Thursday, January 24, 2008

School House Rock, Rocks the World



As a kid, I struggled in school. I really began to notice my struggle in 4th grade. By the time I was in the 5th grade I had my first "Bad grade". It was a D or an F. It was math. I had been unable to see the board, even after being moved closer. My mother took me to a eye doctor, who said my vision was fine. A year later, continued problems with grades and more complaints that I couldn't see, another eye doctor...who told my mother I was blind as a bat living without glasses. Somehow I had managed to struggle and pass the past two grades. This was not in my favor, as I struggled the remaining of my school career, trying to play catch up.

Late last spring, my daughter (who is in 4th grade) told me she was having vision problems. I took her to the eye doctor who fitted her with everyday glasses. They look precious on her. I couldn't help but think of my own experience. Sledge too, has to work in math. Unlike J Smooth , who is a seven year old math prodigy (like his Dad and Grandma). Smooth is doing multiplication and division, multiples addition and subtraction and loves it as if it were a game. Sledge's strength is writing and reading. To play a bit of catch up I ordered the DVD's .....





You know.....

Conjunction Junction, what's your function? Hooking up words and phrases and clauses.Conjunction Junction, how's that function? I got three favorite cars That get most of my job done. Conjunction Junction, what's their function?I got "and", "but", and "or", They'll get you pretty far.



I was obsessed with these little mini toons that came as a "movie short" between Saturday morning cartoons (when cartoons were only on Saturdays, remember?) I knew all of the songs and could sing them all word for word.......


I'm just a bill. Yes, I'm only a bill. And I'm sitting here on Capitol Hill. Well, it's a long, long journey To the capital city. It's a long, long wait While I'm sitting in committee, But I know I'll be a law someday At least I hope and pray that I will, But today I am still just a bill


It got me through many test in school. It was my bankable go to answer to test questions. All I had to do was get the tune in my head of a School house Rock song, or one that I had made up myself.......


When you're in the dark and you want to see, You need uh... Electricity, Electricity Flip that switch and what do you get? You get uh... Electricity, Electricity Every room can now be lit With just uh... Electricity, Electricity

My all time favorite one was about Janet. Thank goodness I have two friends named Janet-so I get to break this one out pretty often from the vault of songs......

Interplanet Janet, she's a galaxy girl, A solar system Ms. from a future world,She travels like a rocket with her comet team And there's never been a planet Janet hasn't seen, No, there's never been a planet Janet hasn't seen


I am not really sure that the DVD's are helping my children out as yet. But I am putting my money on it, er, I guess I already did in my purchase. My kids don't seem to find the songs as endearing as I did, but I also purchased the CD's to listen to in the car. This way I can play them and implant these tunes on the brains of my children in the hopes the tunes will one day help my own children.
Why you ask? Because......

As your body grows bigger
Your mind grows flowered
It's great to learn
Cause knowledge is power!

It's Schoolhouse Rocky
That chip off the block
Of your favourite schoolhouse
Schoolhouse Rock!


Let's hope it gets 'em into college...

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

You are a font of Schoolhouse Rock knowledge! Seriously, I remember the cartoons, but I can't remember a single song!

The Hickmans said...

I so miss School House Rock! I have an in-home preschool and showed them a School House Rock video. They were like, "Uh, Ms. Amy, when are they going to stop singing?" Ha!! Maybe 4 & 5 is too young...

The Hickmans said...

Oh, P.S. I wanted to thank you for your sweet comment on my blog. I'm glad you found it!

Leigh of Tales from Bloggeritaville said...

Lulu-I cannot recall a name but I can recite a song at the drop of a hat. Thus why I sang my way through school.LOL
Welcome-absolutley!

Abbey's Road said...

LMAO! Again, you missed your calling ... hilarious! Actually, my daughter and grandies are always repeating these things amongst themselves and it blows me away ... wish they had this stuff when I was a child; sure would have helped my grades, too!