometimes stumps them… but I’ve taken it as a personal challenge.

And now I’m pleased to announce that, just as with Kevin Bacon, I am a Seven Degrees of Hamlet in Song champion, most recently evidenced by connecting “Livin’ on a Prayer” back to the dearest of danes.

I do not think it means what you think it means…

Today’s lesson brought to you by Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”

Brom Bones is a fan of cock fights. The majority of my students (based on their horrified expressions) did not know what those are.

“Ladies and gentlemen, it’s not as inappropriate as you’re thinking…”

Once and Always

Me: So, those of you who’ve had me before, answer this question: What do I do for my students over breaks?

Students: Send cards!

Me: That’s right. So if you’d like to receive a card from me, please write your address down on this paper, even if you’ve had me once or more than once…because once a student of Mrs. Crumpett, always a student of Mrs. Crumpett.

No one got the Narnia reference, but everyone filled out the paper.

Added bonus: I think I got another teacher to do this with her classes, too. It’s the little things that make the biggest difference!

Quote of the Day

“Mrs. Crumpett, you’re the only teacher that won’t let us get on Facebook.”

The Circle of Life

EVERYTIME I mention the movie “The Lion King,”** one of my students will immediately break into song:

Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba
Sithi uhm ingonyama

One time I thought she was asleep, but she perked up suddenly, belted out the first few lines, and then slumped back down on her desk, not to be heard from again for the rest of class.

I’m almost sad we finished the movie before break… 😂

** “The Lion King” is loosely based on Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.”

So, this is fun…

While I’m grading and my dog misbehaves, I give him commands while calling him by my students’ names.