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Student engagement is a goal in schools everywhere. A teacher in the Washington suburbs has found a way to engage and motivate students-- by bringing rhythm and fun to mathematics. The approach works well especially for students who speak English as a second language. 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 helping 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 par. 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.” | 
