After I had listened to the podcast and reviewed the Song list representing Americas children’s folk heritage, not only could I name many in one note but could recite them verbatim as I reflected on many songs having  memories, the one that never leave you like the smell of play dough or the crackle and tin sound of  Woody Guthrie’s voice, on a worn out L.P.  At home with a family of five children close in age with large extended family near by and an amalgamation of all the towns’ kids as friends, the house was always full of kids, with my folks, whom everyone called mom and dad, tag teaming as authoritarians. Music was the backdrop in each room of an oversized farmhouse.  There were few radio stations in a rural Ontario town in the 60’s, so play lists were an eclectic of mostly Canadian Content. Folk Music, from Canadian artists mostly from out east had had a mainstay in our home via radio.  Woody Guthrie and Peter, and Paul and Mary were reserved for sing alongs, as if they were kept underground. During this time early school experiences also had a music focus.  Radios could be heard from each classroom, a direct reflection of the teachers’ cohort.  For me grade one and two was headed by a wonderful teacher who had a strong resemblance to Mother Nature and the aura of 60’s as reflected in her mannerisms and clothing but especially in her music and dance.  It was at school that I was first exposed to music equipment like the reel to reel, console stereos that played L.P.’s and 8 track players.  It was only during the early 70’s that such high tech equipment found it’s way into our home.  Review the section in our notes on folk music, and search Bob Dylans Last Thoughts on Woody Guthrie,   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3U1I-ELJ6g the rap of yesteryear will take you there.

Here are two trivia questions for you. What are the little plastic things called that you inserted into 45’s and how many grooves are on an L.P.  I was never fortunate enough to own a Mickey Mouse record player but I did have a transistor radio, a hammy down but to me, worth it’s weight in gold.  To a little kid, holding it high in the middle of the night, metal bunk beds as the antenna, that radio was to me, worth more than gold.   What some would perceive as an uneventful childhood was indeed unique and extraordinary and these experiences shaped, scaffolded, affirmatively altered, reorganized and re prioritized my musical direction in adult life. I am a big fan of allowing children to skip around and play with the radio, and encourage the listening of the same song over and over again.  Radio has endless options but I have never felt the need to pay for extravagances, not when there is a goldmine to be found by turning the dial (I mean, scanning the airwaves).  I encourage you friends to Google the schedule of local university radio stations, or C.B.C. radio to find something that may spark interest. It is through the smaller radio stations that one may find the music of the world, and perhaps reflect on how limited our common experience has been.   

Word count 558

The Primary Learners have been busily engaged in collaboritive learning.  I needed extra practice with the linking of free images so here is a simple story.  (what's up with the pop ups)
 
I found it useful to make simple jot notes of the process so I could easily back track and error correct, with aid of wiki sheet from lab.  

 Every once and a while you find words so powerful you wait to exhale, only to find your tears rushing out before your breath http://www.our-kids.org/Archives/Where_parents.html