Welcome to 'the Good Life!'
The children who participated in this module were part of an after-school care program and homework club called 'MASTERmindz' at Mann Elementary School, a Mastery public charter school in West Philadelphia. I was not permitted to record the faces of the children, so we recorded the video with the children's backs to the recording device. This complied with the school's strict rules against publishing unauthorized videos and photographs of students.
The leader (me) begins the call and response by prompting the group to 'give me a beat!' and starts a clapping rhythm for the children to follow. This continues throughout the song (a steady beat of hit-hit-clap - for each 'hit' the students slap their thighs audibly, and for the 'clap' they slap their hands together).
Before the recording, the second-graders, ages 7-8, were given a print-out of the song's lyrics. The leader's call was the type that was not bold, and the students' response was clearly differentiated in bold, capital letters. We first practiced reading the words, then discussed who spoke when. We practiced the clapping beat and did a few run-throughs of combining the spoken words with clapping. We practiced soft clapping and singing so as to be able to hear the words in the final recording. Excitement got the best of us and the volume level our singing and clapping was unrestrained! This resulted in a recording that does not have crystal clear vocals. The lyrics are found below.
Final note: This song was intended for grades K-6. At Mann Elementary, education is serious business and the students, even kindergarteners, are addressed as 'scholars' and 'friends' instead of 'children' or 'kids.' Teachers often involve singing and other unique teaching methods to engage their students. Since this group of students had already had exposure to the call-and-response singing format, they caught on fast! We had a great time! As they were leaving the classroom to return to MASTERmindz, they excitedly asked if they could sing 'The Good Life' with their teachers and friends! I hope they remember the themes of motivation, hard-work, goals, potential, dreams, community and following their heart as they embark on their journey to 'the Good Life.'
The children who participated in this module were part of an after-school care program and homework club called 'MASTERmindz' at Mann Elementary School, a Mastery public charter school in West Philadelphia. I was not permitted to record the faces of the children, so we recorded the video with the children's backs to the recording device. This complied with the school's strict rules against publishing unauthorized videos and photographs of students.
The leader (me) begins the call and response by prompting the group to 'give me a beat!' and starts a clapping rhythm for the children to follow. This continues throughout the song (a steady beat of hit-hit-clap - for each 'hit' the students slap their thighs audibly, and for the 'clap' they slap their hands together).
Before the recording, the second-graders, ages 7-8, were given a print-out of the song's lyrics. The leader's call was the type that was not bold, and the students' response was clearly differentiated in bold, capital letters. We first practiced reading the words, then discussed who spoke when. We practiced the clapping beat and did a few run-throughs of combining the spoken words with clapping. We practiced soft clapping and singing so as to be able to hear the words in the final recording. Excitement got the best of us and the volume level our singing and clapping was unrestrained! This resulted in a recording that does not have crystal clear vocals. The lyrics are found below.
Final note: This song was intended for grades K-6. At Mann Elementary, education is serious business and the students, even kindergarteners, are addressed as 'scholars' and 'friends' instead of 'children' or 'kids.' Teachers often involve singing and other unique teaching methods to engage their students. Since this group of students had already had exposure to the call-and-response singing format, they caught on fast! We had a great time! As they were leaving the classroom to return to MASTERmindz, they excitedly asked if they could sing 'The Good Life' with their teachers and friends! I hope they remember the themes of motivation, hard-work, goals, potential, dreams, community and following their heart as they embark on their journey to 'the Good Life.'
"The Good Life" call-and-response song lyrics by Lauren E. Todd, 2014.
Hey Scholars, HEY WHAT
Hey Scholars, HEY WHAT
You want the good life? WE DO
I want the good life! ME TOO
We are scholars so let me hear you holler…
Where we gonna go? TO SCHOOL EACH DAY
What're we gonna do there? WORK HARD IN EVERY WAY
Who's gonna help us? WE’VE GOT EACH OTHER’S BACK
How we gonna do it? WE’RE GONNA STAY ON TRACK
Gotta go to school,
gotta get real smart,
gonna get good grades
and make the mark.
We’ve got big dreams,
and they’ll come true,
just follow your heart and it’ll lead you!
You want the good life? WE DO
I want the good life! ME TOO
Hey Scholars, HEY WHAT
Hey Scholars, HEY WHAT
You want the good life? WE DO
I want the good life! ME TOO
We are scholars so let me hear you holler…
Where we gonna go? TO SCHOOL EACH DAY
What're we gonna do there? WORK HARD IN EVERY WAY
Who's gonna help us? WE’VE GOT EACH OTHER’S BACK
How we gonna do it? WE’RE GONNA STAY ON TRACK
Gotta go to school,
gotta get real smart,
gonna get good grades
and make the mark.
We’ve got big dreams,
and they’ll come true,
just follow your heart and it’ll lead you!
You want the good life? WE DO
I want the good life! ME TOO