As the year closes, my sixth grade students are grappling with theme. It is an abstract concept that requires higher order thinking to not only comprehend the elements of a given writing piece, but also to infer some greater meaning from them. Developmentally, it's a stretch for many 11 and 12 year olds.
As they work it through, I notice them clinging to cliches to keep from drowning in the depth of their own thinking. Kelly Clarkson's current hit Stronger provides quite a few life lines for the struggling-- in addition to the subtitle, whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger, there is also the me, myself, and I thing, as well as, it doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone.
It's a start.
Life Lesson: Water wings get you in the pool, but they keep you on the surface.
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