Explore and create: Exploratory Creation lab 
Preregistration Required
Understanding the Educational Value of Popular Music:
Participants will recognize how popular music, like Taylor Swift's songs, can be a powerful tool for engaging students and making learning more relevant and enjoyable.
They will also see how Taylor Swift can serve as a mentor text for exceptional writing.
Participants will acquire strategies to increase student participation and engagement in the classroom.
They will be able to design interactive activities using TS lyrics that cater to different learning styles and preferences.
The presentation will provide methods for guiding students in critical analysis and interpretation of song lyrics, fostering higher-order thinking skills.
1. Introduction (10 minutes)
Welcome and Overview: Brief introduction to the session's objectives and an overview of how Taylor Swift's lyrics can be used in an educational setting.
Icebreaker Activity: Quick interactive activity where participants share their favorite Taylor Swift song or lyric and why it resonates with them.
2. Understanding the Educational Value of Popular Music (10 minutes)
Highlighting the benefits of using popular music in the classroom, including increased engagement and relevance.
Discussion: Brief discussion on how participants currently use or could envision using Taylor Swift in their teaching.
3. Taylor Swift as a Mentor Text (10 minutes)
Analysis: Examine selected Taylor Swift lyrics to identify storytelling elements, metaphors, and other literary devices.
Group Activity: Small groups discuss how these elements can be used to teach exceptional writing and narrative skills.
4. Strategies for Increasing Student Participation (20 minutes)
Hands-on learning
5. Conclusion and Q&A (5 minutes)
Wrap-Up: Summarize key takeaways from the session and encourage ongoing exploration of music in teaching.
This session was designed around the ideas in the book Inquiry Mindset: Nurturing the Dreams, Wonders, and Curiosities of Our Youngest Learners by Trevor MacKenzie and Rebecca Bathhurst-Hunt.
and
Call her Ms. Swift: How the pop star is inspiring lesson plans across the country By Rosie Colosi
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