Cami Reid, a spring 2016 graduate from the University of South Carolina Honors College, recently completed her senior thesis, an SCHC requirement for all graduates. The senior thesis allows a student to complete a substantial project which demonstrates a practical command of research techniques and writing ability and shows the student’s ability to work independently. These projects range from elaborate scientific research projects to social experiments.
This semester, Cami interned at a local middle school as a student teacher in a seventh grade science class. She had the opportunity to work directly with students and teachers as she gained experience in the classroom. Cami's passion for teaching grew as she connected more and more with the students of Northside Middle School.
As Music Director of USC's A Cappella group, Cockappella, and a musician since childhood, Cami has always had great talent and a wild heart for music. For her senior thesis, she chose to combine her loves for music and teaching in a way that was unique, fun and effective. "I enjoying singing, playing ukulele, and helping diverse students learn, so I put all three together in a fun way," Cami said. She took popular songs and rewrote the lyrics in order to educate students on various components of the seventh grade science curriculum.
"I chose to write songs as part of my senior thesis because I wanted it to be a culmination of the passions and skills I've developed at USC. There are so many distractions in the present-day middle school; teachers have to get creative to keep students interested, so I did that."
Ms. Reid rewrote and performed songs such as "Millionaire" by Travie McCoy, "Blank Space" by Taylor Swift, "All About That Bass" by Meghan Trainor and "Riptide" by Vance Joy to cover topics like lab safety, cell functions, food pyramids and the human body. These catchy and clever tunes engaged in her students the area of the brain that is used for both listening to and enjoying music, as well as learning and memory. "My research found that incorporating music into education improves overall attitude and test scores of students, especially those that might fall behind with traditional education."
Her remix of Adele's "Hello" is one that gets particularly stuck in my head. (Sometimes, when the song comes on the radio, I forget the real words.)
"Hello, I'm an acid.
I turn litmus paper red.
I'm one through six on the pH scale.
But don't forget I release hydrogen.
Hello, I’m a base
On the pH scale, I’m at least an eight
My litmus turns blue every time
And in solutions, I release hydroxide."
Sure enough, her research and work proved themselves true. Every student in Ms. Reid's class showed improved scores between pre and post tests. Cami also noted significant changes in students' attitudes, willingness to learn and listen, and excitement toward the content and the class.
But the effort (and fun) that Cami put in didn't stop at her thesis defense this May. The research she conducted, the songs she wrote, and the knowledge she shared will stick with her and her students in the coming years. "I wanted my senior thesis to be something I could use in my future career, not just a long paper with my name on the cover."
In the fall, Cami will continue her career in education as a seventh-grade math and science teacher in Columbia, SC, where she is sure to change the lives of students, parents and teachers through her passion for teaching, learning, music and helping others.
