Monday, February 23, 2009
"Whatever" it Takes
Hip Hop Doc (Dr. Rani Whitfield) and Dee-1 (middle school teacher) are on a mission and their message goes straight to the heart (literally and figuratively). From "Walking the Walk" to "Whatever" the duo have been on a mission to educate and motivate youngsters to live a healthy and active lifestyle (YouTube Channel). Truly inspiring and in education we call what the Hip Hop Doc does so well, is enlist the interests of his target audience - the youth that love Hip-Hop. Let it Flow Doc!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
38 comments:
I think that these two guys did a ver good job of putting something to work that will actually reach the kids they are teaching. I don't think that everyone is going to be capable of this type of activity, but it should challenge all of us to use the tools that we do have to make sure that we are getting the message across to the children that we teach.
This was a very creative way of getting the message out. Students and young children get sick of being lectured all the time, being lectured sometimes makes them want to rebel that much more. Saying the same thing but in a fun way that relates to the students helps them understand and listen to what you are saying in a much more efficient way.
I really like how these two teachers decided to get their message out in a creative way. It is a little bit corny, but for younger kids who need this advice it is attention getting and fun. Anyone can tell that these two guys really care about their students and what is really important is that the kids will recognize the effort made to try to relate to them. By combining their message about health and the interests of kids, these two teachers are positively influencing lives one rap song at a time.
Learning is a lifelong process and I think it's important that we, as future educators, keep an open mind when it comes to learning new and different teaching methods. Not all methods will work with all students, so it's important for a teacher to adapt their teaching style such that the class can best relate to what is being taught. These two teachers clearly understood this and showed innovation and creativity in their classroom.
I think the two teachers have created something that is out of the ordinary, which is great because it will hold the interest of the students. Just saying the same things over and over doesn't really accomplish much. It's the fact that changing the style of getting your message across to the children tends to work to your advantage. This rap was a great teachng technique to grab the attention and send a message.
I think that by creating a song that the kids can listen to over and over again and the song always being there to hear and teach a lesson but at the same time being cool and popular. The students will not even realize that they are permanently engraving the words into their brains memorizing the words that are telling them to stay away from drugs and be smart about what they do. This is a great learning tool that really is on a level of popularity for most age levels these days and will hopefully help a few kids out when they make decisions in the future.
Although I am not much of a rapper, this video is inspirational to me in that it shows how a good teacher can display his message in many different ways. Reading or lecturing information straight from a book may reach some children, but by using different media and strategies a teacher can reach out to all students in a fun and entertaining way.
This is a great example of how teachers can modify their lesson plan to reach the students that they are teaching. These students were able to identify with hip-hop. Incorporating that into the lesson made students more likely to listen to their message. It is important to determine what students identify with, so that the instructor can effectively teach them. What works with one group of students may not work with another. By constantly being creative with the methods we use to teach our lessons we can help students stay interested.
I think these guys did a great job at getting the point across for the age group that they displayed in the video. If this was to an older group of kids I don't think they will be as interested and think the guys are crazy for doing this, but when you start telling kids at a younger age it will help a lot and once they keep hearing it being repeated it will stick in their heads more.
I really liked this video and how they went about doing it. Although I do not think that it is appropriate for older kids, I do think that it can help younger kids to get the point across. I think that it is a good way to get kids attention. A catchy song usually stays in kids minds and they are able to sing it over and over again. It is a way to keep them remembering information and what is important. I think that as an educator it is your job to not only teach the information, but to also be creative and think of ways to get the information to stick in the kids minds. It is our job to make sure that students learn what they need to know, but do it in a way that it will stick in their mind forever.
I thought this video was a very unique approach to teaching students about health. I think that these two did an awesome job. It is our job as educators to not only teach the students but to present material in a way that they can remember and learn from. By relating to the students, the rap proved to be an effective tool to teaching them about health. Looking back on my years in elementary, middle, and high school I remember the teachers and their lessons that were unique and creative. The teachers that just stood at the front of the class and read from a slideshow are easily forgotten, and quite honestly I could not even remember their names. The more creative and unique we are at presenting material will most likely result in students actually learning.
