- Subjects:Reading Fluency
- Skills:Development of Reading Comprehension
Exciting lesson ideas, classroom strategies, book lists, videos, and reproducibles in a daily blog by teachers
Alycia
Alycia
I live in
New York
I teach
3rd grade
I am
an almost-digital-native and Ms. Frizzle wannabe
Tiffani
Tiffani
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California
I teach
Kindergarten
I am
an alphabet singing and storybook reading enthusiast
Christy
Christy
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New York
I teach
K-5
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a proud supporter of American public education and a tech integrationist
Beth
Beth
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Michigan
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3rd grade
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an enthusiastic teacher and techie, and a mom of three boys
Genia
Genia
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Michigan
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3rd grade
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seriously addicted to all things technology in my teaching
Meghan
Meghan
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Alabama
I teach
4th grade
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an obsessive personality with a creative flair
Shari
Shari
I live in
Kansas
I teach
2nd grade
I am
an inquiring investigator of… my students’ brains, of course
It’s a typical morning in my classroom, and as my students finish their bell work, they begin to beg me to let them practice their reading fluency. Before long, they are pulling out their lyrics notebooks, and I am popping in a CD or opening iTunes on my laptop. This happens several times a week for us. They know that even if it isn’t in my plans, I’ll most likely “give in” and they will “get” to practice for a few minutes!
Ten to fifteen minutes a week with this activity means many painless and enjoyable repeated readings!
My students are becoming much more fluent readers as they read and sing along with the lyrics for a variety of songs that I’ve carefully chosen for this activity. Their teacher is enjoying good music, which means she is in a great mood and ready to teach!
Choosing the Music
This year, I’ve discovered how much my students enjoy blues, jazz, rock, folk songs, and show tu
nes with rich music and interesting lyrics.
Look for songs on iTunes or CDs, or ask musical friends to help you find songs with the qualities you need.
Think about what you need the song to do for your lessons. Sometimes I'm looking for specific types of words or language, and other times I'm trying to match a theme or topic. If I'm lucky, a song has both!
Consider appropriateness first and make a point to LISTEN TO and READ the lyrics closely before introducing a song to students.
Make lyrics pages for each song in large, easy-to-read print and copy them for each student.
Introducing a Song
Read through the lyrics together, and then listen to the music. If it is in book form, put the CD on and enjoy it together that way first. Turn the music up and let your students be carried away by it. They fall in love with the music and then really enjoy singing with it over and over again.
Talk about the story behind the song and any history you know.
Highlight words or parts of the song that support the other learning that's happening in the class.
Use several songs frequently to avoid students' memorizing the words too fast. You want them READING instead of RECITING.
Deepen Learning — Pull That Song Out Again!
Besides giving students time for repeated reading, working with lyrics has other benefits.
Students find rhyming words and word structure by pulling out this already familiar text.
Vocabulary development helps comprehension in other types of reading.
Song lyrics are a natural springboard to studying themes.
Students use close reading strategies to boost comprehension skills.
Management Supplies and Suggestions
Give each student a three-ring notebook with page protectors to keep lyrics sheets where they are easily found.
Keep a collection of place-keepers such as plastic fingers, color strips, and bookmarks to help young readers keep their place and stay engaged. When they don't need them anymore, they will stop using them and track with their eyes.
Top Ten From Mrs. Edwards' Class (With Some Demos!):
1. “New York State of Mind” written and sung by Billy Joel
2. “Sentimental Journey” by Les Brown and Bud Green, sung by Renee Olstead
3. “Don’t Laugh at Me” by Allen Shamblin and Steve Seskin (children’s version from the book), sung by Peter Yarrow
4. “Shenandoah” by unknown (was first a sea chantey), sung by Daniel Rodriguez
5. “Coming to America,” written and sung by Neil Diamond
6. “Garden Song” by David Mallett, sung by John Denver
7. “The Marvelous Toy” by Tom Paxton, sung by Peter, Paul, and Mary
8. “Run, Rudolph, Run!” by Johnny Marks and Marvin Brodie, sung by Chuck Berry
9. “Caroling, Caroling” by Wihla Hutson, sung by Tennessee Ernie Ford
10. “Carol of the Bells” by Mykola Leontovych, sung by Celtic Women
Background Information
For my reflections and the background behind the way I use music, visit Pondering Pedagogy.
Resources to Get You Started
Timothy Rasinski on Fluency at Scholastic.com
Reading Rockets Strategies and Research
ReadingResource.net on Fluency
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Comments (43)
January 19, 2013 at 11:57 p.m.
