Successful teachers continually ask themselves: How do we reach our students? How do we spark interest, create meaning and trigger emotion, allowing content to earn a permanent place in students' minds? Actually reaching our students is sometimes even more complicated!

No matter how interesting and relevant our stubects, we know without a doubt there are other motivational and emotional obstacles to learning. This CD is my attempt to offer curriculum-based songs AND address some of these blocks to learning--to increase student engagement and achievement.

This CD, along with my first CD, Songs of Science For Our Times (and other pop music) constitute the "soundtrack" of my classroom. When music accompanies instruction, it gives another layer for the senses. Just as music adds meaning and emotion to a movie, it will do so for your lessons.

Music is an extremely efficient vehicle for creating memories. Messages, if set to music, are readily accepted and given prominent places in students' minds.

Songs For the Heart and Mind is a tool to try to change the negative school age culture that can inhibit learning in our students; it offers more songs with academic content; and it is my attempt to connect with and inspire my colleagues around the country. These songs were inspired by and written for students just like yours. Keep fighting the "Good Fight" and thanks for listening. :-)

We have one of the hardest and most important jobs in the UNIVERSE!

Sincerely, Beth

I wish to thank Jim Word and twenty years worth of amazing, accepting students in the Kansas City area who have inspired and teased these songs out of me. This album is dedicated to you, Mom. Your music lives on, your Spirit lives on, your unending love lives on, in me. To Grandma Hink (I will always love you more than you love me!); To Eric, the love of my life and to Sheldon the light of my life.