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Foster Engagement and Critical Thinking in Any Subject Using Music: The TeachRock Method
Thursday, May 15, 2025 @ 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm EDT
Presented by Patrick McGuire, Social Studies Teacher (Rock & Soul, Contemporary World Issues), Mountain Vista High School (CO); Ben Dumbauld, Ph.D., Director of Content, TeachRock; and Gina Machado, Former New York City Public School Teacher, Current Director of Programs and Partnerships, TeachRock
Sponsored by TeachRock
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Imagine a class where the story of the Great Migration comes alive through the music of Muddy Waters, whose journey from Mississippi to Chicago shaped the sound of the blues.
Join TeachRock and collaborating educator Patrick McGuire for this edWebinar to explore The TeachRock Method, a transformative approach that empowers educators (without needing any musical experience themselves) to connect music with history, culture, and critical thinking.
Featured is the free curriculum An American History of Rock and Soul and how to use music’s rich context to make core subjects exciting and engaging for students of all backgrounds is demonstrated, fostering critical thinking and human connection. This recorded edWebinar is of interest to middle and high school teachers, librarians, school leaders, and district leaders.
View all of the recent TeachRock edWebinars.
About the Presenters
Patrick “Mac” McGuire has been an educator for over 30 years, teaching elementary and high school students. Since 2004, he has taught AP Psychology, U.S. History, and Contemporary World Issues at Mountain Vista High School in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. He holds a B.A. in social work from Ball State University and an M.A. in curriculum and instruction from the University of Colorado Denver.
Mac discovered TeachRock in 2014 and quickly integrated its resources into his teaching. He began collaborating more deeply in 2015, contributing lessons, leading workshops on Stevie Van Zandt’s Teacher Solidarity Tour, and producing a documentary on the Denver music scene. In 2021, he launched his Rock & Soul of America class—a U.S. History course built on TeachRock lessons—which now serves over 300 students annually and forms the basis for TeachRock’s A People’s Playlist collection. Outside of school, Mac enjoys time with his wife and three daughters, live music, sports, and travel.
Ben Dumbauld, Ph.D., is the Director of Content at the Rock and Soul Forever Foundation, where he oversees the creation and publication of TeachRock.org’s materials. Before coming on board with the Foundation, Dr. Dumbauld was working towards his Ph.D. in ethnomusicology at the CUNY Graduate Center and running a community media lab with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. For Dr. Dumbauld, the most exciting part of working for the Foundation is providing students with new perspectives on Math, Science, Language, and History through music.
Gina Machado is the Director of Programs and Partnerships at TeachRock. Beginning her career as a classroom teacher in The Bronx, New York, she now designs arts-integrated education materials for TeachRock and leads professional development sessions across the United States, working alongside teachers to implement the TeachRock curriculum. An educator at heart, Gina’s true passion lies in creating new and innovative ways to reach students of all levels, always aiming to foster the student-teacher relationship.
Join the Inspire Learning & Engagement community to network with educators, participate in online discussions, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates.
Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
Launched by Stevie Van Zandt and the Founders Board of Bono, Jackson Browne, Martin Scorsese, and Bruce Springsteen, TeachRock.org provides free, standards-aligned resources that use music to help K-12 students succeed in science, math, social studies, language arts, and more.
