Book Reviews: Rappin' the Classroom

Dice Wood takes a look at Francis Winston's Rappin' the Classroom.

I sat down to read this book with interest. As a fast-approaching middle-age, white teacher with 15 years of experience in the classroom, I know rap is a weak area for me. I have listened to a variety of rap over the years but without much understanding. I am nervous about rapping and it has mostly been limited to teaching students a song from Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical Hamilton. My nervousness has stemmed from a lack of knowledge, a fear of making an idiot of myself, and a worry that if I get it wrong it might result in disengaging rather than engaging my students.