Breakbeat Pedagogy: Hip Hop and Spoken Word Beyond the Classroom Walls (Counterpoints)

Breakbeat Pedagogy provides a groundbreaking framework for the inclusion of hip-hop culture in schools. Looking beyond the previous model of hip-hop-based education, Brian Mooney argues for school-wide hip-hop events, such as poetry slams, as the ideal site for students to engage in the elements of hip-hop culture. Working from the perspective of a classroom teacher, the author reflects on the story of Word Up!, a hip-hop and spoken word poetry event that began with students in a New Jersey high school. He makes the case for a pedagogy with the potential to transform urban schools and the way we think about them. This is essential reading for any teacher committed to social justice and culturally relevant education. Cover 1 Contents 9 Foreword 11 Shout Outs 15 Chapter 1. The Audacity of Breaking 17 Chapter 2. A Nuyo Love 33 Chapter 3. Breakin’ It Down 43 Chapter 4. Word Up! 55 Chapter 5. Breakbeat Pedagogy 67 Chapter 6. Writing as Breaking 77 Chapter 7. Reading as Breaking 93 Chapter 8. Speaking as Breaking 101 Chapter 9. Pimping Butterflies and Teaching Stars 121 Chapter 10. Future Breaks 131 Appendixes 137 References 161 About the Author 165 Breakout Pedagogy provides a groundbreaking framework for the inclusion of Hip Hop culture in schools. Working from the perspective of a classroom teacher, Mooney reflects on the story of Work Up!, a Hip Hop and spoken work poetry event that began with students in a New Jersey high school making the case for a pedagogy with the potential to transform urban schools and the way we think about them.--Adapted from cover