HOUSTON — A local organization has made it their mission to help disadvantaged youth and boost literacy rates across the country through untraditional and effective means.
KHOU 11's Steph Simmons sat down with Reading with a Rapper CEO Jarren Small, who says their goal goes beyond just books.
"We saw how literacy was really bad in schools," Small said. "We need to figure out what to do with literacy, because no one is really talking about that. We're talking about financial literacy and STEM, but if they can't read and write, those don't really matter."
It's mixing technology with rap, designed to help students better absorb what they're learning. Through song lyrics, students learn how to read and write, and now, in a partnership with Microsoft, classrooms will be equipped with the tech needed to elevate the program.
"So with Microsoft, they saw what we were doing," Small said. "We are a part of their nonprofit tech accelerated program and they're giving us access to technology for the next three years to build whatever we want to build. So, we're building a learning management system which will be called, 'Reading Rapper Plus,' and will allow us to scale the program."
"It goes beyond the classroom. It gives power back to the parent where they can do it at home."
It's a self-paced program.
"All this stems from the basic point, 'Do you understand what's in front of you?'" Small said.
When the kids are rapping along, they're also reading, having fun and retaining more.
This weekend, the organization will be taking over Sugar Land City Hall in partnership with Microsoft for their first-ever 'demo day' in an effort to get kids excited about reading, writing and so much more. The event starts Saturday at 10 a.m. Click here for more information and to RSVP.