VOA标准英语2013--Teacher Uses Music to Make Math Fun, Cool

 

Teacher Uses Music to Make Math Fun, Cool

Making math fun

The voice heard in the video belongs to mathematics teacher Jake Scott. Most of the performers are his students. Watching videos is not part of their daily routine but it is one of the essential course materials in Scott’s classes at Montgomery Blair High School in a Washington suburb. 

“I use rap because it is something that appeals to the students, also because music aids with memory," Scott explains. "So, if I can come up with rap and organize it and present it to the students, then that's helping² get the student to memorize it.” 

Scott started using rap videos three years ago. So far he has produced nine, including YouTube favorites “Triangle Experts” and “Quadratic Formulatic,” which have been viewed tens of thousands of times. “It is fun and the whole process is something that students appreciate,” Scott says.

Empowering students

In recent years, Scott has made a special effort to help students from other countries. “When they come here, their language skills are not up to par¹. So they are often times placed on a remedial level which is very low. Some of the students get discouraged and drop out," he states. "So I decide to focus on this group of students because many of those students are very capable.”

Lea Sanon’s family came here from the West African country of Burkina Faso two years ago. She appears in Scott’s Quadratic Formulatic video. “Before the video, I didn’t remember the quadratic formula. But right after he made the video and I listened to it once, I did remember everything," she says. "It is stuck in my head. It is kind of fun at the same time. I get to use in my Algebra³ II class right now.”

Abdullah Ibrahim, who immigrated⁴ from Iraq last year, says Scott makes math easy for him. “When I first came here, I was really bad in math," he admits. "After practicing with Mr. Scott, I mean thanks God. Now he decided⁵ [picked] me to go to honors [program] in the summer. I am doing well. So I am really proud of myself."

More than a teacher

Blair High School principal Renay Johnson is a big supporter. She even appears in Scott’s latest video, "Undefined Expressions".

“Mr. Scott is very motivating and engaging for students," Johnson notes. "He enjoys what he does. As you know he engages students and mathematics through music. But he is also our wrestling coach. He also sponsors National Honor Society. And he is also a director of after school sports academy. I am lucky to have him here as a teacher.”

Scott was recognized as an outstanding educator last year by the Montgomery County Council. He was also honored as 2011 teacher of the year by an African-American civil rights organization.

Jake Scott says he wants mathematics to be something that students look forward to learning.

And he says the results will help them on a path to college and a career. 

1 par   

n.标准，票面价值，平均数量；adj.票面的，平常的，标准的

参考例句：

• Sales of nylon have been below par in recent years.近年来尼龙织品的销售额一直不及以往。
• I don't think his ability is on a par with yours.我认为他的能力不能与你的能力相媲美。

2 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

3 algebra   

n.代数学

参考例句：

• He was not good at algebra in middle school.他中学时不擅长代数。
• The boy can't figure out the algebra problems.这个男孩做不出这道代数题。

4 immigrated   

v.移入( immigrate的过去式和过去分词 )；移民

参考例句：

• He immigrated from Ulster in 1848. 他1848年从阿尔斯特移民到这里。 来自辞典例句
• Many Pakistanis have immigrated to Britain. 许多巴基斯坦人移居到了英国。 来自辞典例句

5 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。