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Ready to read all about me! I am ShaQuina Stanley, a passion-driven public-school teacher with more than ten years of experience teaching elementary school kids.
I understand that kids now live in a different world, aided with technology, social media, video games, and hip-hop music. The culture now is quite different from what I had while growing up, and I have spent years learning the hip-hop culture and finding better means to reach these kids and impact them with knowledge while still understanding their ways, motivation, and interest.
I enjoy being in the classroom. There I am creative, innovative, and bring in a unique experience that leaves a memorable impression in the minds and hearts of my students.
Over the years of being a classroom teacher, I have learned that younger students learn better from a teacher who understands and speaks their cultural language. This helps them develop trust and confidence and brings them into a space where they can be their best.
I have developed four content pillars that serve as the basis of my interaction with younger students. My four content pillars are culture, Language, Core subjects, and Transformation. All of these come together in producing an effective teaching method that helps kids understand and learn better.
When it comes to culture it is not just about religion, traditions, and skin tone. Culture can be the way someone behaves, the way they talk, the way they interpret the world around them, and their exposure or experiences. I have come to understand that cultural awareness in the classroom can make a difference. Don’t understand the how or why behind culture please read this post.
The most used form of communication that we are aware of is language. We most often think of language verbally but nonverbal language is just as important and as an educator, it is important to know that body language and facial gestures can really unravel what a student is feeling and thinking.
Along with language and was the world evolves America has the privilege to educate students that may have English as a secondary language. We owe it to these students as English language learners to equip ourselves with tools, techniques, and skills to help them excel and progress through the English language. If you want to know, more feel free to read this post.
As an educator, we know that the four core subjects are necessities to a child’s learning. The four core subjects are pretty straightforward, so we thought. As the world changes so do the essentials of what we should be teaching our students. Language Arts, Mathematics, History, and Science are what are considered the four core areas. I have found that using cross-curricula is a much more effective way to trach students than isolation. If you need more ways to use cross-curricula to enhance your lesson or save time in the class, then this post may be what you need.
When considering transformation in the classroom you must consider the behavioral plan, classroom management, classroom décor, and even your classroom organization. I have found that all these things can work together in your favor. If you have systems, processes, procedures, routines, and expectations in your classroom you will save yourself time, preserve your mental health (decrease the things you think. worry about) and have energy instead of teacher burnout fatigue. I have put together a very handy and helpful checklist that could help jumpstart your classroom transformation.
My business is Hip Hop Teaching LLC. I specialize in culturally Relevant/Responsive teaching. I help teachers learn how to increase the interest of their students through 21st-century technology and how effective use of social media and trending topics will increase the students' learning.
I also specialize in bringing cultural awareness to educational settings.
I create classroom resources and lesson plans for other teachers to help engage black and brown students in the classroom.
I also offer workshops and webinars that help teachers improve their teaching techniques by providing tips and strategies that enrich their understanding of cultural relevance in the classroom and develop a conducive environment where the kids can learn quickly with no prejudice or stereotype.
My methods and techniques are designed to provide black and brown kids from low-income urban areas with relevant knowledge and skills to be on par with other kids while still providing culturally appropriate information that matches their time and age.
I teach teachers how to incorporate pop culture, pop music, hip hop music, trans, dancing, and especially slang or AAVE into their classroom.
