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We followed that with a discussion, and needless to say, I was teary-eyed the entire time.  To complete the lesson, I asked them to create posters showing ways that they could be compassionate, caring, and kind.

The kids understand a bit more about me, and why I travel far and wide to see this band and all of you.  They understand what true compassion is, why it's so crucial that we all be caring and considerate, and what it means to be giving.  

I told them that I had a homework assignment for them to complete over the break.  This was obviously and appropriately met with some groans, but when I told them that I had burned a Widespread Panic cd for each of them, and that their assignment was to listen to it, and then tell me which song they liked best, they were so grateful and ecstatic!!!  I couldn't have asked for a more enthusiastic response to the gift I was giving them--they were pumped!!!  The first question they had was whether This Part of Town was on it.  And of course, it was, and they had actually been listening to the cd the past two days.

When I played This Part of Town one last time before they all left for break, the boy who tapped his feet the first time that he heard the song, was singing and acting out the words during the song!  Absolutely priceless!!!

Before they left, I told them to listen to the cd on new year's eve, because that was where I would be.  My one group even yelled out with me, "WIDESPREAD PANIC!!!!" the way that I believe Garrie Vereen used to do when he introduced the boys, long before I ever saw them.

We followed that with a discussion, and needless to say, I was teary-eyed the entire time.  To complete the lesson, I asked them to create posters showing ways that they could be compassionate, caring, and kind.

The kids understand a bit more about me, and why I travel far and wide to see this band and all of you.  They understand what true compassion is, why it's so crucial that we all be caring and considerate, and what it means to be giving.

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