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| "Magical Memory Reading" Precedes Guided Reading Instruction
"Magical memory reading" builds oral language fluency and a foundation for reading success. After many shared singing and reading experiences with Read and Sing Big Books or language charts, young children develop a memorable sense of the oral language. Then they begin practicing reading-like behavior and noticing details about text while the teacher tracks the words. For some children this initial reading experience is "magical memory reading." The next step is to provide all children with their very own Read and Sing Little Books. Now the children can practice guided and independent reading behavior at their own developmental levels. Guide the children’s reading by saying, "Read with your eyes and mouth, and touch the words with your fingers." For some children it is more effective to use the eraser end of a pencil or a chopstick for tracking. Children learn concepts about print. Directions like "Point to the first word of the title," "Let’s read the title together," "Turn to page 1," and "Point to the first word we will read on this page" support emerging reading behavior. Guide the children in reading out loud in unison, page-by-page and sentence-by-sentence, through the Little Book until each child proudly reads: "The End." The more positive and joyful these "guided reading" sessions are, the more easily and naturally children will begin to internalize reading behaviors such as moving their eyes from left-to-right with a return sweep and top-to-bottom along each page. Watch their delight as children begin connecting their oral language to print and discover: "I can read!" After several guided reading sessions with the entire class, you may choose to give some children additional one-on-one assisted practice as you read together and hand-in-hand guide their finger under the words of the Little Book. It is important to train parents and older reading buddies in how to use this type of Neurological Impress Method. Then send home a copy of the Little Book for continued singing and reading practice with families. Keep an additional copy in each child’s individual classroom collection. These can be stored in the back of each child’s "I Can Read" Songs and Poems Notebook. We cannot emphasize enough the importance of honoring memory reading as a transition to guided reading with personal Little Books. Children delight in having meaningful books to read and sing at their own level of success, from developing the sounds of language to independently reading word-for-word in fluent phrases. Opportunities to feel validated for memory reading must precede traditional guided reading instruction, especially for children who have not had years of repeated "magical memory reading" experiences at home and for English Language Learners. Shared literacy experiences with familiar songs provide this practice while allowing all children to perceive themselves as readers. It builds a sense of community, where every child feels they belong. When children are singing and reading together, even the least-able language user perceives him or herself as successful. Then each child will have the confidence to begin engaging in reading-like behavior and role-play themselves as successful readers. This "magical memory reading" is an important phase that most young children go through early on as they construct their knowledge of how print works. It builds the language foundation that helps the child to focus more attentively during shared reading experiences. It further prepares the child for guided reading instruction and for the accelerated literacy gains that result from the Neurological Impress Method of oral read-along practice. Your children will treasure their Nellie Edge Read and Sing Little Books™ and keep them for years to come as a reminder of their joy and success in learning to read. For the additional information, see the following articles |
