“Words satisfy the mind as much as fruit does the stomach; good talk is as gratifying as a good harvest. Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.”
Proverbs 18:20-21 MSG http://bible.com/97/pro.18.20-21.msg
I love music. Music connects with the very essence of my soul. Music makes me feel happy and confident. It makes me cry, smile and angry. I find meaning in songs and attach them to memorable moments in my life.
When my husband and I were dating, I once asked him to write a list of ten songs he would put on the soundtrack of his life. I’ve done this with my students as well. It gives me a bit of insight into who they are.
Now, I plan to use music to extend my reach and plant positive seeds. I don’t work in the worst of the worst areas with the toughest of the toughest kids. However, I do work with kids who do not always hear positive words from the ones who love them most. Some say there’s nothing you can do about that. I say, “I’ll do what I’ve been asked to do then allow God to do the rest”.
Over the past three days, I’ve spent moments with God searching for 180 songs to play for my students when they enter my room each morning. These songs hold power; they speak of love, motivation, self-worth, goodness, happiness, hope and possibilities. It a nice mix of genres, old and new, popular and rare, mature and youthful. But the things they all have in common are the ability to satisfy the mind, give life and produce fruit. I’m so excited to see what God will do with this. 😊
- One Love– Bob Marley
- Through Your Eyes– Britt Nicole
- Future – Musiq Soulchild
- There’s Hope– India Arie
- Once a Day– Michael Franti
- Dreams– Ashanti
- I Can Do Anything– Fresh Beat Band
- Dare You to Move– Switchfoot
- Count on Me– Bruno Mars
- Try Everything– Shakira
- Eyes Wide Open– Sabrina Carpenter
- Go Get It– Mary Mary
- Don’t Stop Believing– Glee
- i– Kendrick Lamar
- Can’t Stop the Feeling– Justin Timberlake
- I Got Sunshine– Avery Sunshine
- I Lived– One Republic
- Rise Up– Andra Day
- Tomorrow– Annie
- Lean On Me– Bill Withers
- Never Settle– Goldford
- Upside Down– Jack Johnson
- Better Together- Jack Johnson
- Strength Courage and Wisdom– India Arie
- Sure Looks Good to Me– Alicia Keys
- Surprise Yourself– Fresh Beat Band
- Wake– Hillsong Young and Free
- Golden– Jill Scott
- We Are Family– Sister Sledge
- Remedy– Adele
- All You Need is Love– Beatles
- What a Wonderful World– Louis Armstrong
- Somewhere Over the Rainbow– Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
- Heroes– David Bowie
- Don’t Worry Be Happy– Bob Marley
- It’s My Life– Jon Bon Jovi
- Fireworks– Katy Perry
- Unwritten– Natasha Bedingfield
- True Colors– Cyndi Lauper
- Lovely Day– Bill Withers
- Stand By Me– Ben E. King
- Follow the Sun– Xavier Rudd
- Pieces– Bethel Music
- A Beautiful Day– India Arie
- Everybody– Ingrid Michaelson
- Grateful: A Love Song to the World– Nimo Patel
- Three Little Birds– Bob Marley
- We Are Here– Alicia Keys
- What I Am Is– Seasame Street and Will i. Am
- Free– Michael Medall
- Greatest Love of All- Whitney Houston
- Man in the Mirror- Michael Jackson
- Beautiful Day– U2
- Keep Your Head Up– Andy Grammar
- I Can See Clearly– Jimmy Cliff
- Take Me the Way I Am– Ingrid Michaelson
- Hey, Hey, Hey– Michael Franti & Spearhead
- Wake Up Everybody – John Legend
- Move– MercyMe
- The Sound of Sunshine– Michael Franti & Spearhead
- Life is Wonderful– Jason Mraz
- Shiny Happy People– REM
- So Happy Together– The Turtles
- Smile– V. Bozman
- Brand New Day– The Wiz
- We Are the World
- On Top of the World- Imagine Dragons
- Roll with the Punches– Lenka
- Ok It’s Alright with Me– Eric Hutchinson
- Fireflies– Owl City
- Live Like You’re Dying– Kris Allen
- Roar– Katy Perry
- Brave– Sara Bareilles
- Wavin’ Flag– K’Naan and Will i. am
- Girl in the Mirror– Sophia Grace
- Best Day of My Life-American Authors
- Wouldn’t It Be Nice– Beach Boys
- Good Vibrations– Beach Boys
- Sunny Day- Joy Williams
- Good Morning- Mandisa
- I Can– Nas
- Keep Tryin‘ – Groove Theory
- Shed a Little Light– Goldford
- Lovin Me– Jonathan McReynolds
- Meant to Live- Switchfoot
- Wake Me Up– Aviici
- The Man– Aloe Blacc
- Hello World– Aloe Blacc
- Live Your Life- TI
- Alright– Kendrick Lamar
