Frequently Asked Questions
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About Flocabulary
What is Flocabulary?
Flocabulary creates hip-hop music and curricular materials to teach academic content in grades K-12. The programs are proven to raise scores on state reading tests and are being used in over 15,000 schools nationwide. Our materials are available online through a Digital Subscription and through Books and CDs.
We are defined by our belief that a motivated student is a more successful student, and we strive to foster a love of learning in every child who uses our programs. We make learning fun and accessible without making it less rigorous, and we aim to reach students of all backgrounds. Our programs are proven to increase motivation and academic achievement.
Are Flocabulary programs standards-based?
Yes. All curricular content in Flocabulary materials is drawn from published state and Common Core standards, and supporting lesson elements are modeled after exercises and activities found on state assessments. Flocabulary team members work with teachers and researchers to develop materials that are closely correlated to standards and best practices for instruction.
Do you have research that supports your programs?
Yes. The songs and academic materials created by Flocabulary are based on a significant body of research that confirms using music and rhyme as an effective strategy to increase both student motivation and knowledge retention. By emphasizing direct instruction of content-area vocabulary and terms, Flocabulary is supported by the research of reading and vocabulary experts Robert Marzano and Isabel Beck. Once students are engaged, learning takes place at a faster rate, and what's more, the results are lasting. Read more about our research and methodology here.
Flocabulary is also proven to raise test scores on state reading tests. Our programs have increased scores on state reading tests, vocabulary tests, New York State history tests and the SAT. Learn more about the studies here.
How can I use Flocabulary in my classroom?
Flocabulary can be used in flexible formats to accommodate your schedule. Our lesson plans provide concrete ways to use Flocabulary during all parts of the lesson sequence, from a hook at the beginning of a unit to a review of key terms at the end. The exercises within each unit can be assigned as homework, done as a group in class, completed as independent study, or used as components of an afterschool program.
How can my kids use Flocabulary at home?
Kids can use Flocabulary at home to supplement classroom instruction or for independent learning and exploration. Parents can use lesson plans for home instruction or direct students to complete activities.
For what grades is Flocabulary appropriate?
We produce content for grades K-12. Many of our songs have been used across multiple grades, while some of our materials are more grade specific. The Word Up Project has seven levels, for grades 2 to 8, though it has been used with struggling readers in high school. Our social studies and science units were written at a middle school reading level, though they have been successfully implemented in elementary and high schools. The Week in Rap is created with high school and middle school students in mind, but it has been successfully used with students in grades 3 to 12. Some Week in Rap news stories contain references that may not be appropriate for all students. These include stories on war, natural disasters, disease and reproductive and sexual rights.
What if my students or I don't like rap?
We are well aware that not every teacher or student is a hip-hop fan and that many of you may not feel comfortable introducing hip-hop into your classroom. Regardless of how you feel about hip-hop, it is important to respect the fact that many of your students love it. Flocabulary's products demonstrate the highly effective educational applications of our classroom-appropriate brand of hip-hop. In addition, bringing this art form into your classroom is an excellent opportunity to have your students teach one another and you.
Be honest with your class about trying something that you don't necessarily know a whole lot about. Students who know a lot about hip-hop will share their knowledge and feel empowered by that experience. The more empowered they feel with their knowledge, the more they will learn what you want them to learn.
Where do the words in The Word Up Project come from?
The Word Up Project teaches students words that are likely to encounter on high-stakes tests. Flocabulary's team created these word lists by first compiling words from grade-appropriate novels and basal readers (with an emphasis on Tier 2 words). The researchers then analyzed how often these vocabulary words appeared on state tests. The words that appeared most often are the ones taught in The Word Up Project.
For each reading level, our researchers looked at state tests at that level and two grade levels above. The words taught in Level Indigo (grade 5) are those words that are both found in 5th grade reading material and are most likely to appear on state tests in 5th, 6th and 7th grades.
How can I find out when you create new programs?
Sign up for our newsletter, and we'll send you videos, news and exclusives each month. To experience our new programs now, sign up for a free trial!
What is the Week in Rap?
The Week in Rap is a weekly summary of news headlines in a rap video. Flocabulary creates the Week in Rap in partnership with Channel One News. Each weekly video includes lesson plans to supplement the current events. Watch a video here.
What is the Digital Subscription?
A Digital Subscription gives teachers access to the complete Flocabulary catalog online. Each unit features a song or video, clickable lyrics with more information, activities and more. Teachers also get access to quizzes and lesson plans.
Do you still sell books and CDs?
Yes. All of our books and CDs are still available. Browse our complete selection here or request a catalog.
Ordering
Do you accept purchase orders?
Yes. You can download or request a catalog. You can request a quote for our Digital Subscription. Or if you'd like a custom quote for a mix of products, please contact us.
Is Flocabulary a sole source vendor?
Yes. Contact us to request a sole source letter.
Is it safe to order online?
Yes, our shopping cart is powered by Shopify and Recurly, industry leaders in ecommerce. Your information will never be shared with anyone. You'll know your information is being stored securely when you see the https appear in your address bar during the checkout process. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy.
Is my contact information safe with you?
Yes. Your personal information is safe. We will never share your information with anyone. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy.
