Montgomery Blair High School teacher uses rap to help students - DC Breaking Local News Weather Sports FOX 5 WTTG

Montgomery Blair High School teacher uses rap videos to help students with math

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Jake Scott Jake Scott
Jake Scott Jake Scott
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SILVER SPRING, Md. -

Jake Scott doesn't just teach the lesson. He feels the beat. His nickname is 2Pi and this Montgomery Blair High School math teacher can get feet tapping.

A few years ago, Scott was looking for a way to help his pre-calculus students.

"The goal was just to help the pre-calculus students get through the class," he says.

He wondered if music could add up to better learning. So on his own time, he started writing rap songs and making videos.

Here's a sample of some lyrics: "See the triangle is the mother of all polygons. If you solve it, then your math game is tight like LeBron's. If you can't solve the tri, you're a rookie, my friend. You're gonna drop the ball. You can say that again."

Scott remembers sweating it out when he first showed the video to the kids.

"You're producing something and then I'm putting it before my students, so now the critiquer is being critiqued," he says.

And the reviews are in. Students say they love it. Several told us Scott is their "best teacher."

Scott has gotten recognition for his work. A few years ago, he was Montgomery County's NAACP Teacher of the Year. But recognition is not his goal.

"Really, the goal is I want to change lives," says Scott. "My life was changed by a teacher, and I know the road that I was on prior to that."

He grew up in Capitol Heights, Md. and went to American University on a wrestling scholarship.

He works every day to reach kids.

"Speak their language," Scott says. "Meet them on their ground. Say 'I met you half way. I listened to you. Can you listen to me?' And I think the students appreciate that exchange."

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