Dr Marion LongIn this reflective post, Marion draws on her own journey from experienced teacher to researcher and unpacks what 'real research' in schools really means: evidence grounded in reality, triangulated, and strengthened through scrutiny.
Dr Marion LongEarly reading depends on efficient coordination between the ear and the eye for strong associations between letters and their sounds. Voices matter too, as poor oral language skills are a strong predictor of slower progress in literacy.
Dr Marion LongSince I began doing this work, I’ve found that the most obvious barriers to learning for young children are: fragmented attention, weak inhibition of impulses and an attention span of only a few seconds. Emotional insecurities are also common.
Dr Marion LongAlthough the development of reading fluency is less well understood than are other aspects of reading, it can be assessed by tracking a child's engagement with the text, their expression, prosody, flow and understanding, week by week.
Dr Marion Long is the founder of Rhythm for Reading and the creator of Rhythm for Reading Online CPD for teachers supporting lower-attaining readers. Her doctorate at UCL Institute of Education investigated the effects of a rhythm-based music intervention on children's reading behaviour. If you would like to discuss having Rhythm for Reading in your school, please visit the bookings page and select the most convenient date and time.
“It’s only an hour that they have with you over the time that you come in over the six weeks and for it to be able to make, for a lot of them, up to a year’s difference in their reading ability is quite amazing really.” Year 3 teacher
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