Write For Your LifeWrite For Your Life

Module I: Module I:

Modern Music, Writing, and Modern Music, Writing, and AdvocacyAdvocacy

Module OverviewModule Overview This module is designed to allow you to:This module is designed to allow you to:

1.) Use modern music as a way of exploring 1.) Use modern music as a way of exploring traditional poetic devices and literacy traditional poetic devices and literacy elements.elements.

2.) Critically reflect upon your own skills and 2.) Critically reflect upon your own skills and talents as a writer of poetry. talents as a writer of poetry.

3.) Discover how you can apply current 3.) Discover how you can apply current technology to teaching writing with your technology to teaching writing with your future students.future students.

Module OverviewModule OverviewEach module is formatted after Lucy Each module is formatted after Lucy Calkins’ Writer’s Workshop Model. Calkins’ Writer’s Workshop Model. According to Calkins’ Writer’s Workshop According to Calkins’ Writer’s Workshop should consist of: should consist of: – A Focus Lesson: In which the teacher highlights A Focus Lesson: In which the teacher highlights

a certain skill of strategy for the day and a certain skill of strategy for the day and models ways to apply the strategy.models ways to apply the strategy.

– Writing Time- Students and/or writing groups Writing Time- Students and/or writing groups actually write.actually write.

– Share Time-Workshop participants are to share Share Time-Workshop participants are to share what they have written with peers either in what they have written with peers either in person, via Twitter, Facebook, or Skype.person, via Twitter, Facebook, or Skype.

Focus Lesson: Poetry and Modern Focus Lesson: Poetry and Modern MusicMusic

Who is your favorite musical artist? Who is your favorite musical artist? Why? Why?

What are some things you already What are some things you already know about writing a song? Write a know about writing a song? Write a three things all songs must have?three things all songs must have?

Songs often include some of the Songs often include some of the following poetic devices.following poetic devices.

Music tells stories……Music tells stories……

Watch the following Video clip:Watch the following Video clip:

41 Shots41 Shots (American Skin) (American Skin)

Read the WordsRead the Words41 Shots Lyrics (American Skin)41 Shots Lyrics (American Skin)

1.) Read the lyrics to the song1.) Read the lyrics to the song2.) Examine the song first by discussing the title.2.) Examine the song first by discussing the title.3.) What is the song about?3.) What is the song about?4.) Who is the audience? What poetic devices do 4.) Who is the audience? What poetic devices do you see? Circle them.you see? Circle them.5.) Discuss the difference between chorus, and 5.) Discuss the difference between chorus, and verse? Prelude and interlude? Give examplesverse? Prelude and interlude? Give examples6.) Ask any students if they have ever written a 6.) Ask any students if they have ever written a song. (Ask any volunteers to perform or sing the song. (Ask any volunteers to perform or sing the song)song)

Song BackgroundSong Background

Song Background-Song Background-

This song was inspired by the killing of This song was inspired by the killing of Amadou Diallo, an African Refugee Amadou Diallo, an African Refugee who was shot 41 times by police in who was shot 41 times by police in New York.New York.

Read more about Amadou DialloRead more about Amadou Diallo

Writing TimeWriting Time

Blog or journal on one of the Blog or journal on one of the following topics: following topics:

What comes to mind when you think What comes to mind when you think of this song and it’s lyrics?of this song and it’s lyrics?

Write the title and chorus for your Write the title and chorus for your own song on a topic or theme this is own song on a topic or theme this is important and interesting to you.important and interesting to you.

Use the song writing tips to help you!Use the song writing tips to help you!

Share TimeShare TimeTweet the chorus and title of your song to your Tweet the chorus and title of your song to your friends. Get their input.friends. Get their input.Tweet three lines from the “American Skin” lyrics Tweet three lines from the “American Skin” lyrics see if you get any comments or ideas.see if you get any comments or ideas.Tread #Amadoudiallo see what comments you Tread #Amadoudiallo see what comments you receive.receive.Decide on your next steps with your writing. Do Decide on your next steps with your writing. Do you want to continue to explore this topic? you want to continue to explore this topic? Perhaps instead of writing another song, you may Perhaps instead of writing another song, you may want to write the biography or short story about want to write the biography or short story about the life of Amadou Diallo.the life of Amadou Diallo.

Teaching TipsTeaching Tips

Any activity like this can be modified Any activity like this can be modified for grades 4-12. for grades 4-12.

Using music is a great way to tap Using music is a great way to tap into students’ interests but also into students’ interests but also teach them how to identify literacy teach them how to identify literacy elements such as alliteration, rhyme, elements such as alliteration, rhyme, and meter.and meter.