Can I order by phone?
Yes. If you feel more comfortable ordering over the phone, just contact us.
How can I request a catalog?
Follow this link to view or request a catalog and order form.
How can I receive an evaluation copy?
We provide evaluation copies to administrators and teachers making decisions about curriculum purchases. To request a sample or an evaluation copy, contact us.
Can I purchase a Teacher Resource Book on its own?
To order Teacher Resource Books, contact us.
Is there a discount for ordering large quantities?
Yes. In general our prices already reflect discounts for larger quantities, but scaled bulk pricing may be available for large purchases. Flocabulary is committed to making our products available for underfunded schools. Contact us to request a discounted quote.
What if I want to return a product?
Flocabulary products in resalable condition and accompanied by the original invoice may be returned within 30 days of purchase for a refund or exchange. The Digital Subscription can be canceled at any time, and you will not be billed again. No refund is available for Digital Subscriptions.
Digital Subscription FAQs
What types of subscriptions does Flocabulary offer?
We offer an array of subscription options to best meet your needs, including plans for teachers, parents, schools and districts. See our Plans and Pricing page for information about subscription options.
How do I subscribe to Flocabulary?
Visit our Plans and Pricing page and make your selection. Follow directions to enter username and payment information. You're ready to go!
Can I subscribe by phone?
Sure. Just contact us.
What is included in my subscription?
We offer three subscription options. You can subscribe to Flocabulary, to the Week in Rap, or to both. A subscription to Flocabulary gives you access to our entire catalog: hundreds of songs and videos for grades K-12 plus activities, lesson plans and assessments. A subscription to the Week in Rap gives you access to a new current events video each week plus lesson plans, activities and links to complete news stories.
Is the Week in Rap included in my subscription to Flocabulary?
The Week in Rap, our weekly current events video, is not automatically included in your subscription to Flocabulary. You can subscribe to the Week in Rap or add it to your Flocabulary subscription. See our Plans and Pricing page.
What is included in the free trial?
In the free trial, you will have access to the entire catalog of Flocabulary songs and videos, The Week in Rap, lesson plans, exercises and activities.
What is NOT included in the free trial?
Your free trial does not include tests and answer keys.
Do teachers and their students have the same username?
No, teachers have a unique username. This gives them access to answer keys and lesson plans. All students on the same account will share a different username.
Do parents and kids have the same username?
No. Parents have a unique username that includes access to answer keys and lesson plans. Kids on the same account share a username, which does not include access to answer keys and lesson plans.
I'm a parent with more than three kids. Can all my kids use the Digital Subscription?
Yes. Contact us, and we will help you set up your account.
Why can't I log in with my email address?
It is possible that you spelled your email address incorrectly when you signed up. This is especially likely if you have not received any emails from us since you signed up. Contact us, and we will help you correct this mistake.
Why do I keep getting logged out when I'm using the program?
This is likely caused by another person logging into your account, thus exceeding the allowable number of users that your account supports. The best way to solve this problem is to change your password. You can do that by clicking the "My Subscription" link in the upper corner of any page. Then choose "Change my Password."
Can I download the songs and videos from the Digital Subscription?
Videos are not available for download. You can download many of our songs from iTunes.
I forgot my password. How do I get a new one?
You can reset your password by clicking "Log in" in the upper corner of any page. Then click "Forgot your password?" You will be prompted to enter your email address. If you've forgotten your email address and password, contact us.
I'm using the free trial. Why can't I see tests?
Tests are only available to paid subscribers with Teacher or Parent accounts. If you'd like to upgrade to a paid account, click here.
Will students be able to view answer keys?
No. Tests and answer keys can only be viewed by paid Teacher or Parent accounts.
How can I cancel my subscription?
We're sorry to see you go. You can cancel your subscription by clicking "My Subscription" in the upper corner of any page. Then click "Cancel My Account."
Tech Support
Why can't I view a video / listen to a song?
Some school districts create filters on their firewalls to prevent users on the network from accessing streaming media. Contact your district or school IT specialist to see if there is such a block in place and request they unblock flocabulary.com.
If you continue to have issues accessing our songs and videos, contact us.
What are the tech requirements for accessing Flocabulary?
Flocabulary is 100% web-based, so you won't need to install any applications other than your standard web browser. It is designed to work on a variety of computers and devices, including those without the Flash plug-in (e.g. iPads and iPhones). We support Chrome, Firefox, and all versions of IE after IE7. We don't have any specific RAM or non-standard port requirements, and generally recommend a bandwidth of at least 100kbps to avoid extensive buffering.
What devices support the Digital Subscription?
Flocabulary's Digital Subscription works on any PC or Mac and can be used with projectors and interactive white boards. You can also log in to flocabulary.com on your iPhone and iPad.
What browser best supports Flocabulary?
Though flocabulary.com has been optimized to work on all major browsers, it works best on Firefox or Chrome. If you are having repeated issues within Internet Explorer, we recommend that you try accessing flocabulary.com on a different browser. Be sure to update your browser to the latest version to be sure you're getting the full experience.
Does the Digital Subscription work on iPads, iPhones and other mobile devices?
Yes.
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