The lesson plan has students learning new vocabulary words so well that they can literally “knock out” incorrect synonyms and definitions. There’s teamwork, there’s physical activity, there’s repetition and there’s competition. In other words: it’s fun AND it works.

For those of you using Word Up, enjoy this treat. For everyone else, maybe it will inspire some creative lesson planning of your own. A huge thanks to Shelby – keep up the amazing work!

Link to download lesson plan

Not only is Education Nation a powerful synthesis of some of the most promising ideas in education reform (read it!), it mentions Flocabulary as an innovative, proven academic resource. We’re honored, and extend a huge thanks to Dr. Chen for his interest and support.

If you haven’t already, please be sure to check out Edutopia.org for best-practices, teacher-reviewed resources, free content, and much more. Happy end of August, HHC!

Beware: this is CATCHY!

“I Know My Verbs” from UBlackJones

Watch as they fall in love with Biggie, a song about a very cool (and very fat) cat from Unit 1 of The Word Up Project: Level Red. They memorize the song, learn the vocabulary, practice speaking and using the words in original sentences -and have a great time all the while. The teacher, Oksana Hohol, relates her experience throughout the video.

Thanks Cheryl, Oksana and all the kids at Rose Avenue Elementary School, for working hard and reminding us why we do what we do.

To show the depth of the students’ talent and work, we’re proud to showcase “Song for Haiti” – a haunting tribute created by Mr. Henry Rice (music teacher) and some of the SeeWorth students.

Keep up the amazing work guys. Can’t wait to see you all again.

“Song for Haiti” by SeeWorth Academy Students:

Follow Rachel Amburgey, Secondary Language Arts Program Planner for the School District of Palm Beach County in FL, as she narrated www.flocabulary.com, pointing out free teacher resources and focusing on our SAT Vocabulary program.

Thanks to Rachel, Lee and all the Flocab fans in Palm Beach. Next time, let us know in advance and we’ll gladly come by for an interview – and some beach time

Happy Memorial Day!

Tucker Carlson

But Mr. Carlson doesn’t seem happy to simply report. Instead, in a scathing blog post on his website, he accuses educators who use Flocabulary of putting “dunce caps on our kids.” He calls Flocabulary a “mindless… get-educated-quick scheme.” In a TV appearance Friday morning, Mr. Carlson falsely stated “there’s no actual evidence that this works. At all.”

Disagree? Post a comment on his blog!

Mr. Carlson’s statements are troubling, considering that various independent studies have found that Flocabulary programs boost student vocabulary proficiency, work well in afterschool settings, and even raise scores on state tests. We sent this information to Mr. Carlson, but he decided to ignore it.

Instead, Mr. Carlson takes a five-year-old quote out of context as proof that Flocabulary doesn’t want kids to learn difficult words. Nothing could be further from the truth.

We use hip-hop music as an educational tool to teach and engage students. We are never in favor of dumbing down the curriculum. Furthermore, our programs feature music as just one teaching method. In our vocabulary program, which teaches the words students need to know to pass state tests, the vocab-packed song represents just 1/9th of the overall lesson. The remainder consists of more traditional teaching methods, such as reading and writing exercises.

We are deeply disappointed that Mr. Carlson fails to see the importance of connecting with students’ interests when we teach them. During the two hours we spent talking with Tucker Carlson, we repeatedly told him that we are not seeking to replace the curriculum; we are trying to add to it.

Mr. Carlson seems to think that more of the same is the answer to solving the problems in America’s classrooms. If you feel differently, we urge you to let him and his readers know by posting comments on his blog.

Thanks for your continued support. We’re honored to have a community of educators, parents and students who feel strongly about making education effective and fun.

- Flocabulary

The Show airs Saturday, May 15th at 9:00 PM and Sunday, May 16th at 3:00 PM.

We found TheEbonyKeys’ Graduation Rap that beautifully sums up the triumph and joy of achievement, and of successfully passing a marker in one’s education. Huge props to Chadwick a.k.a “Ebony Bones” for creating some real, and real inspiring hip-hop.

Through a combination of rap, comedy, spoken word, lecture and song, Baba presents the grand theory of life on Earth in unequivocally engaging terms – without sacrificing the accuracy or rigor of the complicated ideas involved.

Flocabulary was lucky enough to see the premiere at the Bleeker Street Theater – there are only a few engagements left, so be sure to get your tickets ASAP!

By the way, we’re not the only ones excited. Check out this sterling review from the NY Times, which describes the performance as “one of the most astonishing, and brilliant, lectures on evolution I’ve ever seen”:

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/04/darwin-got-it-going-on/?hp

The rigorous review was written by Jim Papple, the speaking coordinator at Brock University. He has been a devoted “hip-hop head” for many years. His review of Flocabulary: The Hip-Hop Approach to SAT Level Vocabulary Learning, will “help all teachers befuddled by hip-hop to discover not only what it is but also its potential in the ESL classroom.”

Needles to say, we’re honored and thrilled – and excited to see Canadian ESL students use Flocabulary resources.

A big thanks to Clayton Graves, the editor of CONTACT, and Jim Papple. Hopefully, we’ll be making our way up north soon enough!

You can download the latest issue of CONTACT (and the Flocabulary review on pages 40-43) here:

http://www.teslontario.org/uploads/publications/contact/ContactSpring2010.pdf