The popularity of hip-hop music is now being used to break
down barriers when teaching, math, English, history and
other subjects, thanks to educational rapper D.J. Duey,
popularly known as Mr. Duey (www.mrduey.com).
Duey, a sixth-grade teacher in Southgate, recently took
his musical talent on the road when he performed for students
at a Native American school in Powhattan, Kansas. Educational
experts Elizabeth Johnson and Kathy Walsh, and Duey's record
label owner, Andrew Yando, accompanied Duey for the two-day
visit April 30-31.
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HIP HOP LEARNING: Elizabeth
Johnson, an
Eastern Michigan
University associate professor
of
teacher education, recently traveled
with other
educators to observe the
use of hip-hop as a teaching
component Kickapoo Nation School in
Powhattan,
Kansas. D.J. Duey, a
sixth-grade teacher
from Southgate
and one of Johnson's former
students,
implemented his rap music
educational routine into the students'
lesson plan. |
Johnson is an associate professor of teacher education
at Eastern Michigan University, and Walsh is president-elect
of the Michigan Association of Teacher Educators. Both
Duey and Walsh are EMU graduates who studied under Johnson.
The 125 students of the K-12 Kickapoo Nation School (KNS)
have been listening to Duey's educational rap music since
March and love it, said Johnson.
Duey performed five songs from his recently released "Class
Dis-Missed" educational rap CD and gave free copies to
students and teachers. He also rapped while
the KNS Drum Circle group played with a hip-hop beat, something
that traditionally isn't done.
Duey and Yando worked with the
middle- and high-school students to create beats and
lyrics that align with the Kickapoo culture. Students developed
CD covers that celebrate and embrace their culture, and
Yando discussed how he became a producer, record company
owner and young entrepreneur. He and Duey also shared
advice with high school students interested in starting
a Native American record label.
"Because we embrace innovative and creative teaching strategies,
we want our students to experience the dynamic intersection
between rap and academics," said Mary Livingston, KNS principal. "We
also want our teachers and parents to have research-based
strategies that will help them meet the challenges standardized
testing poses."
Walsh and Johnson have worked with educators and teachers
at several other reservation-based schools serving Native
Americans. While at KNS, the two
shared techniques for incorporating a hip-hop learning
curriculum into the school's teaching approach.
"To our knowledge, no other teacher has collaborated on
a hip-hop learning curriculum with Native American students,
parents and educators," said Johnson. "We came first, not
as teachers, but as learners. This is a culture rich with
traditions and pride."
"The first obstacle in teaching children is to reach them.
Hip-hop dominates youth culture, including Native American
youths," said Johnson, a Native American of Cherokee descent
from the Red Clay Nation in Arkansas. "During our visit
to the KNS, we provided unique tools that the school and
parents can use to increase their students' performance
and self esteem. Student achievement scores on math and
English have increased when utilizing educational hip-hop
as a delivery mechanism for standardized curriculum."
Johnson and Walsh conducted professional development workshops
to instruct teachers and parents on how to use a "hip-hop
and pop-culture curriculum" in the classroom as vibrant
tools to "Reach 'em," so that teachers can then "Teach 'em."
They also demonstrated how to embrace and utilize the "Circle
of Learning" philosophy within instruction, which builds
and maintains a strong personalized student-centered curriculum.
For more on DJ duey's music, go to www.mrduey.com.
About the Kickapoo Nation School
The Kickapoo Nation School is the only tribal school in
Kansas and is a hub for innovation and creativity in reaching
its students. The Kickapoo Tribal Council is committed
to excellence in education that emphasizes culturally competent
instruction. Though a small school, it carefully works
holistically with the students to improve their interest
and attitudes toward school, and their ability to think
critically and use knowledge to establish and maintain
themselves in their native environment. The school thrives
on involving family and other Native Americans in the community
in the students' educational process. It is located at
400 1st Street, P.O. Box 106, Powhattan, KS 66527.