If you want to combine fluency with concepts, try the Schoolhouse Rock songs. They're great.
January 23, 2013 at 5:39 a.m.
Hi Marcia! Thanks for the reminder. Schoolhouse Rock is a perfect example. I still remember the words and concepts they taught after many years!
January 12, 2013 at 4:00 p.m.
I have been thinking of doing something like this for a center using individual cd players. I teach Kindergarten, I wonder if it would work, even if they can't read all words they can recognize some. What do you think?
January 13, 2013 at 9:11 a.m.
Thank you for your comment. I wonder, if you found children's songs that have a very simple structure, if you might be able to get it to work for you. You might consider replacing unfamiliar words with pictures like a rebus. That way if they lost their way, they could get back on track with the pictures. Let me know what you find that works!
Shari.
January 10, 2013 at 9:45 p.m.
Great article! Music is magical! Reading song lyrics is great fun!
Sally from Elementary Matters
January 11, 2013 at 1:06 a.m.
Thank you, Sally!
I agree! It works like magic. I enjoy it as much as my students!
Thanks for the comment! You have a great website, also.
Shari
January 10, 2013 at 9:40 p.m.
Any suggestions for middle school intensive reading trade books and songs?
January 11, 2013 at 1:04 a.m.
Ashley, below, has a good list, for her 5th graders, on her site now. Some of those might work for middle school. I think I would try the early rock ideas and not try to match their current music interests. Maybe someone will come back with more ideas once they get started. I think some of the books pictured above might work for some older students, too. I'm checking out music all the time so I will try to post back here with what I find.
Thanks for the comment and let me know what you put on your list!
January 10, 2013 at 9:03 p.m.
I am so doing this!
January 11, 2013 at 12:45 a.m.
Come back and let me know how it works for you!
Thanks for the comment!
Shari
January 10, 2013 at 9:03 p.m.
I am so doing this!
January 10, 2013 at 8:36 p.m.
I am a K-6 music teacher and I put the lyrics up on my SMARTBoard even for Ks. I use a large purple pointing finger to track the words. I know many of my cant read all the words but every little bit helps.
January 11, 2013 at 12:44 a.m.
I'm sure it helps them. They can learn so much about text and how it works even if they aren't reading the words yet. Thanks for the idea!
Shari
January 10, 2013 at 8:25 p.m.
Such a great idea!
I once used "I Was Made For You" by Brandi Carlisle to teach prepositional phrases to 5th graders. I should've taken it a step or two further like you did. Heading to my itunes collection to look for songs now...
January 6, 2013 at 10:44 p.m.
I really like your article! Very inspiring to me: http://www.5thandfabulous.blogspot.com/2013/01/reading-fluency-and-music.html
Thanks for sharing!
January 6, 2013 at 10:53 p.m.
You're welcome, Ashley! I love your list of songs! There are several I plan on checking out for my class.
I hope it works well for your class!
Shari
January 6, 2013 at 10:42 p.m.
I really liked your article! Very inspiring to me: http://www.5thandfabulous.blogspot.com/2013/01/reading-fluency-and-music.html
Thanks for sharing!
January 6, 2013 at 3:36 p.m.
As a music teacher I love this process! John Denver's 'Granma's Feather Day' is a great song and there's a book/cd I've used.
January 6, 2013 at 5:44 p.m.
It's funny that you would mention that song. It's on my list for the spring! Thanks for the comment!
Shari
January 5, 2013 at 10:14 p.m.
I am a retired teacher (after 30years) and I used to love having my kids sing songs while "reading" them off the page. The kids never saw it as reading, they saw it as singing and LOVED IT.
January 6, 2013 at 5:48 p.m.
Hi Gail!
I agree! It doesn't feel like practice to my class either!
Thanks for the comment!
Shari
January 5, 2013 at 8:44 p.m.
I LOVE this idea! I will be adding three sets of song lyrics to my 2nd graders' Brain Books on Monday and modeling one song. I know they'll love it. It certainly provides a highly engaging way to get the sight word practice they so desperately need and offers ways for them to gain fluency as well.
Many thanks!
CS
January 6, 2013 at 5:50 p.m.
That's great, Carole!
Have fun and come back and share your experiences and good songs you find.
Shari
January 3, 2013 at 10:55 p.m.