I really liked this approach that these two teachers took in creating a song that gives students the right message. This would take a great deal of time to create but it is definately worth it because kids don't always comprehend or pay attention when teachers speak. The ability to be creative like this as a teacher would go a long way in reaching out to our younger students and could very well affect their future decisions.
This is an excellent way to teach a class. The students in this class enjoy rap music so the teacher took their preferences in mind and created a lesson that they would like. Too many teachers teach how they like to teach, not how their students want to be taught. If every teacher taught like this I believe that more students would take more interest in their school work. Teachers should know what their students are interested in. A way to do this is to hand out index cards at the beginning of they year and have each students write their name and something they like on the card. The teacher can then relate lessons to the student’s interests.
In today's day in age, rap has become the center of the music industry, especially for youngsters. Rap is well liked by many different races and can be used in numerous school districts. As educators, we must continue to use these new and innovative ways of teaching to get through to our students. I also noticed how the duo does not care if they are not good rappers. They do it to get through to the kids. Teachers must be able to put their "mask" on if they want to elevate their teaching to the next level.
Along with parents, teachers are the most influential people on the growth and development of students. It is important for them to be good role models and connect with the students to get their message across. This video is a good example of that. These two teachers did a great job of putting together a video and song for their students. It gets them involved and relates to their interests and activities. It is a different style of presenting material and information but it can be quite effective. While something like this won't work with all age groups, it's good to develop other ideas and activities to do with various grade levels of students. After all, these students may grow to become excellent people and passionate teachers like the men and women who taught them.
I believe that it was a great technique to use to get through kids. Most kids don't like listening to boring adults but if there is a twist where he speaks more like them they will be more interested. This is a good way to teach because it puts things into perspective for the kids.
I thought that this was an extremely well thought out way to capture the attention of the students. However, I don't think that this situation could ever really work. If a teacher of mine started rapping in the middle of class, I dont believe it would make anyone more likely to listen to what they are saying.
I thought that this song was a very creative way to get the students in the school to listen and pay attention. By incorporating school within something that most of the children can relate to or like, rap, it helps both the students and the teacher. I feel that this song gave this teacher a lot of confidence and now feels that he doesn't need to use rap to get the message across to the students. I also feel that the students gained more respect for the teacher, in which they can relate to him more and know that he's trying to help them. Everyone has the capability to use their creativity in order to keep their students listening and participating.
The key concept that I find as a watch these clips is motivation. Every child in every classroom has a different means by which they are driven to act. In this particular case, we see a young teacher and doctor playing into the cultural trends of the next generation to create an atmosphere that is pro-health and pro-education. Although the idea of changing the environment to motivate is not a new idea, the amount of creativity that can be involved with each individual group is endless. This example reminds all child influences that we can reach out to kids by stepping into a new character.
Very creative way of getting kids attention. The song is clever and catchy and is definitely a great way to get kids to understand what they need to know to be better students. Although it is hard for many people to be able to come up with this creative of an activity, but it shows that there are always ways of getting kids attentions.
This a really good way to get kids attention. Most teachers in classrooms just talk and talk and talk. Just makes the class boring. We have to make the class more exciting while learning. With these two teachers singing these kids were really excited to be in class. Of course I am not going to sing because i cant.
I think the way these two guys got the point across was very affective. It was a more this day in age type of message than an old black and white movie message. It was a very fun and entertaining music video that will grab kids attention and will allow them to listen to the message with interest.
I think what these guys did was great. It was something that was out of the ordinary, creative and different. Teachers should always be thinking about what the best way is to get their students to learn. The kids will remember the two "hip hoppers" message because of their perfomance. If they would have just done another lecture the kids would have been most likely bored and would not have been paying attention. However, since they busted out singing and dancing, they had their students full attention and their message was passed on to the students.
I am impressed with the way that these two, took a rap and implemented it to involve the children. This was something that many people can not accomplish as well as they did it. But it does show what teaching can be like if you take a step outside the box and be creative. This can be a useful tip for teachers to be more creative to get the attention of the students.
I think what these guys did was great. As a teacher it is very important to find a way to connect with your students or you may end up turning students off to your class and even PE and living an active life later on. Part of this is making things fun. Sure this was a video where the kids were acting, but it looked like it would be fun to be in that class.
