Imagine.

(I apologize to the friends and family who have already received this email...)

Today was the 25th anniversary of John Lennon's death. My students read the lyrics to Imagine, responded to the words in a free-write and then we listened to it as a class. Period 7 is notoriously difficult- it's the end of the day, the kids are completely out of focus and I am pretty much tapped. In addition, I have had 2 new students in that class this past week alone. (Yes, I have 2 students who started school 3 months into the year.) It seems like I can never really get my lesson done with Period 7.

Today, however, was a special day. After the first stanza of Imagine, one of my most ADDed-out kids started humming. A few moments later, he started singing the words... No hell below us... Then Ms. Chatty McChatterson in the back row who is constantly talking and giggling chimed in... Above us only sky...

By the time John was singing the last stanza, all 24 of my kids were too. I was moved to tears as I heard a classroom of 12-and 13-year-olds sing, in perfect unison...

Imagine all the people,
Sharing all the world...

You may say I'm a dreamer,
but I'm not the only one,
I hope some day you'll join us,
And the world will live as one.

Ultimately, today was a good day.