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Smart Shorties on Donny Deutsch
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Smart Shorties Hip Hop Multiplication Teaches Math Through Music
April 22, 2008 0 CommentsSmart Shorties Hip Hop Multiplication, a new CD and workbook from Spark The Mind that melds the world of Hip Hop and R&B into an innovative collection of hook laden tunes geared to teach kids of all ages their multiplication facts will be released April 22, 2008 via www.smartshorties.com. The product is being marketed directly to educators and schools and will be released to major retail outlets later this year. The brainchild of creators Alex Nesmith, a longtime music producer and Christine Smith, a former school teacher, the CD is a compilation of songs covering multiplication facts from 0 to 12 using the back beats of radio hits by some of today's most popular music artists including Chris Brown, T-Pain, Soulja Boy, Akon, and Cassie, to name a few. The songs are performed by students who were chosen after they met the challenge of successfully learning their multiplication facts and displaying the ability to write their own lyrics.
The CD alone is priced at $17.99 and the Teacher Edition double CD and its companion Student Workbook will each sell separately for $29.99. Bulk discounts and Teacher Answer Key's are also available to education professionals. The Teacher Edition double CD is an extended version of the Hip Hop Multiplication CD and includes an additional song for each recording that's only the multiplication facts isolated for teachers to use in their classrooms. The double CD has the instrumental version of each song for the students to practice their multiplication from memory. There is also an enhanced CD with a Lesson Plan Video of How to Use Our Products Effectively for teachers, a presentation about Spark the Mind, a preview of "Smart Shorties Math Facts - The Movie." And a bonus track, "Riding The 50 States," which was inspired by Chamillionaire's "Ridin' Dirty" single, all included in the Hip Hop Multiplication Teacher Edition double CD. The companion Student Workbook is a great way to follow along with the Teacher Edition double CD and is sold separately. In addition to being purchased online, the products can also be ordered by calling 800-880-9839. The CD's and workbooks were designed to give teachers a cool, modern educational tool that students would enjoy learning with while also being affordable for parents to utilize as an educational supplement at home. Unlike the typical workbook, Smart Shorties is printed in full color and uses symbols such as blinged out headphones, musical notes, sports cars and other highly identifiable emblems of hip hop culture, which have proven to hold kids attention.
Smith and Nesmith met while Smith was teaching inner city children grades 4th - 6th in Toledo, Ohio. She approached Nesmith, known for producing hit records for a diverse group of artists ranging from Akon and Outkast to Keith Sweat and Charlotte Church, about turning her math lessons into songs to help her students memorize their facts. "I couldn't understand how my kids couldn't grasp these math equations, but they were able to recite every line from the most difficult hip hop songs," says Smith. She and Nesmith decided to have the students write their own lyrics using the beats from popular music as a key to the student's ability to memorize and easily process math problems. This process was an immediate hit with the students so they formalized the first song into a professional workable classroom program and they found the scores on the standardized math tests showed marked improvement.
A pilot study utilizing Smart Shorties Hip Hop Multiplication materials was recently performed in Washington D.C. public schools, amongst the nation's lowest performing districts. The school exposed to the Smart Shorties product out performed the control group by 25% after initially testing 42% lower than the same control group.
Smart Shorties Hip Hop Multiplication is just the first of what will be a multi-product roll out for Spark The Mind. The company plans to develop a series of educational CD's and workbooks across critical curriculum areas.
Spark The Mind is an edutainment company based in Maumee, OH founded by Christine Smith, a former elementary school teacher and Alex Nesmith, a popular music producer who share a lifelong commitment to early childhood education. Founded in 2006, the company's goal is to harness the international power of hip hop music to inspire kids to learn at every grade level while having fun.
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Teacher, producer create CD for math success
April 10, 2008 By Cyril Josh Parker 0 CommentsThe Amsterdam News
“Schoolhouse Rock” has crumbled, and rappers like Akon, Mims, Solja Boy and Yung Joc are taking over teaching kids their multiplication tables. When Ohio-based teacher Christine Smith and Atlanta-based music producer Alex Nesmith crossed paths in 2006, they created the newest method for teaching inner-city elementary school students to learn. Together, they created education company Spark The Mind and the album “Smart Shorties: Multiplication Hip Hop Math Facts.”
The innovative math songs take current hip hop hits like T-Pain’s “Bartender” and Cassie’s “ Me and You” changing the lyrics to help kids memorize their multiplication tables from 0 to 12. The idea started when Smith was working as an elementary school teacher in inner-city Toledo, Ohio, and struggling to teach her students their multiplication tables. She realized that while they were knowledgeable of every hip-hop song on the radio, when it came to math nothing seemed to click.
