Music benefits teens’ literacy skills, too
Young children aren’t the only ones who may see an improvement in reading because they make connections with music. Teens can benefit, too.
High school teacher Kim Culbertson is the author of several teen books, and she often uses music as part of writing exercises for students.
“I think music helps with connection,” says Culbertson. “Often, we listen to music with our hearts, we feel the music. I encourage students to do the same with reading. I like to play songs that thematically support what we’re reading and have the students write about it.”
Culbertson also says that what you read or listen to isn’t as important as we may sometimes think it is.
“People get really snobby about, ‘Oh, well, I’ve read (insert fancy book name here),’ and I want students to understand that being an informed, intuitive reader can happen when you read the comics, when you read a magazine, a cereal box, anything.”
As Culbertson explains, she hasn’t found one type of music to be more encouraging than another. The key, as with books, is letting teens lead the way with what they find interesting.
You obviously won’t be playing silly music games with your teens or giving them writing assignments, but you can take an interest in the songs they connect with. You can ask what your kids listen to and talk about what it means to them. If they are willing, you can even look up lyrics online together and watch videos of their favorite bands performing.
