Rock 'N Learn: A Review of Multiplication Rap and Other Educational Tools
Rock 'N Learn has established itself as a provider of educational materials for children, utilizing music and engaging visuals to make learning fun. This article delves into a review of their Multiplication Rap DVD, along with an exploration of other products like Letter Sounds and Division Rap DVDs, examining their effectiveness and appeal to different age groups.
Multiplication Rap: A Musical Approach to Learning Math Facts
The Rock N Learn Multiplication Rap DVD takes a unique approach to teaching multiplication. By setting math facts to catchy rap music, it aims to make memorization more engaging and enjoyable for children. The DVD uses "positive lyrics, cool rap music, and high-energy action" to generate excitement while students learn to solve multiplication facts quickly and accurately.
The Multiplication Rap iBook features 23 amusing videos and interactive features. All 12 fact families have a unique music video. First, learners rap along with complete facts. The second time they try to solve facts before hearing the answers. After each fact family, learners practice skip counting which helps build skills for multiplication.
Division Rap: Extending the Musical Math Fun
Following the success of Multiplication Rap, Rock 'N Learn introduced Division Rap. This DVD employs a similar strategy, using rap music to teach division facts. The goal is to give students a head start in learning division, making it a less daunting subject. Doc Roc leads the way with positive lyrics and high-energy action, designed to help students solve division facts quickly and accurately.
Letter Sounds: Building a Foundation for Reading
Recognizing the importance of phonics in early literacy, Rock ‘N Learn offers the Letter Sounds DVD. This tool focuses on teaching children the most common sound that each letter makes. The Letter Sounds DVD, complete with an "on-screen mouth," visually demonstrates how to form each sound. The Letter Sounds CD comes with a full-color illustrated book.
Read also: SRU Football History
Children are taught how to properly form each sound from an on-screen mouth. The children are shown the letter (both upper case and lower case), taught the sound and then a word with a picture is shown to represent that sound. Then they are given a little quiz to see if they can say it. Then they get to play "Name That Letter." They also got to read simple C-V-C words and blend some words with consonant combinations. They also learned some sight words. The DVD finished off with building sentences with simple words.
Money and Making Change: Practical Math Skills
For teaching practical math skills, Rock 'N Learn offers the Money and Making Change DVD. Penny and Bill (yeah, that is them on the cover) teach the viewer to recognize the different coins to The Coin Song, so helpful in learning. Then they learn to count coins, also learning to count on and skip count. A little bit of history of the coins was thrown in too. And they were taught how to count back change.
The DVD also includes a garage sale section, where children count to see if they have enough money to buy the item and then later they learned how to make change.
Other Educational Offerings
Rock 'N Learn boasts a diverse catalog of over 50 products, catering to various age groups and subjects. These include:
- Preschool and Kindergarten DVDs: Covering the alphabet, letter sounds, shapes, colors, counting, animals, and nursery rhymes.
- Phonics and Reading DVDs and CDs
- Math DVDs: Covering Telling Time, Adding and Subtracting, Fractions and Decimals and Multiplication.
- Science and Social Studies DVDs
- Language DVDs
The Appeal and Effectiveness of Rock 'N Learn
Several factors contribute to the appeal and effectiveness of Rock 'N Learn products. The use of music, particularly rap, is a major draw for children. The catchy tunes and positive lyrics make learning more enjoyable, which can improve retention. The bright colors and cartoon characters also capture children's attention.
Read also: SRU Tuition and Fees Explained
Another key element is the interactive nature of many of these tools. The Multiplication Rap iBook, for example, allows kids to quiz themselves on math facts. The Letter Sounds DVD includes games like "Name That Letter," which encourages active participation.
Criticisms and Considerations
While Rock 'N Learn products are generally well-received, some users have noted potential drawbacks. One concern is that some segments, like the garage sale section in Money and Making Change, can become repetitive. Another is that older children who already know their letter sounds may find the Letter Sounds DVD boring.
It's also important to consider the age appropriateness of each product. While some children may be advanced for their age, it's generally best to follow the recommended age ranges.
Read also: Colors, Shapes & Counting: Is Rock 'N Learn worth it?
tags: #rock #and #learn #multiplication #rap #review