- Lighters– Eminem
- One Call Away- Charlie Pugh
- Don’t You Worry Child– Swedish House Mafia
- Save the World– Swedish House Mafia
- Superheroes– The Script
- Keep Ya Head Up– Tupac
- Walking on Sunshine– Katrina & the Wave
- The Climb– Miley Cyrus
- Get Up, Stand Up– Bob Marley
- Story of Your Life– Matthew West
- Mean– Taylor Swift
- Speak Life– Toby Mac
- How Far I’ll Go– Alessia Cara
- You Lift Me Up– The Afters
- Hurricane– Natalie Grant
- Happiness– Needtobreathe
- Every Good Thing– The Afters
- Not For a Moment– Meredith Andrews
- Blink– Revive
- Good to Be Alive– Jason Gray
- Pocket Full of Sunshine– Natasha Bedingfield
- Gold– Britt Nicole
- You Are Loved– Josh Groban
- Get Back Up– Toby Mac
- Free to Be Me- Francesca Battistelli
- Watch Me Shine– Joanna Pacitti
- Beautiful, Beautiful – Francesca Battistelli
- I’m Letting Go– Francesca Battistelli
- Put a Little Love in Your Heart– Anne Lennox and Al Green
- Victory – Kim Burrell
- Reach for the Stars– S Club 7
- Soar– Christina Aguilera
- Larger than Life– Pinkzebra
- Turn! Turn! Turn!– The Byrds
- A Change Gonna Come– Sam Cooke
- Overcomer– Mandisa
- Confident– Kidz Bop
- What Makes You Beautiful– Kidz Bop
- Sky’s the Limit– Biggie
- Am I Wrong– Nico and Vinz
- I Am Light– India Arie
- Brave– Moriah Peters
- One Life- Hedley
- You’re Not Alone– Marie Miller
- Titanium– David Guetta & Sia
- The Greatest -Sia
- Nothing’s Real But Love– Rebecca Ferguson
- People Help the People- Birdy
- Kill’em With Kindness– Selena Gomez
- The Same– Matthew & Marisa
- When Love Takes Over– Kelly Rowland
- People Get Ready– The Impressions
- Where is the Love?– The Black Eyed Peas
- Glory– Common and John Legend
- Better When I’m Dancin– Meghan Trainor
- Stronger– Kelly Clarkson
- Who Says– Selena Gomez
- Hero– Mariah Carey
- I Wish You Well– Elizabeth Mitchell
- Peace Like a River– Elizabeth Mitchell
- You Are My Sunshine– Elizabeth Mitchell
- This Little Light of Mine– Elizabeth Mitchell
- Sesame Street Song– Jimmy Fallon and The Roots
- Don’t Give Up– Bruno Mars
- Believe in Yourself– Michael Buble
- Can’t Hold Us– Macklemore
- Take On the World– Rowan
- On Top of the World– Dove Cameron
- Everything is Sound– Jason Mraz
- Living in the Moment– Jason Mraz
- The World is Watching– Two Door Cinema Club
- Happy– Pharrell
- Hall of Fame– The Script
- Brighter Than the Sun- Colbie Caillat
- I‘m the World’s Greatest– R. Kelly
- Who I Am– Natasha Bedingfield
- Believe in Yourself
- Just Stand Up
- All- Star- Smash Mouth
- Good Feeling– Flo Rida
- Happy– Natasha Bedingfield
- Hakuna Matata– The Lion King
- I’m a Believer– Smash Mouth
- Boomerang– Jojo Siwa
- Crazy– Gnarls Barkley
- Haven’t Met You Yet- Michael Buble
- Waka Waka– Shakira
- Try– Colbie Caillat
- Power Within Me– Junga World
- Feel the Rush– Shaggy
Hi,
I just wanted to say these songs are great. I like to play music in my classroom but hate that playing the radio is not always the best music to play for students. I will be entering a new era, teaching 7th graders for the first time after teaching high school for the last 15 years. Can you please share how you will play these songs? Just through your computer speakers?
Thanks,
Shaunte
Hello Shaunte,
Welcome to middle school 😊! My plan is to play them through the speakers of my projector system so the sound fills the room. I’ll start it when the students are entering for home room and replay until it is time for the announcements. I’ve considered having a discussion about it. I really want the students to begin to inquire about the songs and make connections.
Thank you!
Once again…you rock!!! Are you coaching again this year?
On Jul 25, 2016 11:01 PM, “Elementary Teacher in Middle School” wrote:
> jenisesexton posted: ““Words satisfy the mind as much as fruit does the > stomach; good talk is as gratifying as a good harvest. Words kill, words > give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.” Proverbs > 18:20-21 MSG http://bible.com/97/pro.18.20-21.msg I love m” >
Thanks Pam. You’re always so encouraging.
Yes, I’m coaching again this year. I’ll teach one segment of Intro to Algebra in the mornings and coach the rest of the day. I’m extremely excited about what this year will hold. 😊