Letter from Peggy Armstrong

Earlier this week we received this exciting email from Ms. Armstrong, a 6th grade science teacher in Georgia, who gave us permission to reprint it here.  Unbelievable!  Have an experience of your own to share?  Email us!

I work in a small, rural school district which is 99%+ African American. I didn’t tell my students what I was going to do when I started the science rap songs. They heard the beat and started bobbing. They heard the rapping and started dancing before realizing they were hearing science songs. They loved it! I printed the lyrics so they could learn them and they started singing along.

The commotion brought on the instructional coach and principal to see what was going on in my classroom. They listened and were amazed, soon they were tapping to the beat. They stayed for three songs and it sounds as though the 6th grade will be able to perform the songs at the next district assembly.

Ms. Armstrong’s class was “the bomb” today. I overheard a student another student what they did in my class today. The student answered “We rapped” which drew a puzzled look from the inquiring student. This ought to be fun explaining to parents!

I’m thrilled to find such a great learning tool for those reluctant students. The information reaches deep into the subject and is accurate. I don’t think I learned about rubisco until college. All I can say is we need more, more, more, especially in science and math.

Thanks so much it was the best $20 I ever spent on the classroom!

Peggy Armstrong

And this followup email:

A 10th grade biology teacher stopped in during class today and listened. She agreed that biology is not taught that deep even in high school. She and I both love the mass and weight song because it is a rather difficult lesson to teach sometimes.The formulas are there and even useful for a geometry teacher in regards to volume.

My inclusion class was also observed today by an inclusion supervisor. Although I never saw her tap or bob, we were given high marks for our creative differentiated instruction strategies. It appears that I made the right purchase at the right time.