Last week, I shared lyrics, and this week, a song about kids, assessment, and our educational system popped into my inbox. Doesn’t sound that poetic, does it? But the song More Than a Number (words by Poetry Friday regular?Amy Ludwig Vanderwater and music by Barry Lane) is a poem, and it’s one that will be especially meaningful to parents of struggling kids and to all the educators out there who are working so hard and so passionately to connect with and to teach kids, despite all the demands and restraints of our assessment systems.
Here’s my favorite part:
I am more than a number.
Watch me fold this plane.
I snuggle with my beagle.
There’s music in my brain.
Someday I’ll go to Egypt.
I will never be a ?2?.
I am more than a number.
I’m a person just like you.If you think I can be measured
by numbers on a screen?
…if my whole school becomes a test
where will I learn to dream?
I love to do hard problems.
I write stories, and I laugh.
My gifts are so much greater
than the data on your graph.
You can listen to the whole song and read the lyrics here.
And I just learned that Amy is hosting today, so the Poetry Friday Roundup is at The Poem Farm today!
This song is fantastic and powerful. While written for younger students, it applies beautifully to high school students filling out college applications – their entire lives shrinking down to GPA and SAT scores. Thanks for sharing. I would love to see these lyrics everywhere!
So true, ellie. My youngest will be a senior next year, and she’s smart, but struggling…
This song is fantastic and powerful. While written for younger students, it applies beautifully to high school students filling out college applications – their entire lives shrinking down to GPA and SAT scores. Thanks for sharing. I would love to see these lyrics everywhere!
So true, ellie. My youngest will be a senior next year, and she’s smart, but struggling…
I just love this song – the lyrics, the music, the eventual video. We should all pass this along. Congrats to Amy!! 🙂
The video project sounds great, doesn’t it? Knew you’d love that!
I just love this song – the lyrics, the music, the eventual video. We should all pass this along. Congrats to Amy!! 🙂
The video project sounds great, doesn’t it? Knew you’d love that!
It’s just great, & I’m glad you’re spreading the word too, Laura.
:>)
It’s just great, & I’m glad you’re spreading the word too, Laura.
:>)
Thanks, Laura, for sharing this fine work by Amy and Barry – a fun and important song. (And Ellie’s right about the high schoolers – my son,a rising senior, is in the midst of that right now!)
Fun and important–exactly. My daughter is in that midst, too. And hating it and feeling inadequate…
Thanks, Laura, for sharing this fine work by Amy and Barry – a fun and important song. (And Ellie’s right about the high schoolers – my son,a rising senior, is in the midst of that right now!)
Fun and important–exactly. My daughter is in that midst, too. And hating it and feeling inadequate…
Great poem/song! Amy is so very talented. Thanks for sharing with us, Laura.
She is!
Great poem/song! Amy is so very talented. Thanks for sharing with us, Laura.
She is!
Laura – It was so generous of you to use your Poetry Friday space to share our song today. Thank you so much. You are always generous! We all just want to hold onto these children’s spirits…and to let them soar and grow… xo, a.
Happy to do it, Amy. What a joyous project!
Laura – It was so generous of you to use your Poetry Friday space to share our song today. Thank you so much. You are always generous! We all just want to hold onto these children’s spirits…and to let them soar and grow… xo, a.
Happy to do it, Amy. What a joyous project!
“More Than a Number” is a gorgeous song with compelling lyrics. Brava, Amy! As I told you, next up, the Grammies.
“More Than a Number” is a gorgeous song with compelling lyrics. Brava, Amy! As I told you, next up, the Grammies.