Rock 'n Learn: Divison Rap

-- School Library Journal, 10/29/2009

From the October issue

Rock 'n Learn: Division Rap. DVD. 55 min. Rock ’n Learn (rocknlearn.com). 2009. ISBN 978-1-878489-80-7. $19.99.

Gr 3-6–Cool characters help students understand the basic rules and the practical uses of division, all with great fun and a catchy beat. D.J. Doc Roc and a cast of animated animals first introduce the concepts of division, then use music to drill the math facts. The relationship between multiplication and division is reinforced, the parts of a division problem are identified, and remainders and long division are explained. It is interesting that long division is used in the section about remainders, then is “introduced” in the next section. Between each short lesson, practical word-story problems reinforce the concepts and help students relate what they have learned to real-life situations. “Division Drill” consists of nine raps with catchy titles such as “Eight the Whole Thing” and “Let’s Split” in which students are challenged to solve problems before hearing the answer. The animations are fun, the characters and backgrounds are colorful, and the concepts are clearly explained. The DVD can be viewed in its entirety, or a specific concept or drill can be selected from the menu. Visual and auditory learners will appreciate the reinforcement and clear explanations. Accompanying worksheets are available at worksheets-for-math.com. While the cute animations may be considered childish by older users, the repetition and explanations are sure to help students master the concepts.–MaryAnn Karre, Horace Mann Elementary School, Binghamton, NY