Phonemic Awareness

& Music

By Rachel Sapp

Learning Targets:

Students will be able to define phonemic awareness.
Students will be able to explain why music integration is beneficial for the development of phonemic awareness.
Students will be able to describe real-world applications of music integration in a classroom setting.

🎶 Down by the bay where the watermelons grow, I use this song to grow the words I know and when I do, my mama will say, "You'll always see a reader start as a singer," down by the bay! 🎶

What is phonemic awareness?

To put it simply, literacy is the ability to read and write (VDOE, 2021). However, there are a number of skills required to develop in order to become literate. When thinking about reading, specifically, literacy skills include phonemic awareness, fluency, and vocabulary to name a few. It’s important to note that phonemic awareness is not simply the knowledge that words are made up of singular sounds, but it is also an umbrella term to encompass a host of other important skills to assist in the reading and comprehension of texts (Carruth & Bustos, 2019). Phonemic awareness includes rhyming, blending and segmenting syllables, blending and segmenting phonemes, and overall word manipulation (Carruth & Bustos, 2019). This is the very foundation of the more complex reading skills that will make future reading and literacy lessons easier to master. Educators can connect music to these specific skills and subconsciously develop those skills in an engaging and entertaining way.

Benefits of Music Integration

Phonemic awareness development is positively impacted when music is integrated into the curriculum. Gordon et al., described a French study in which a sample size of 695 kindergarten students’ ability to match musical rhythms was indicative of their reading level in second grade (2015). In that study, it was found that students with a stronger ability to keep a steady rhythm had a higher reading level by second grade compared to students that rhythmically struggled. Additionally, Laura Brown of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) spoke towards the effect music education had on language development (2012). In this article, it is stated that music can strengthen the brain to the point where the limit of verbal competency is expanded (Brown, 2012). Expanding overall language skills may help students understand the processes of phonemic awareness and thus strengthen their understanding of intricate literacy skills.

Implementation

Music and literacy already have a foundational relationship that presents itself in the form of the alphabet song. Through this simple song, students learn their letters in order and a simple melodic and rhythmic pattern to follow as they sing it. Coincidentally, that same melody is used for “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” and “Baa, Baa, Black Sheep.” Students are able to use this melody to quickly learn two new songs while expanding their vocabulary and learning easy rhymes. In the YouTube video to the right, "Down By The Bay" will play with a cute cartoon that also has a number of rhymes children will be able to hear and see. Once students are able to identify rhymes, they are able to move forward to creating their own. Another example would be the “Apples and Bananas” song to learn and reinforce vowel sounds and how they can change an entire word. Further, students in upper grades can spend time learning, singing, and analyzing “America the Beautiful” to assist in vocabulary expansion by using context clues in the lyrics (Fink, 2019).

Reflection

As described by Carruth and Bustos (2015), phonemic awareness makes up a great deal of specific literacy skills that can assist students in reading comprehension later in life. Incorporating music into literacy lessons can make it easier for students to hear and grasp certain concepts, like rhymes and vowel sounds. I believe it is incredibly important to engage students by encouraging active participation in musical exercises. Lisa Fink of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) highlighted a number of ways that students of all ages can engage in musical activities while sharpening various literacy skills (2019). While simple songs can be used in early elementary years, I believe this exercise can be beneficial for students of every age. Based on the information I researched, it is clear that music and phonemic awareness go hand-in-hand seamlessly. We, as educators, should take every opportunity to strengthen lifelong skills and music is a fun and engaging way to do just that.

Quick Quiz

Phonemic awareness is an umbrella term that emcompasses a number of specific skills related to the reading and comprehension of texts. Which of these is not under that umbrella?

A. Segmenting

B. Blending

C. Syntax

D. Rhyming

Mr. Taylor wants to infuse poetry and music in his English lesson. What genre of music would be best for him to use?

A. Classical

B. Electronic Dance Music

C. Techno

D. Hip hop / R&B

References

Brown, L. L. (2012, May 7). The Benefits of Music Education. PBS. Retrieved February 8, 2022, from https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/the-benefits-of-music-education

Carruth, L., & Bustos, C. (2019). Phonemic Awareness: It’s All in the Sounds of Language. Texas Association for Literacy Education Yearbook, 6, 55–58. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1291358

Fink, L. (2019, August 2). Music and literacy. NCTE. Retrieved February 8, 2022, from https://ncte.org/blog/2019/08/music-and-literacy/

Gordon, R. L., Fehd, H. M., & McCandliss, B. D. (2015). Does Music Training Enhance Literacy Skills? A Meta-Analysis. Frontiers in psychology, 6, 1777. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01777

Virginia Department of Education. (2021). Literacy. VDOE :: Literacy Instructional Resources. Retrieved February 7, 2022, from https://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/english/literacy/index.shtml

Quiz Answers:

C. Syntax

2. D. Hip hop / R&B

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