I'm a big fan of Stephen King's Dark Tower series (sci-fi fantasy western...yep) and our school's theme this year is reading round up or some such. So I had the idea to take the Gunslinger's Catechism from the Dark Tower series and adapt it to use in my class.

Here is the original:

"I do not aim with my hand.
He who aims with his hand has forgotten the face of his father.
I aim with my Eye.
I do not shoot with my hand.
He who shoots with his hand has forgotten the face of his father.
I shoot with my Mind.
I do not kill with my hand.
He who kills with his hand has forgotten the face of his father.
I kill with my Heart."

To make mine more student-friendly, I made some changes:

"I do not count with my fingers.
He who counts with his fingers has forgotten
the face of his teacher.
I count with my Mind.
I do not read with my eyes.
He who reads with his eyes has forgotten
the face of his teacher.
I read with my Heart.
I do not write with my hand.
He who writes with his hand has forgotten
the face of his teacher.
I write with my Soul."

Girls, of course, can substitute she for he.

Just thought I'd share in case there were other Dark Tower fans.

That is neat! Do you have the kids sing the song and if so have you tried creating gestures to go along with it?