Understanding the concepts of mathematics and geometry becomes child’s play, thanks to the fun pedagogy of this middle school teacher.
Math and students often make two. You only have to look at the level of mathematics in France in recent years to understand the extent of the problem. According to the 2022 edition of the Pisa ranking, conducted and published by the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) on December 5, 2023, France is experiencing a worrying decline in the level of its students, aged 15, in mathematics. “The sharp decline observed in France between 2018 and 2022 is the most significant since the first Pisa study” in 2000, notes the report. A phenomenon which is also observed from primary school. According to a recent study by the Institute of Public Policies (IPP), made public on January 24, 2024, the dropout in this subject is confirmed among girls, in particular, upon entering CE1, regardless of social background, type of school and territory.
To remedy this, some teachers use strategies to make students appreciate math, and especially to help them understand different concepts, which may seem incomprehensible at first. This is the case of Antoine Carrier, teacher in a French college. If you are a parent or used to getting lost on social media, you must definitely know him as @ariekaofficial. The mathematics teacher shares his revolutionary learning method, which he calls Rapémathiques. This combines his two passions: rap and math.
What is it about ? It’s quite simple, he uses rap to popularize certain notions of math and geometry, and allow students to assimilate them more easily. A bit like a mnemonic. To do this, he appears in front of the camera and explains, while rapping, concepts that are part of the official college program: for example, how to find a percentage, or even the reciprocal of Thales. Everything is schematized on a table for greater understanding. A pedagogy validated by national education and which appeals to young people. On social networks, the teacher is a hit: he is followed by more than 200,000 people on Tiktok, and on Instagram, by more than 76,000 subscribers. Some of his videos have even exceeded a million views. A success which pushed Antoine Carrier to release a book, Rap & MATHiques (published by Larousse), published in bookstores on January 24, 2024.