Our 5th Grade Play...

Well, another play is done, and thus I know the year is almost over. It has become a tradition to do a 5th grade play at the end of each year that puts together all that we have learned in some creative culminating way. This year I was dissuaded from doing "another one" - not by my team, but by those who didn't want me to work hard, and others who didn't want toes stepped on - but I couldn't resist. Even with our goofy bunch of kids, I knew they needed the chance to shine. So I looked at the dances they've learned and songs they love to sing and put together a show called "eMTV". It was basically the story of the kids breaking into the Faculty Room and discovering the teachers have a TV. They question what the teachers would possible watch, and then bravely turn in on. They then watch a series of videos that miraculously make them smarter. Some of the 'videos' were live, and consisted of kids dancing and narrating their learning experience. Other videos were actual music videos created and performed by the students themselves (I did the video editting - they're not that patient). At the end they realize they are watching "eMTV", what's that 'e' stand for? Educational, of course!!!

The show came together beautifully and the kids were quite adorable. One of the reasons I always push to do these plays is because of they change I see in kids as they perform. Our naughtiest boys volunteered to be in an extra dance because they saw the joy in being on stage. They were all so proud of themselves and excited to shine.

The show was very well recieved and we may even do an encore show in a couple of weeks so the rest of the school, and a few more visitors can come.

(Uneditted, and it cuts off the wonderful ending!!)

When I watch faces light up, wiggly bodies hold still, shy voices bellow out, timid dancers explode, and kids shine proudly - it's worth all the effort.