When Rhythm Meets Arithmetic

(CBS)  If you sat through Algebra class as a kid and things just didn't add up, perhaps what was missing from your equation was a teacher like Alex Kajitani, CBS News correspondent Ben Tracy reports.

As one student said: "At first he looked pretty serious, but then he started to do the rapping."

In class, Kajitani spins a bit of a rhyme into his teaching. He raps in class. For example: "Sit back relax let out a little smile because the rapping mathematician is the hot new style."

"I think he's weirder than me," one student said.

The rap continues. "No need for instruments or radio stations because I can break it down like order of operations."

"He's like one of the best teachers I have ever had," another student says.

Six years ago, Kajitani realized students had a hard time remembering math rules. But reciting Jay-Z was easy.

"I went home that night and wrote a song called "The Itty Bitty Dot" about adding and subtracting decimals," Kajitani said.

The rap goes like this: "Just line up the dot and give it all you got."

And he saw results. "Lo and behold at the end of the week my test scores shot through the roof and I've been math rapping ever since."

Another of his famous lines is: "negative to the left positive to the right it's the number line dance I can dance all night."

Students still react well to the rhythm. One said: "I used to get confused a lot in math but when he started rapping it all made sense."

His 26 raps - on everything from exponents to improper fractions - fill two CDs, now played in classrooms across the country. And of course, a rapper needs a music video.

Finding a way to engage students in math is more important than ever now that California is one of the first states in the nation to mandate that all 8th graders learn algebra.

Kajitani, just named a California Teacher of the Year, knows his formula for success.

"The number one way to get students to learn algebra and want to learn algebra is to connect it to their real life," he said.

He's making math hip, by giving it a bad rap.

[observer2020]

This teacher is using something that should have been done years ago. I''ve always had a problem with math but music was extremely easy. If someone made the connection for me, things would have been much easier. Congratulations to the very innovative teacher. He''s using something that he enjoys and it just so happens, so do the kids. We need more teachers like this one. EverRep: This is a very smart person and deserves accolades for his work. He''s making a connection with these kids and...they''re getting it! Great job! Anything that is used to get the kids interested is fantastic.

[nelsons27]

you tube: the phonetics rap

[nelsons27]

Rapping is a great way to reach students. Lots of kids learn through beats and rhymes. I made a rap for my class as well! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cciAznv0T0

[docadams3]

EverRep needs to take some Aricept and find his way back to the home. There''s nothing vulgar about this approach. Getting the information across in a vivid, memorable way is worth every penny spent. Real gangsters are those that don''t graduate.

[everrep]

This is disgusting. Why do they let this "so called" teacher display himself like a glorified ganster in front of all of these impresionable young minds? The school board needs to lay down the law. Either straighten up his "ACT" or hit the streets. We do not need this kind of person around our children!

[jamster31]

The timming of music IS math. Nothing new here. Breaking down timming is like the measurements on a ruler 1/12 1/8 1/4 1/2 beats and so on.

[marvajk]

Congratulations to the rapping teacher who is 30 years late with this technique. It would be wonderful if more research would be conducted before things are declared the FIRST.

[marvajk]

Congratulations to the rapping teacher who is 30 years late with this technique. It would be wonderful if more research would be conducted before things are declared the FIRST.