Music and Character Education by Mrs. Kahn, music teacher

Every month at Cottage Lane, an important character trait is highlighted throughout the entire school. Music classes learn a new song each month that reflects and reinforces the character trait and the book-of-the-month that goes with it. Music can affect everyone in profound ways. Singing songs with lyrics that reflect good character traits is very important. Students sing these songs together at the Cottage Lane monthly assemblies, which is both enjoyable and meaningful. Please ask your child to share these songs with you at home.
 

DON’T LAUGH AT ME

By Steve Seskin and Allen Shamblin

I’m a little boy with glasses, the one they call a geek,

A little girl who never smiles ‘cause I’ve got braces on my teeth,

And I know how it feels to cry myself to sleep.

I’m that kid on every playground who’s always chosen last,

A single teenage mother trying to overcome my past,

You don’t have to be my friend, but is it too much to ask?

Don’t laugh at me.  Don’t call me names.  Don’t get your pleasure from my pain.

In God’s eyes, we’re all the same. Someday, we’ll all have perfect wings.  Don’t laugh at me.

I’m the beggar on the corner, you’ve passed me on the street,

And I wouldn’t be out here beggin’ if I had enough to eat,

And don’t think I don’t notice that our eyes never meet.

Don’t laugh at me.  Don’t call me names.  Don’t get your pleasure from my pain.

In God’s eyes, we’re all the same.  Someday, we’ll all have perfect wings.Don’t laugh at me.

I’m fat…I’m thin…I’m short…I’m tall…I’m deaf…I’m blind…Hey, aren’t we all?

Don’t laugh at me.  Don’t call me names.  Don’t get your pleasure from my pain.

In God’s eyes, we’re all the same.  Someday, we’ll all have perfect wings.

Don’t laugh at me.  Don’t laugh at me.

I BELIEVE I CAN FLY

By R. Kelly

I used to think that I could not go on, and life was nothing but an awful song.

But now I know the meaning of true love.  I’m leaning on the everlasting arms.

If I can see it, then I can do it, if I just believe it, there’s nothing to it.

Oh, I believe I can fly, I believe I can touch the sky.

I think about it every night and day, spread my wings and fly away.

I believe I can soar, I see me running through that open door.

I believe I can fly, I believe I can fly, I believe I can fly.

See, I was on the verge of breaking down.  Sometimes silence can seem so loud.

There are miracles in life I must achieve.  But first, I know it starts inside of me.

If I can see it, then I can do it.  If I just believe it, there’s nothing to it.

Oh, I believe I can fly, I believe I can touch the sky.

I think about it every night and day, spread my wings and fly away.

I believe I can soar, I see me running through that open door.

I believe I can fly, I believe I can fly, I believe I can fly.

Hey, if I just spread my wings, I can fly,I can fly, I can fly.

Hey, if I just spread my wings, I can fly.