That Darn Kid...

This speech is something that took me a while to fully understand. To teach something this complex to a 4th grader would be a real challenge! But if a certain teacher could teach a group of kindergartners possibly the most depressing poem on earth, then I could do this! If I were to teach this to a fourth grader, the first thing I'd have them do is read it, maybe even memorize it. When I was in 5th grade, my teacher was a real sucker for history. She'd have us recite the pledge of alliegance, the preamble, MLK's I Have a Dream speech, The Gettysburg Adress, as well as sing My Country Tis o' Thee and the Star Spangled Banner every morning (on occasion she'd have us sing "Bear Down Chicago Bears" too!). This may have seemed like overkill at the time, but now, I know the I Have a Dream speech a little too well, I've got the Star Spangled Banner so down, and the Gettysburg Address? Puh-lease! Not only, did we have to recite those, we had to learn them, we knew all about every speech or song we had to do (Well, maybe not the Bears song...), we were experts! Now, I admit all those words are a bit fuzzy, but I'll never forget learning them. I may pause trying to remember the next line, but I'll never forget reciting it. I'll hold on to that memory from 5th grade for a good long time. I figure that If this 4th grader could really learn this speech, the way we learned so many others, than they'll get it.