On Friday, March 29, 2024, D6 Online Academy math teacher Matthew Cox performed a rap song to cheer up students at Evans Heyman Elementary School. Cox performed the song, which he co-produced and co-wrote with strength and conditioning athlete Jioni Reliford, for the state tests. Education teacher at Jackson Elementary School. (Jim Rydbom/Photojournalist)
Listening to a positive song every day can make a student’s test anxiety disappear.
Or at least that’s the hope for local duo MC^2 x G-REL’s “Seriously,” whose stage names are Jioni Reliford, a physical education teacher at Jackson Elementary School, and Matt Cox, a middle school math teacher at District 6 Online Academy. The two became the ultimate hip-hop dream team when they discovered a shared passion for making music that inspired students to become interested in education.
The duo created “Serious” to inspire kids in grades three through eight to “Serious” take the annual Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) test.
Reliford has a history of producing rap songs for state tests. When Ingrid Dillehay, Reliford’s principal for the past 11 years, requested a new song, he knew he had to rise to the challenge.
Around the same time, Reliford was contacted by Cox, who wanted to create an inspirational song for state testing. Cox has previously produced math-related music to help engage students.
Based on past experience, both educators saw the value of positive, educational music in the classroom and the benefits it could have on young people’s self-esteem.
They began working on the song together virtually, never having met in person. Cox emailed his ideas to Reliford, who contributed to the rap.
The two then worked together to format the song, mixing and mastering the recording in the comfort of their own home. The song also became Reliford’s final musical gift to Dilehay, who will retire at the end of the school year.
In the weeks leading up to CMAS, the rap song was played during morning announcements at Jackson Elementary School and other schools in the district. The two even performed the song live at several schools, including Cox’s solo performance Friday afternoon during a CMAS assembly at Ann K. Heiman Elementary School.
“Make someone proud”
Testing can be a scary and daunting task, but Reliford and Cox want students to know that testing doesn’t have to be scary.
Reliford said students often have a bad attitude about state exams because they take so long and they have to sit still for long periods of time, causing many to either rush through the questions or choose not to give their best effort.
Jackson Elementary School plays the song before students take exams in the morning, encouraging students to get up and dance before long periods of sitting still. This also helps activate their brain while relieving stress and anxiety.
The musicians hope to inspire students to view quizzes as a way to demonstrate knowledge rather than as an obstacle. Cox said students should not focus on mistakes. Instead, they should focus on what they have learned throughout the year and test strategies.
“I just remind them that it’s a reflection of the work they’ve done all year long,” Reliford said. “If you’re going to take this test, you might as well show people what you know. Make others proud, make yourself proud, make your parents proud, make your teachers proud, just give 100% That’s it.”
Reliford said repeating catchy songs can also help students remember what they need for exams. He recalled that this method helped him finally pass a college course after three failed attempts, thanks to a teacher who used rhyme to help students retain information.
In “Seriously,” the lyrics reference common testing strategies such as elimination, taking your time, taking deep breaths, reading instructions twice, deleting irrelevant information to simplify questions, and more.
“I think we all share the same idea that it’s normal to have anxiety, but the key is to manage that anxiety and use it as a strength and do your best like you would in sports,” Cox said. “Every player has a level of anxiety.”
Positive music becomes an educational tool
Cox and Reliford describe themselves as underprivileged in the community but found an outlet in music.
Reliford hopes to find ways to get his students excited about education and show them they can be “overcomers,” especially since he works at a Title I school. To qualify for Title I federal aid, 75 percent or more of a school’s students must come from low-income families.
Reliford’s role as “the fun teacher” helps him reach more kids. His voice carries weight, he said, because he sees every student in the school.
Reliford hopes to show students they can participate in more than one activity. In addition to staying active, Reliford highlighted his other hobbies, including music and writing, to show that academics can be connected to each student’s interests.
Likewise, Cox believes using popular music will help students overcome the challenges they face at this age. Factors such as poverty or family members who did not attend college may cause some students to develop self-esteem issues.
Cox finds music to be one of the best tools for helping children show they can complete a college degree or pursue the career they want. Cox said Dream Team’s future goal is to make more music that covers topics that hold students back, to help students overcome “limiting thinking.”
An early test window for CMAS will be operational this week. The official window opens on Monday, April 8th, and ends on April 26th.
These educators had a message for their students in preparation for the CMAS test (taken from the chorus of their song):
“I feel lucky, so before my stress/I’ll go to a test with an S on my chest/I don’t have to impress anyone, no way/I’m doing my thing, you know what? I mean.”
To listen to “Seriously,” visit distrokid.com/hyperfollow/mc214/seriously-feat-g-rel.