I am SO glad I am not alone in this. I've been trying to find robust research basis on this; it's out there, but not exactly causal (yet). My first experience with this was with nonverbal autistic children. Music seems to open that door to language AND literacy. Now as 1st grade teacher I have a "Read n Sing for Fluency" rotation as part of my Daily 5. I use all different kinds of music. Many times I end up making flip books by typing lyrics and adding pictures (jpgs) and putting these in page protectors and binders. There is wealth of music available on the web for content (if not looking for pop, jazz, etc...though use that too.) Not sure if I can put the websites on a Scholastic post, but would be happy to share them with anyone who wants them. I actually have a music therapist I contact when I come up with a crazy idea for a song and I want to include specific academic vocabulary or phonemic targets. I also include these same lyrics in student "poetry" binders....what are lyrics if not poetry set to music!?!
January 10, 2013 at 10:35 p.m.
I also teach first grade and love the idea of a "Read n Sing for Fluency". How did you introduce this to your students and what are some of the expectations in this center? I also would like to have the websites you have used. Thank you for sharing!
Lynn
January 5, 2013 at 12:03 a.m.
Hi Rene,
It's nice to see that other teachers are using this strategy. I really believe there is something to to it and if I had the time, it would be interesting to be part of a study. Thank you for contributing your thoughts and ideas here for others to benefit. Happy singing! Shari
January 4, 2013 at 10:19 p.m.
Hi Rene,
I would love to have the websites.
Thanks,
Bernicde
January 3, 2013 at 5:24 p.m.
I totally agree with your idea. I have used Fun Phonics by Creative Teaching Press - Music and lyrics by Steven Traugh. I have the old version on cassette tape. It's for K-2 and has 4 parts: consonants, short vowels, long vowels, and blends and digraphs. It is a combination of poems and songs learned in echo format. The sheets can be copied, colored, and practiced as a single piece or made into a book. There's also reading, writing, speaking, and listening activities. Kids love music!!!
January 4, 2013 at 11:39 p.m.
Thank you for the suggestions, Catherine. I've used that type of program, also, with good success.
Shari
January 2, 2013 at 11:17 a.m.
Love, love this idea! I teach struggling readers k-2. Any suggestions on songs would be awesome:)
Thanks for just a great idea!!
January 4, 2013 at 11:24 p.m.
Hi Susan!
I have found that my struggling readers do best with a slower tempo and repetition such as a chorus that repeats throughout the song. I'll keep your request in mind as I look for songs for my class. Thanks for the comment! Shari
December 26, 2012 at 9:15 a.m.
Love it! My brain is swirling with ideas to use this in my grade 6 classroom. This is fun and student engagement is high. Thank you for such a great way to increase fluency.... especially with struggling readers!
December 27, 2012 at 1:39 a.m.
Hi Dori! I'm so happy you've found something you can take away from my blog. Please come back and share the songs you choose. There are several comments from teachers of your students' age who need appropriate song lists that will motivate middle school age students.
Thanks for the comment!
Shari
PS: In Kansas, we are getting ready for Kansas Day celebrations with an emphasis on the time of pioneers and settlement on the prairie. I have been gathering songs of that era to help my class get into that historical period and develop vocabulary. I'm enjoying my hunt!
December 22, 2012 at 9:06 a.m.
Try rap from the 80's and 90's. It was called concious rap I think. Look for groups like KRS-1 and the like. How about Puff the magic dragon?
December 21, 2012 at 11:30 p.m.
I would love suggestions on adapting this for 7th grade to do with some of my struggling readers! They are so much more interested in Rap and top 40 at this age...
December 23, 2012 at 11:08 a.m.
I've had several people ask me the same thing, Laurel. I hope someone has suggestions. I will be asking some educators for their suggestions when I get back to school.
Thanks!
Shari
December 21, 2012 at 10:14 p.m.
Have to share this great idea everywhere!! :)
December 21, 2012 at 10:11 p.m.
Shari, what a crazy-cool idea! Thank you!!!! Can't wait to try in my reading club!
December 21, 2012 at 5:12 p.m.
I love this idea!!! I have 18 special ed students who hate reading...this may be the key to showing them reading is fun.
December 21, 2012 at 8:38 p.m.
I agree! It has really helped my struggling readers. Their fluency scores have quadrupled since we began using this strategy! Please let me know how it went after you try it. I am very interested in seeing how it works for other classrooms!
December 21, 2012 at 5:12 p.m.
I love this idea!!! I have 18 special ed students who hate reading...this may be the key to showing them reading is fun.
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I live in
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I teach 2nd grade
I am an inquiring investigator of… my students’ brains, of course
