As a future teacher, a fear that I have is not being able to help all my students. Or, even worse, is to look as some student as “unteachable” and not know how to help them. This article had helped point out to me that if it comes down to that situation, it is not the student who needs help, but myself. If a student is failing to learn, it is because the material doesn’t resonate with them and/or I am not teaching it in a way that best suits them. The fact that the Hip-Hop Project was made up of students that struggled academically speaks volumes to how far troubled students can go with the right curriculum tailored to their needs and a willing teacher to take extra time with them. Some of the biggest points that the students had pointed out was the lack of student voice when it comes to schoolwork. If the curriculum doesn’t reflect student experiences, they aren’t going to relate to it and I won’t get the results I was hoping for as a teacher. For tougher kids that come from a difficult background, this is essential. As secondary education advances, so should the curriculum.
Yes, I think it is important to teach classic literature but finding a way to incorporate that into the student’s daily life is far more important. Thinking outside the box for teaching reading and writing may fall under analyzing pop culture lyrics and how themes in certain songs reflect similar themes in literature. This allows students to bring knowledge that they already know ahead of time to the table and be able to apply it and contribute to the class. On top of this, they will enjoy being engaged with something they enjoy as it touches their daily life.
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