Tuesday, January 20, 2015

I think I'm Gonna Like It Here...


On Saturday afternoon, when my 6 year old daughter wished aloud that we could go see Annie, I impulsively said yes. Normally, I would beg off or find some excuse to not take them out to the movies, and spend a whole bunch of money on tickets and popcorn and candy. But that day, I said yes. So, I found a theater that was offering Annie and saw that we had time to make the matinee. I had babysat two nights before so I had a little extra spending money for this treat. The promise of a movie, popcorn, candy and a date with Mommy was enough for my girls to break a speed record in getting dressed to go.

And go we did. Alice, my 6 year old, was held rapt by the film the entire time while my 4 year old, Stella, started to get restless in the last half hour (thanks to the overlong previews!). As the movie came to it's resolution, Alice turned to me and said "Mommy, I can't stop crying," and truth be told, I was a little weepy too! I'm a sucker for a happy ending, and I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Stella, not one to be left out, reported, "There were tears coming out my eyes, Mama."

The movie might not be the most well-written movie but it was engaging and had plenty of climaxes to keep the girls interested, and invested in the movie's outcome. I thought about how this is true in getting my kids interested in books. Right now, Alice is not reading what I would consider Caldecott Medal-worthy books but they get her reading, and connecting with characters. It's been thrilling to watch her emerging literacy, and learning to verbalize her response to a text. be it a movie or a book, in increasingly sophisticated ways!

Alice's favorite song from the movie:







{More Slices Here! https://twowritingteachers.wordpress.com/2015/01/20/an-invitation-sols/}

5 comments:

  1. I haven't seen the new Annie, but I loved the original as a young girl. I'm glad you said "yes". :)

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  2. I didn't even realize there was a new movie version of "Annie." We're taking Isabelle to see the show when it comes to Hershey this summer. Perhaps the new movie would be a good prep for her.

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    1. Stacey, it is very different from the original! I would say that the Broadway version is probably closer to the original film.

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  3. Sometimes you just have to say yes and live in the moment of joy. What a fun outing for your girls!

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  4. I was not crazy about this modern version but I'm so glad it was good for your girls. I have been sitting through the Hobbit series because I love sharing it with Mihael. I hope they remember these experiences, right?

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