“It was a struggle getting then to learn their multiplication tables” she said. “Most of all, they didn’t like learning multiplication.” Smith called upon music producer Nesmith, who has previously worked with acts like Outcast, Twista, and Keith Sweat to create some songs that students could memorize to learn math. After pulling some strings and getting licenses to use some songs, he recorded 13 math songs using vocals from students at Smiths’s school. The recording resulted in a CD with song like “ Throw some 4s on It,” a mathematical version of Rich Boy’s “Throw some D’s On It,” and Jim Jones’ hit “We Fly High” changed to “7’s Ballin’.” Nesmith said, “ I told Ms. Smith that you can get kids to learn anything if you put a beat to it. The kids are learning and the parents love it, too.”
Smith and Nesmith said that the songs go beyond teaching children about math. The lyrics make “learning seem cool” and glorify the benefits of getting good grades. On the track “ Crank Them 3’s,” a cover of Solja Boy’s “ Crank That,” kids hear on the hook “ Watch me crank that honor roll and super boost them scores.” A recent study done by the University of Toledo proved that “Smart Shorties” equals results. The study was done in Washington, D.C., at two proverty-stricken elementary schools. One was given “Smart Shorties” while the other was given the traditional method. The study showed that not only did the students using “ Smart Shorties” learn all multiplication tables, but also learned them at a rapid rate. “A smart shorty is a kid who accepts the fact that it is cool to be smart,” Smith said. “ They know that they don’t have to be the smartest kid in the class, but know what they have to do to learn.
Nesmith and Smith produced learning resources to go along with the CD for teachers. They have received thousands of orders form all around the globe via their website. This summer, the two, along with the students form Smith’s school will be in Brooklyn to film a movie musical containing the lyrics form the CD.
Latest News
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Winners of the Scholastic/Smart Shorties K-6 Teacher Giveaway
January 8, 2010 0 CommentsHolly Bain
Grade 2
Union City ElementaryMrs. Nicole Ferraccio
Kindergarten
North Washington ElementaryJordan Garcia
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American Leadership AcademyAbigail Nicolaou
PS 16Lori Padmore
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New Holiday Prices - 20% OFF!
November 30, 2009 0 CommentsCheck out the Smart Shorties Store for new prices on all of our items - 20% Off!
Was $99.99, Now $79.99 Smart Shorties Hip Hop Multiplication Program
Was $62.40, Now $49.99 Hip Hop Multiplication Deluxe Bundle
Was $72.00 Now $57.99 Teacher Bundle
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Who's Using Our Products?
November 19, 2009 0 CommentsAlabama
- Bottenfield Middle School – Adamsville, AL
- Davishills Middle School – Huntsville, AL
- Matthews Elementary – Northport, AL
- Ridgecrest Elementary – Phenix City, AL
- Tenth Street Elementary – Anniston, AL
Arkansas
- Marion Elementary School – Marion, AR
California
- Pasedena ISD – Pasedena, CA
- Westbrough Middle School – San Francisco, CA
Florida
- Hope Preparatory Academy – Tampa, FL
- Just Elementary – Tampa, FL
- North Ward Elementary – Clearwater, FL
- Sallye B. Mathis Elementary – Jacksonville, FL
- Venetia Elementary School – Jacksonville, FL
Georgia
- A. Phillip Randolph Elementary - Atlanta, GA
- Berrien County Board of Education – Nashville, GA
- Brookview Elementary - East Point, GA
- Collins Elementary – Augusta, GA
- Edward S. Kemp Primary – Hampton, GA
- Emerson Elementary – Emerson, GA
- Harriett Tubman Elementary – College Park, GA
- Newton County Board of Ed – Covington, GA
- Polk School District – Polk County, GA
- Ware C. Callaway Elementary – Jonesboro, GA
- West Clayton Elementary – College Park, GA
- Woodward Elementary – Atlanta, GA
Louisiana
- Algiers Charter Schools – New Orleans, LA
- Brownfields Elementary - Baton Rouge, LA
- Calcasieu Parish School Board – Lake Charles, LA
- Dalton Elementary School – Baton Rouge, LA
- Dryades YMCA – New Orleans, LA
- Dutchtown Primary – Geismar, LA
- East Baton Rouge Parish School System – Baton Rouge, LA
- Forest Heights Academy of Excellence – Baton Rouge, LA
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- Madison Middle School – Adrian, MI
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Missouri
- Barbara Jordan Elementary – University City, MO
Ohio
- Swanton High School – Swanton, OH
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- Medford School District – Medford, OR
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- Academy Central Elementary – Tulsa, OK
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Pennsylvania
- Roberto Clemente Charter School – Allentown, PA
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South Carolina
- Hampton Elementary School – Hampton, SC
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Texas
- Dunbar Elementary School – Beaumont, TX
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- Imogene Gideon Elementary – Arlington, TX
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Virginia
- Hampton City School – Hampton, VA
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- Payne Elementary – Lynchburg, VA
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Washington, D.C.
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West Virginia
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Today's Student & Smart Shorties
November 16, 2009 0 CommentsToday's Student by Carolyn Kornegay and Irene Woodard
Today’s student is surrounded by rhythmic technology: cell telephones, ipods, MP3 players, etc.; therefore, they will readily embrace Spark the Mind/Smart Shorties as a learning tool. It is non-threatening and can be repeated as needed across all grade levels.