I agree that sometimes you need to put on a mask that’s different from your life outside of teaching. Sometimes this may mean doing things that people think are “childish” or “goofy” but the kids will love it and it will help you to connect to them. If someone is afraid to put themselves out there then maybe they should consider something different than teaching.
This rap message i think was a creative way to get a point across to kids. Trying new ways such as rapping like this, shows kids that if there are others trying hard to show kids what is important then it must really be important and they should listen to the new ideas. Doing things like this will reach the kids, its something they can relate to and they will listen more then reject information like other plain ideas.
I feel that these videos have reached kids on a different level then your everyday lesson plans and life lessons. The creators of these videos reach out to kids and try and relay a message in a way that will stick and not just fly through their head like the rest of the information that is packed tightly into their developing brains. This videos are very catchy and I know I was singing them for most of that day. If I was singing the lyrics I know for sure little kids would be singing these songs and will think about their meaning and hopefully process the real message of the songs.
I think that was a very creative way to get the attention of children and adults who just seem to think that this information is boring. I truly understand and agree with what they two guys were saying about the word whatever. It can definitely bring you down and it give you an excuse that you really don't need. The music itself and what they guys were saying made me pay attention more to what they were saying and i think that it is truly inspirational. It's also delivering info and learning in more of an efficient way as well.
I found this clip as a useful way of integrating today's culture with students. It allows the students to view learning as a fun experience and get them more involved in education.
In these two video clips these two rappers do everything possible to connect to kids on a new level. Instead of just lecturing kids on becoming physically active, staying motivated in education, eating right, and staying away from drugs and alcohol, Dee, a middle school teacher, and the Hip Hop Doc, Dr. Rani Whitfield, use there musical talents and rapping skills to send their messages to kids. I found these videos really interesting because I feel as if this is the best way to relay messages to students. If you can be creative and think outside the box and be able to connect your objectives to something that you students enjoy, your message is going to stay with them. If you really want your students to be engaged in your activities, dare to be different. Trying new things and putting on an act, and connecting activities to personal interests of your students will help enhance their students physical education experience.
I think the two teachers have done a great job. This is a new way of getting the students attention and I believe it is a good way. In this day of age we are in younger students are taking to the rap music, so these teachers have taken this and put it to good use. I believe students will respond well to this video and this shows us that there are always new ways of teaching out there.
I think this is a great style of teaching for this specific situation. These two men went above and beyond what is expected of them and set an example for other teachers as two how far one can go to enhance their students learning experience. They used hip-hop/rap, which is commonly popular among urban students to get their students interested, and although this style won't work in every setting, it works in theirs, so I consider it very successful.
I always find myself remembering the lyrics to songs that I haven't listened to in years and the message is still fresh in my head, but when it comes to learning material I will admit that I have difficulty retaining facts that I have learned throughout my career as a student. I feel as if this is a great way to get messages across because it allows the students to listen to the song, memorize the lyrics, and realize what the message is. Although there is high level of "corniness" it's perfect for probably until 5th grade before it gets to be too much. Kudos to these teachers. They did a great job.
These videos are really unique way to get children's attention. I really like how these songs use hip hop as a way to get across a good message. The tunes are very catchy and easy to learn and for younger stundents the singers can become role models for them. By the singers promoting good behavior and health the message can be clear for younger stundents. I definitely think they should continue to make more songs.
This was a great way to teach and very useful for other teachers to maybe think about using this method. I feel like the students in the class enjoyed it and if the classroom is enjoyable the learning environment will be great.
I think that the "Whatever"it takes" video was a great illustration of teachers having to change their teaching strategies in order to cater to different students needs. I found this particular strategy extremely beneficial because I am hoping to work with at risk youth in a low income school district. While it may sound steriotypical, more often than not, this type of teaching would be very beneficial to those types of youth.
I feel like this is a great idea because it is a new fun way for the students to remember something that is so important. I know that sometimes it can be boring to just sit there and have to listen to a lecture. But when a lesson is made to be that creative it is something that will most likely be remembered. I think these guys were very creative and did a good job of sending an important message out.
I really think these two teachers went above and behind!! every kid these days listen to music and many like rap. instead of talking about killing and drugs these two talk about staying healthy exercising and staying educated. this is great for PE and schools in general!
Post a Comment