News, updates and ed tech tips straight from Flocab HQ
Natalie Stuart Blog

Broward County Public Schools Believes in Flocab: Hear What Students and Teachers Have to Say

Did you know that hip-hop has the most unique wordage than any other genre of music? It’s okay if you didn’t, because truthfully, I didn’t either. That is, until I dived into Flocabulary three years ago. I realized that not only did this program have catchy tunes and rhythm, but it incorporated so many different words and ideas in each and lesson. It completely changed my instructional pedagogy…for the better!

Working at a Title One school and being a public school student myself, I was surrounded by hip-hop music my entire life. It is the genre I listened to each and every day on the car ride home from school. In fact, when I hop in my car after teaching, it’s the first thing I play as I drive home. I practically live and breathe this fast paced, lively genre. You see, for us South Floridians, hip-hop and rap is an influential part of our culture. As my students walk the hallways or play at recess, I can’t help grinning as I hear them singing or rapping the latest tunes on the radio. Sometimes, I sing along with them (which always gets me to ‘cool status’). But the truth is, I didn’t think any of these songs could correlate with my standards or what I’m teaching…until now.

 

I have been able to connect with my students on another level with the use of Flocabulary by teaching them the standards through music. Since my school doesn’t have a music program (thanks, budget cuts), Flocabulary is the best way for me to infuse a love of music with my little ones. It allows us to build a relationship through a common love that we have that goes beyond a textbook, computer or any other textile object. Flocabulary not only teaches components of subject areas, it increases knowledge in vocabulary and allows students to practice their own learning through activities embedded in each video. This has not only increased grades, it has created a more positive learning environment in my class. We can now rap about content and actually connect!

Not only do teachers see the difference with Flocabulary, students do too! I love hearing the claps and “YES!” when they see Flocabulary pop up on the screen before my lessons. I love how they are reminded of the songs with other activities or phrases they hear/see throughout the day. But mostly, I love when they tell me how much they love learning.

I know I’m not the only one that feels this way about Flocabulary, so I spoke to several teachers and students at my school, Nova Eisenhower Elementary. I was able to gather the thoughts of both teachers and students to share the positive effects Flocabulary has had in their classrooms. Check it out!

What Teachers Said

Abby Grumley
3rd Grade Teacher

“I love how my students get up and dance and sing along with the lyrics to each song. They get so pumped when I even mention the word ‘Flocabulary’. It’s a great way to introduce a concept or elaborate on a difficult standard. I have noticed a difference in friendships and overall class bonding through the memorization of the raps in Flocabulary.” 

Zoe Leal
4th Grade Teacher

“It’s like they don’t realize they’re learning. Flocabulary not only reinforces my lessons, but it provides my students with learning that goes beyond the class norm. My students look forward to Flocabulary with every new lesson; so much that it is a center in my class, allowing them the opportunity to sing, dance and put the lesson to practice with Flocabulary’s creative practice assignments.”

“I love that Flocabulary can help students to interact with the curriculum in different ways. It’s so much more effective than a regular story, questions and worksheet for reading strategies and science concepts. I like to use the Quiz and Read & Respond as independent work after we listen to the song (and, of course, sing with it) as a class. The activities are appropriate for seat work, but can still keep the students engaged. For pairs or groups, the Vocab Game, Vocab Cards, and Lyric Lab are tremendously useful resources.” – Dana Paz, 5th Grade Teacher

What Students Said

“I think Flocabulary is a good way to learn. The Vocab Cards help me comprehend the video. The Quiz helps me remember what the video is about. I personally think Flocabulary is funny and is a good way to learn things.” -Alexandria A., 4th Grade Student

“Flocabulary uses lots of cool rhymes and words that help me learn better. It makes me understand the lessons that my teacher is teaching us. I love rap music and I feel Flocabulary really knows how to reach students my age because the music isn’t boring and it’s with the times.” – Saeisha P., 5th Grade Student

“I think Flocabulary is good for learning because kids enjoy rap music and the music is educational and when they listen to it, they are learning something new. It is better than learning in a book because kids like the music and when you learn from a book you don’t really enjoy it as much as music.”– Layla G., 3rd Grade Student

Share
Share
Pin
Tweet

Natalie Stuart

Natalie is a 3rd grade teacher in her hometown of sunny South Florida. She has been teaching for ten years with experience in 2nd-4th grade. She prides herself on building relationships with her students through SEL, which she attributes to their successes in academics. She has many obsessions including hip hop, Halloween, the NY Yankees, boxing, and her cat.