Hey, Roommates! We all have gotten the “back to school blues” after enjoying an awesome summer away from any educational responsibilities. Well one elementary teacher is trying to turn his kids frowns upside down with an interesting welcome video.
25-year-old Dwayne Reed, a first-time fourth grade teacher at Stenson Elementary School in Skokie, Illinois, took it upon himself to make coming back to school exciting by creating a rap song called ‘Welcome to the Fourth Grade.’ “I was tired of the boring newsletter welcoming students back,” he told The Shade Room. “I wanted to spice things up and make them exciting for the kids.”
Reed recently graduated from eastern Illinois and prides himself as being apart of one of the best education programs in Illinois. Since he is required to teach every subject to his fourth graders, Mr. Reed makes class very engaging by acting out scenes and taking on different voices as he teaches his students. “Fourth grade teachers teach all of the subjects during one school day, but my favorites are language arts and reading,” Reed explained. “While I’m reading, I try to physically become the person they’re hearing me read about by changing up my voice or being very energetic,” which is what can help children to retain the information that they’re taking in.
It’s very rare to learn of individuals who truly have a passion for education. The part that Reed enjoys the most is watching the children progress and “seeing the different, positive changes many of them have had. When we asked him what impact he wishes to have on his first class ever, Reed said, “I hope the kids in my first year never forget this year, but not because of me. I just hope that they never forget what they were truly able to learn or do once given them time and space to do so.”
We need more teachers like Mr. Reed, Roommates! If you haven’t seen his viral video, then check it out below! It’s super cute.
TSR STAFF: Talia O. @theclosetratchet on Instagram & @tallyohhh on Twitter!