Rap, Rhythm, Rhyme & Song: The Sounds of Learning
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One of the first songs that parents teach their children is the ABC song--Are parents onto something? Are lyrics linked to literacy learning? Can singing spur students to success in strategic reading? Will rap and rhyme revitalize readers' repertoire of reading readiness skills? Can you name that tune? The answers to all of these informative alliteration inquiries is yes. At least yes according to a 1993 Lamb & Gregory study that researched the theory of multiple intelligence by Howard Gardner. So, the next time when you are having your students practice rapid reading (fluency), try "Rappin' Reading" instead--Sound It, Stretch It, Sing It, Say It!
Students who receive music instruction as a part of the language arts curriculum demonstrated greater literacy achievement. (Lamb & Gregory, 1993).
Music is a perfect pre-reading tool for understanding language patterns before symbolic codes are understood. Not only is music a way for children to learn how to make connections between symbols, sounds and patterns, but possessing this ability or skill to make such connection is also an important asset when learning to read (Snyder, 1997).
Music and literacy go hand in hand because the basis of both is listening; by focusing on the similarities between music and literacy, both skills will improve (McIntire, 2007).
Singing is an exciting and effective strategy to teach children their letter sounds and that letter sounds can be manipulated to create spoken words (Smith, 2000).
By adding rhythm, music and movement to our lessons, we send messages to the brain through various pathways and create a richer learning experience (McIntire, 2007).
Putting academic content into well known songs can give students a strategy and tools to help them access and remember information and skills, like how to identify letter sounds and write letters. For example, the ABC song uses the melody of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star to teach the sequence of the letters of the alphabet (Smith, 2000; Rainey & Larsen, 2002).
To see more evidence that music education can help kids learn to read go to:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/06/24/music-education-helps-kids-learn-to-read-study/
To see more evidence that music education can help kids learn to read go to:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/06/24/music-education-helps-kids-learn-to-read-study/
Additional Sing to Learn Links
www.drjean.org
www.happalmer.com
www.thewiggles.com
www.theelephantshow.com
www.gregandsteve.com
www.heidisongs.com
www.seussville.com
http://suedickson.com/
www.happalmer.com
www.thewiggles.com
www.theelephantshow.com
www.gregandsteve.com
www.heidisongs.com
www.seussville.com
http://suedickson.com/
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"Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace."
-Confucius
-Confucius