Local duo making math fun with rock and dance
A fresh and innovative way of helping children learn multiplication is on the rise, thanks to the new educational video series called Rock Out and Dance. This series was launched recently by Andy Hawkings and Tom Veck, residents of Frome who are not only educators but also musicians in the local children’s rock band called Rocktopus. This band is known for conducting workshops in schools, for families, and at conferences.
The videos featured in Rock Out and Dance offer a captivating combination of engaging rock songs, interactive dance routines, and a call-and-response approach to assist children in mastering times tables concepts while keeping them physically active. Since its introduction, this series has gained significant popularity in schools nationwide, with teachers and students enthusiastically adopting it as a refreshing change from conventional times tables drills.
Unlike traditional educational tools focused solely on mathematics, these videos motivate movement and creativity, providing versatile learning tools that transcend the boundaries of physical education. Andy Hawkings, one of the co-founders, expressed, “We strongly believe in active learning. As former primary school teachers, we have witnessed firsthand how much more interested children become when they are actively engaged in the learning process. Rock Out and Dance allows them to move, sing, and fully immerse themselves in mathematical concepts instead of just reciting numbers while seated at a desk.”
Emphasizing the multi-sensory aspects of the videos, co-founder Tom Veck, a qualified primary teacher and experienced musician like Andy, noted that music and movement activate different parts of the brain, facilitating children’s ability to retain and recall information more effectively. The intent behind Rock Out and Dance is to ensure that times tables are not just memorized for tests and then forgotten but rather ingrained in the students’ memory through active participation.
Rock Out and Dance is freely accessible to schools, parents, and educators via YouTube, making it a widely available resource for both classroom instruction and homeschooling. Andy and Tom are eager to receive feedback from teachers and students about their experiences with the videos, demonstrating their curiosity about how schools are integrating Rock Out and Dance into their curriculum.
Recognizing the proven benefits of physical activity, such as enhanced concentration, improved memory retention, and increased engagement levels, Rock Out and Dance exemplifies the importance of incorporating movement into every subject, not just physical education. Through their innovative approach to learning times tables, Andy and Tom aim to inspire children’s engagement, activity, and excitement for the educational process.