Md. Students Become YouTube Sensation
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- State testing for Maryland students is underway, including at one school that was part of a 2008 cheating scandal.
But as Weijia Jiang reports, students there are boosting spirits with a song that's now an Internet sensation.
At George Washington Elementary in Baltimore, Mr. Borndavid McCraw's fourth-grade class not only prepares for Maryland School Assessment Tests or MSA, but every morning, they deliver a message over the intercom to get all students pumped up to take them. And the song is going viral! McCraw produced a music video and posted it on YouTube, where it's gotten nearly 7,000 hits.
"We needed to build their confidence and I know in Baltimore we love rap music, so I chose the most popular song at the time," McCraw said.
To the tune of rap hit "Black and Yellow," the eight class members sing about getting a good night's sleep, eating breakfast on test day, and, most of all, about having confidence.
"Every time I have pressure on the MSA, I start singing the song. My pressure goes like I'm taking a regular test. I try to do my best," said Jawan James.
"When someone says MSA, I just start singing the song," said Amarnae Smith.
The principal says colleagues from across the state are calling her to get a copy of the song.
Students have three more days of testing left.
