While researching to find out a bit more on the city of Paterson, I decided it may be beneficial to find examples of existing tactics used in schools. On youtube, I stumbled upon a vast number of culturally relevant strategies Paterson teachers have implemented in various situations and content areas. I happened to find a series of motivational videos used to help students as they take the require state standardized test, the NJASK. School 7 came up with a motivational song for the NJASK. The song, titled "I'm Passing and I Know it," parodies LMFAO's famed song of a similar title. Involving both students and faculty, the video generates an extremely positive attitude. Using her 8th grade students as the central focus, Ms. Polo was able to put something together that has an even greater chance of impact. The song choice itself, is culturally relevant, but allowing the students to motivate one another is the most culturally relevant piece of all. Sometimes we learn best from those at our level. For example, when given an assignment that requires narrative it may be wise to have the students go through a peer editing process (depending on their age of course). When group work is assigned, each group may be required to research a different topic and later give some sort of oral presentation. A group of students might be given the task to present on the Industrial Revolution, and choose to teach by means of a skit. In order to help students remember the Confederate States they might create a song, and maybe even add some dance moves. Allowing students to be creative while teaching actually teaching one another in the process, can create very positive results. This will not always be the case, and some students may not necessarily take information in as well, when it comes from a source equal to their own. However, in the case of this video I can imagine it put the minds of students at ease. Even if it success not reflected in the end scoring result, if the students were simply not as stressed going into it, it is likely the video made some sort of impact.
At the Paterson Charter School for Science and Technology, a similar idea was presented. The school held an NJASK pep rally, and created a video to a different LMFAO song. This time, teachers were a bit more prominent than the previous school. There was a nice equilibrium between students and teachers. Teacher's sometimes induce to fear or anxiety in students, which is something that should simply not happen to the extent that it does. We are here to help them succeed. These teachers and administrators are having fun with the concept, and students seem to be in high spirits. Yet again, the goal is to put the minds of students at ease. Whether the scores improved or not (hopefully they have), the students certainly seem to be more positive. Motivation is key, and teachers are ultimately responsible for the motivation of their students. Schools in Paterson are still struggling, but that does not mean idea like these have no use.
