Songs, like poetry, are an important component of my teaching. The lyrical metaphors, rhythms, and stories in many songs motivate and educate students. It's amazing what my fifth graders will remember from a song, as compared to what they forget from my talking. I introduce a new "song of the week" each Monday and the students receive a copy of the lyrics to keep in their three-ring binder that collects much of my alternative curriculum. We start each morning with the song, and usually within a day or two the children are singing along — regardless of musical genre. Sometimes...