In Rhythm for Reading online CPD you will:
# Gain deeper insights into the invisible barriers to learning
# Gain a new perspective on blocks to progress in early reading
# Discover how to resolve these blocks using rhythm
# Discover how to focus children's fragmented attention
# Master techniques that deliver significant* changes in reading
[*Published in the peer-reviewed RSME journal, part of a 5 year research study carried out at IOE - UCL's Faculty of Education and Society.]
• Your phonics programme works well for many, but not all.
• You want a fast and effective way to meet the needs of these children.
• You went into teaching to make a difference and feel frustrated.
How amazing would it be if things were like this instead?
"I'm happy because I liked the really incredible music for saying the letters." (Year 3 child)
This child's teacher said:
"Enjoying reading - has moved up two book bands."
[10 month gain in reading accuracy age at the end of 10 weeks.]
How would it feel to unleash struggling pupils' potential?
"My reading's got better. I've been practising more and it's more interesting." (Year 3 child)
This child's teacher said:
"Showing enjoyment of reading. Improved sentence structure in writing."
[25 month gain in reading comprehension age,
after the 10 weeks.]
How would you feel if your pupils in the lowest 20 % said this?
"My difference has been amazing and it makes me feel so happy and excited!" (Year 3 child)
This child's teacher said:
"She has shown increasing levels of enthusiasm in her writing this term."
[33 month gain in reading comprehension age after 10 weeks.]
If children are not responding well to excellent phonics teaching, and need greater sensitivity to perceive the smallest sounds of language, then working through the same resources again will not actually achieve the required shift in their perception of phonemes.
If children are decoding at the word level and are unable to allow their reading to flow, then simply targeting them with more phonics, or building-up their reading speed will not help them to find subtle grammatical cues embedded within the rhythm, shape and structure of phrases - these cues unlock fluent reading.
I've created a thirty week training course in my rhythm-based method. It takes teachers from absolute beginner to seasoned practitioner. The course is split into three 'terms' (10 weeks per term) and teachers deliver the programme to a new group of children each term. I support teachers every step of the way through weekly catch-up calls, video materials and printable pdfs. The planning and sequence of tasks is preloaded, (based on decades of work in schools), and term three is dedicated to differentiation.
Experiential learning is key to delivering Rhythm for Reading.
Teachers have the option to co-teach with me, via a continuous video, pressing 'pause' for each task.
Allow 30 mins per weekly session
Light touch teaching cues support dynamic delivery of Rhythm for Reading.
Teachers can refer to a slide deck, embedded within the resources as they flow from task to task.
Allow 20 mins per weekly session
Differentiation begins with intuitive delivery of Rhythm for Reading.
Teachers are guided to meet diverse needs, through a wide range of nuanced approaches.
Allow 10 mins per weekly session
Teachers discuss the learning objectives of each session ('Roadmap'), their record of pupils' progress (using the 'Session planner'), and evaluate their own experience ('Self-Reflection').
Allow 15 mins per call
Teachers continue to refer to the 'Roadmap', 'Session planner' and 'Self-Reflection' but they also listen to children read week by week and record progress in reading ('Fluency Tracker').
Allow 15 mins per call
Term 3
Teachers focus on individual differences, so in addition to planning and reflecting on the sessions, in these calls, they discuss specific approaches to support the needs of pupils with SEND.
Allow 15 mins per call
"Dr Marion has
run Rhythm for Reading at our school
for over eight years
producing high outcomes.”
— Headteacher, London
"It supplements & extends our synthetic phonics programme leading to improvements in attitudes to reading, engagement with the text & fluency.”
— Headteacher, London
”Things that we’ve been trying to get to happen for two or three years suddenly click into place after six weeks of the programme.”
— Lower KS2 Phase Lead, London
There are five reasons why this is NOT a music programme. There’s no:
singing,
composing,
creativity,
improvisation
musical instruments.
However, there are a few activities that are ‘musical’:
The children practise rhythmic patterns and in the background, there’s our own specially-composed music, which focuses the children’s attention.
Therefore, they learn to read music and to keep time. and these skills transfer to improved fluency in early reading development.
There are seven reasons why this IS a reading programme:
Like reading, it uses a system of symbols -marks on the page. The symbol system is decoded by using letter names.
Pupils:
Read the symbol system from left to right.
Practise decoding the symbols using call and response - similar to phonics lessons.
Read symbols fluently, even in the first session.
Actions and stories help the children with decoding.
Decoding is fast-paced and delivered via a highly structured format.
There are three ways in which this programme DIFFERS from other reading programmes:
Children do not read words or sentences.
Symbols are decoded into rhythmic patterns.
Rhythmic patterns are grouped into phrases, which are logically organised and thus encourage anticipation and deepen engagement.
It is for the children in either year 2 or year 3 who struggle with any of these challenges: fragmented or fading attention, weak phonological awareness, word-by-word reading that's 'stuck', fragile fluency, patchy comprehension. Children with SEND, EAL, ASD, ,ADHD, SpLD can benefit too. Children with specific language impairment require a different approach.
Teachers do not need to be able to read music. It is very important that the teacher feels positive about leading the children using rhythm. The level of complexity is similar to the clapping patterns that most teachers use in the classroom to get the children's attention. The musical notes that we use are very simple to read and we are confident that all teachers will find this is straightforward. After all, if a struggling five year old child can pick this up in a few minutes, then a competent adult will be fine!
Rhythm helps in three main ways. Firstly, it introduces a time constraint, which brings an extra dimension of precision, focus and structure to the teaching of early reading. Secondly, a rhythm-based approach lightens the burden of decoding (cognitive loading) and frees up resources for the development of reading fluency. Lastly, rhythm in itself is hypnotic, commands attention and is highly rewarding - thus it's an incredibly powerful teaching tool!
The Harvard psychologist Stephen Pinker once said that music is 'auditory cheesecake'. We can think of this programme as a sweet treat! Using this method on a weekly basis actually increases its potency. The spacing of the programme sessions allows time not only for full assimilation of rhythm-based techniques, but a powerful sense of anticipation of the next session cultivates an appetite for deeper engagement and learning. By the same token, making the weekly sessions very short - ideally ten minutes - also increases the intensity of the programme's impact.
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