“Music teachers are the BEST reading teachers any school has … Language is symbolic, just as are the alphabet, phonics, numbers, etc. Obviously, music falls into that category as well. Children need to learn to DECODE in order to read. Music is rich with opportunities to decode and interpret. We are constantly challenging children with the sound/symbol relationship. Through movement and rhythm, we can also help them learn to decode…
“NO child can read fluently without crossing the mid-line of the body fluently. Our eyes must travel easily from left to right and back in order to read. Many children who are struggling with reading do not have adequately developed mid-line crossing skills. It is very difficult to train the eyes to do this; however, if taught through large motor skills, mid-line crossing skills almost magically transfer to fluid eye movement for reading. So, as we learn crossover borduns on barred instruments, wave streamers in a figure-eight pattern for a Chinese Ribbon Dance, play Shadows and Mirrors, dance a Grapevine, play a rhythmic rock passing game, etc., we are helping with fluid mid-line issues. And we are helping with right/left brain integration. "
- Meg de Mougin, co- director of the Midwest Institute Academy of the Arts, Midwest Institute's Kids Private Day School in Terre Haute, Indiana
No comments:
Post a Comment