Wednesday, November 3, 2010

"You Can Learn to Read" - video



My sister, Kristi Parker Hazelrigg, the media specialist at Parkview Elementary School in Midwest City, Oklahoma, wrote and sang the lyrics (see below for the words) to this song.  It's based on Taylor Swift's, "You Belong with Me".  Kristi also produced the video, which stars Maggie Place, one of our little cousins.

I think this is adorable and I hope you do, too!  It's a great way to introduce children to the joys of reading and offers just the right encouragement.  Please feel free to share the video with one and all.  Maybe it will go viral.  Wouldn't that be something!  :D
 

You  Can Learn to Read 
Inspired by Taylor Swift’s “You Belong with Me”; new lyrics by Kristi Hazelrigg 

You’re staring at the page and you’re upset
You can’t understand a single word that it says
You just can’t read the story like they do

You’re in your room, it’s a typical day, you’re bored
You need to read to let your imagination soar
But you just can’t read the stories like they do

So many good books, open up and take a look
But with silent E's, Q's and U's, you’re getting confused
Dreaming about the day when you wake up and find
That you can make some sense out of all those little lines

If you could see how all those letters work together
Line ‘em up and sound ‘em out, then you’d see
You can learn to read, you can learn to read

Reading all the words and knowing what they mean
I can’t help thinking this is how it ought to be
Laughing on a park bench, reading to yourself--Hey, isn’t this easy?

There’s somethin’ ‘bout reading that can turn your life around
‘Specially when you find a book that you can’t put down
You say you’re fine, I know you better than that
I know you wanna read a book like that

History and dinosaurs, fairy tales, cookbooks
Animals and astronauts, Goosebumps and joke books
Dreaming about the day when you wake up and find
That you can make some sense out of all those little lines

If you could see how all those letters work together
Line ‘em up and sound ‘em out, then you’d see
You can learn to read

Standing by and watching how your mom reads
All this time, how could you not know, baby?
You can learn to read, you can learn to read

Oh, pretty soon you’ll be reading ‘neath the covers in the middle of the night
All the books that make you laugh and the books that make you cry
You’ll have your favorite ones and you’ll share them with your friends
Think I know it won’t be long, think I know how this will end….

Junie B., Green Eggs & Ham, Ramona Quimby
Ferdinand, Anansi and Winn Dixie need you to learn to read

Miss Rumphius, Frindle, Max and all the Wild Things
Charlotte, Wilbur, and Tuck Everlasting need
You to learn to read, you can learn to read

You can learn to read
Have you ever thought just maybe you can learn to read?
You can learn to read!

9 comments:

KHazelrigg said...

The creator of that video is a genius. Oh--wait.... that's me. ;)

Shelley Parker Chandler said...

Yes, yes, I suppose I have to admit that you are. Tastes like vinegar to say it, though. ;) (Just kidding! I guess we figured that out when you got to skip 1st Grade.)

Shelley Parker Chandler said...

BTW - those kids are adorable. I know Maggie, of course. Who are the others? Are they from church or school?

Dawn said...

Oh, my goodness! That was just awesome. As a mom and former teacher, I LOVE IT!!!

I also wanted to thank you for becoming a follower of my blog.

You will have to meet up with us Okie moms when we have another RHOK Out (Real Housewives of Oklahoma).

Shelley Parker Chandler said...

Thanks, Dawn. I will be sure to tell my sister. Please feel free to share the video with anyone who might like it.

I would love to meet up with the Okie moms. I plan to be at the Blogger Meet-Up on Thursday. Maybe I'll see you there. :)

Mamarazzi said...

i LOVE this...like really love it!!

thanks so much for sharing this, i am so glad you stopped by my blog and left a comment so i could follow you back here and bask in your bloggy goodness!

lynette355 said...

oh i had to share this on facebook, twitter and it is going up on my blog toooooooooo! Great to always share the love of books.....good job.

auntrene said...

Lenore over at Crazed Mind sent me.. She was right my Daycare Kiddos as well as myself loved the video.. What fun!!! Thanks for sharing!

http://www.auntrene.blogpsot.com

Shelley Parker Chandler said...

Thank you so much!