The concept is highly entertaining, promotes retention through repetition and reinforces skill development.Learning fundamental mathematics principles insures the student’s ability to successfully master all NCTM Standards required at each grade level. Multiplication skills are necessary for success in performing all mathematical procedures.
What Research says about the Relationship between Repetition (Rote Memory) and Learning: (Ever wonder why you still know your nursery rhymes?)
Repetition is a key part of learning. It is the optimum plan for reviewing information to get it into long term memory.
- Rote memorization is a valuable tool for certain types of data. Learning multiplication tables, typing and playing the piano demonstrate the role repetition plays in learning. Smart Shorties combines learning to multiply by memorization plus the addition of familiar hip hop music tunes combined with creative, self- expressed lyrics. The child, who experiences this powerful combination of learning at 8 or 9 years of age, will know for the rest of his life that 8x7 is 56…and never wonder as an adult about that fact.
What Research says about Biology of Music: (Ever wonder why pregnant mothers experience fetal movement when music is played?)
Music is a learning tool that already exists in the student’s schema. It is used as transition during work periods and is effective in assisting students in self- regulation.
- Scientists have proven that music is in our genes. All humans come into the world with an innate capability for music. At a very early age, this capability is shaped by the music system of the culture in which a child is raised. Spark the Mind combines the research on what goes on in the brain with a cultural understanding of music which leads to practical applications related to learning.
What’s appealing about Spark the Mind?
It’s based on the brain looking for familiar patterns during the acquisition of knowledge (learning).
It collaborates with the brain familiar patterns with familiar music patterns.
It recognizes and highlights that students learn best when they learn using a medium that is familiar to their cultural schema. Songs chosen for Smart Shorties are popular and familiar among today’s students.
It provides an opportunity for students to elicit positive affirmation from their peers.
It can be used for new learning, remediation, individualized instruction, small and large group instruction; it can be used when English is the second language and by students who have learning challenges.
It can be implemented by teachers of every caliber [ i.e. new, experienced, successful, marginal]
Its creative approach engages the students’ emotions through musical intonation, thereby removing the classroom limitation of learning only by textbooks and worksheets.
Its effective use can result in a student’s measurable gains in math on national standardized tests.
The use of hip hop music is a creative way for students to learn multiplication and other academic facts because it allows them to use their individual personality and self- expression to demonstrate their basic understanding. The goal of this high interest, non- threatening instructional approach is to enable students to quickly learn the multiplication facts. Once they have learned this basic skill, they will be able to demonstrate use of repeated addition, counting in multiples, combining things that are in groups, making arrays, using area models, computing simple scales and using simple rates. Learning the multiplication factors in early grades is requisite to being able to understand and proficiently demonstrate higher level math skills over time.
Using hip-hop to learn multiplication is similar to using street mathematics or mathematics used out of school (Street Mathematics and School Mathematics, Nunes et. al., Columbia University Press, 1993). Students bring “rhymes” or “rap” that they recite in informal environments away from the school to the classroom to help them learn mathematical skills and content.
Submitted by:
Carolyn Kornegay – Curriculum Writer of Math and Science; adjunct professor at Howard University and former Science Associate in the Office of the Deputy Superintendent in charge of interpretation and usage of the D.C. Mathematics, Science and Technology Curriculum Framework.
Irene Woodard – Retired D.C. Public School principal; current facilitator of seminars for corporate leaders and personal COACH to charter school administrators.
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The Next Smart Shorties Star Sweepstakes!
November 6, 2009 0 Comments
Have you ever wondered how much fun it would be to star in a Smart Shorties film or perform in a song? Now’s the time for your big break! On November 9th Smart Shorties kicks off “The Next Smart Shorties Star” sweepstakes.
Entering is easy! All you have to do is call 419 724-4953 Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 5pm EST and with every purchase of a Smart Shorties DVD from November 9th through December 31, 2009 you receive one chance to enter the sweepstakes.
GRAND PRIZE – the winner will receive an acting role in the next Smart Shorties Film, plus an all expenses paid roundtrip to our shooting location.
SECOND PRIZE – Parents...your child will be featured in a Smart Shorties song on the next album! BUT TEACHERS CAN WIN TOO! If you are selected you can select up to seven students to be featured on a Smart Shorties song!
THIRD PRIZE – one free Hip Hop Multiplication Program (a set of 5 Smart Shorties products)
CALL 419 724-4953 and enter as many times as you like! One entry per DVD. If you order 10 DVDs you will be entered 10 times!
Click here to watch the trailer!
Check back on Facebook for updates and announcements! We’re excited to share the latest Smart Shorties Stars with the world…
CALL 419 724-4953 Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 5pm to enter now! For all inquiries and questions, email us at info@smartshorties.com See you at the movies!
Must be 18 years of age or older upon entry, and reside within the 50 United States or Washington, D.C. See official sweepstakes rules here. Orders will ship on November 30, 2009.
