How educators are using Taylor Swift to teach students reading, writing and arithmetic

It's a Taylor Swift world and we are just learning to live in it.

"Call It What You Want," but as the Swiftie phenomenon continues, students may benefit "All Too Well" from a bit of Taylor teachings in the classroom. It seems they can become a "Mastermind" in their academic as well as artistic subjects if a little Swift is added.

A class with Taylor Swift-inspired teachings is said to be "Sweeter Than Fiction."

Swift already has proven that she is a serious role model and influencer. She empowers women and artists alike. Her fanbase loyalty and skills as songwriter and performer notwithstanding, Swift is a successful businesswoman with her albums and tours breaking financial and popularity records. Recently, after penning a social media post about voter registration, a record 35,000 were added to voting rolls − and attributed directly to her.

Come Oct. 13, with her worldwide tour still going strong, the globe is readying for the drop of The Eras Tour concert film in theaters.

But can Taylor teach the children?

Several educators have demonstrated that adding a little Swift to the curriculum can create an interest in learning. Numerous educators on Teacher TikTok have incorporated Taylor Swift lyrics and music into their daily learning.

Math. English. Reading … it does not matter.

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Sean Connelly, an elementary school teacher in Pennsylvania, frequently uses Taylor Swift tunes to reinforce his math and science curricula.

After his first Swift learning song − "Counting by 3" to "Anti-Hero" − the kids were "obsessed," said Connelly, who goes by @teachwithMrC on TikTok.

Then, Ms. Swift herself liked it.

Things went "nuts" at that point and Connelly has continued to utilize the Taylor teaching method with many other education edicts. Among his many Taylor-inspired lessons, Connelly used the tune "I Knew You Were Trouble" to teach his students to count by seven; "Order of Operations" using "You Belong With Me", place values with "Shake It Off" and the stages of the water cycle through the use of the tune, "Blank Space."

It's a good formula, said Connelly, because kids like and know the songs. By adding the lesson's lyrics, they learn the information as well.

An online learning marketplace, Outschool, is offering classes on a variety of themes and topics that go beyond the typical. With a belief that kids learn best when learning about things that matter to them, Outschool uses those interests to teach and reinforce real life application. There are numerous − nearly 25 − Taylor Swift-based curriculum for a variety of ages and grades in the Outschool course guide that use this method. Swiftie classes range for ages 8-17, or grades 4-11.

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Students learn to play the drums in "Taylor Swift DRUM CAMP" hone their drawing skills in "Draw Taylor Swift" or pump up their writing creative writing abilities in "Creative Writing & Social Club: Taylor Swift", which analyzes songs and lyrics. In "Blank Space: Weekly Themed Taylor Swift Journaling", learners can practice journaling by connecting thoughts and emotions to a different Taylor Swift song each week while "Learning About Poetry With Taylor Swift Lyrics", students learn about poetic devices and figurative language by examining Taylor Swift lyrics.

In 2022, students at New York University could enroll in "Topics In Music: Taylor Swift", a course taught by Rolling Stone journalist Brittany Spanos. The class syllabus said it proposes to "deconstruct both the appeal and aversions to Taylor Swift through close readings of her music and public discourse as it relates to her own growth as an artists and celebrity." Over at Ghent University in Belgium, "Literature: Taylor's Version", a course with Professor Elly McCausland was slated to start this semester.

Also this month, Australia's University of Melbourne announced will host an international academic symposium called “Swiftposium” to examine Taylor Swift's impact.

email: cmakin@gannettnj.com

Cheryl Makin is an award-winning features and education reporter for MyCentralJersey.com, part of the USA Today Network. Contact: Cmakin@gannettnj.com or @CherylMakin. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Taylor Swift used by educators to teach students. Here's how