Algebra I Songs: Original Music in the Math Classroom

I use music to teach mathematics because it sparks students’ interest, excitement, and helps them to remember formulas and processes. Music is so much a part of kids’ lives these days with the availability of technology: most students like to listen to music on their phones during independent work times. So, sometimes, instead of students using their headphones, I play a math song that reinforces the concepts they are applying in their math work. At that point, the classroom has whole different kind of vibe: math suddenly becomes fun and students are engaged in learning. When there is a question about how something works, I just jump to the part of the song to jog their memory.

I don’t just use music in the classroom, though: I compose and record songs that teach and reinforce our lessons. Here you’ll find some of our greatest hits—complete with recordings and lyric sheets, usable both in the classroom and for inspiration to create your own original classroom music.

Credit to http://sweeneymath.blogspot.com/2009/11/slope-slope-slope-slope-slope-slope.html

Music: Flo Rida’s “Low”

Chorus:

The difference of the y and the difference of the x

Also known as rise over run

Divide the two

And then reduce

Then you got slope, slope, slope, slope…

VERSE:
“When I’m sittin’ in math and I’m tryin’ to find

How to find the slope, slope of a line

I think about the rise and run all the time

Then I think of this song, and I’ma be fine

1/2 slope come on

1 slope come on

2 slope come on

now that’s three slopes

You think I’m a joke?

I gotta say nope

I’ma find that slope!”