It’s viewing song lyrics as a form of poetry. He focuses on selecting the most positive and uplifting excerpts from songs to highlight a new meaning or message within the lyrics. Reddish carefully chooses the song lyrics he reads in each video. It lets you know what you need to do to be the attention grabber.” It’s taking something they’re currently interested in and relating it to where we need to be educationally. “He has a heart for education and for helping students make connections with what is being taught,” Parks said. It’s putting a modern spin on the traditional curriculum and making students feel excited to learn. Reddish’s videos are helping students make connections between the works they’re studying in class and the content they’d consume on their own terms, said Keren Parks, a close friend and an English language arts teacher at Callaway Middle School where Reddish works. There’s even a “#teacherlife” hashtag on TikTok, where creators share tips about online learning tools, give tours of their classroom spaces or poke fun at some of their students.

With the TikTok user base exploding during the pandemic, educators are now viewing the video creation and sharing app as a tool to engage students inside and outside of the classroom. Reddish’s videos could simultaneously reach teenagers who have never heard of Angelou and adults familiar with her work.

It’s not only new and in vogue, but the largest chunk of its user base is between the ages of 10 and 19. TikTok was the ideal platform to upload the videos, said Reddish, who previously worked as an English teacher for 12 years. He never thought of recording himself until he began using the TikTok app during the pandemic - and once you start, you become addicted, he said.

Wear The Mask #fyp #mayaangelou #poem #paullaurencedunbar #emmanuelreddish #teachersoftiktok #poetry #WorthTheWait #OneStepCloser #education #mask ♬ original sound - Emmanuel Reddishįinding it easy to imitate her distinct tone and cadence, Reddish started doing impressions of Angelou for friends and family around 10 years ago.

2pac dear mama parody