Latisha Cotton

Cotton’s innovative teaching idea, “Hip-Hop Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Program,” focuses on engaging fourth and fifth graders at P.S. 44 Marcus Garvey Magnet School of Engineering and Design in literacy as well as building social and emotional skills. Students will have an opportunity to use their enthusiasm for hip-hop as a springboard for developing critical thinking skills, self-awareness, empathy and confidence. Students will start by adapting work from other artists and progress to writing their own poetry and lyrics. Audio, visual and movement components will support students’ diverse learning styles. Through weekly class sessions, students will connect emotionally with hip-hop artists, analyze and link poetry and lyrics to their experiences, identify issues and look for solutions in their community, gain insight into themselves, and collaborate with their classmates. As students connect with guest artists, create hip-hop music, and have discussions reflecting on their personal and environmental contexts, Cotton hopes they will begin to explore ways to make a difference in their communities.