Read All About It- Headlines for the week of Feb. 23rd,
Dr. Sam will be doing a podcast with Tim RasinkiMarch 24th Dinner Event at the SoMLA conference
Podcast: Tim Rasinski & Dr. Sam
Attendees will have the opportunity to view a live podcast as Dr. Sam Bommarito (aka Dr. Sam) interviews Tim Rasinski about his book, The Fluency Development Lesson: Closing the Reading Gap. Following the interview, participants will engage in a sampling of activities from the book, including a focus poem, step-by-step guidance for implementing the fluency development lesson, and a song. Participants will receive ready-to-use materials for immediate classroom application, along with a selection of Reader’s Theater books. Attendees will actively participate in hands-on activities designed to support transfer, application, and meaning-making.
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Here is a follow-up to Ann Kay’s Interview. It contains a lot of valuable information about Early Childhood in the Elementary school.
Please see our Letter to Administrators of Early Childhood and Elementary Schools.
Ann C. Kay, Co-Founder & Education Coordinator
The Rock ‘n’ Read Project
952-237-2094
To: Administrators of Early Childhood and Elementary Schools From: Ann C. Kay, Rock’ n’ Read Project Date: February 2026 Re: The Link Between Singing, Music Skills, and Literacy Development
The Science of Reading Includes the Science of Music. Recent brain research has revealed that auditory processing is the foundation of language and literacy. Singing and basic music skills are essential tools for developing these neural pathways. For instance, research shows that children who cannot maintain a steady beat are significantly more likely to struggle with reading.
Key Research & Resources:
Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory (Northwestern University): Brainvolts
Full Research Bibliography: Effects of Music-Making on Brain Development
This bibliography is 10 pages long!
Proven Results: The Rock’ n’ Read Project.
The Rock’ n’ Read Project (RnR) is a Minnesota 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to using music to prepare young brains for reading. Our impact includes:
State-Backed Success: After receiving a $600,000 grant from the MN Legislature, RnR helped 2,500 elementary students achieve an average 1-year reading gain in just 14 hours of usage.
A Song A Day: Brain Prep for Pre-Readers: Our research-based curriculum (published by Ventris Learning) is designed specifically for 4- to 6-year-olds to bridge the gap between music and literacy.
Musical Fitness for Every Child: A Call to Action
We invite you to promote student wellbeing and brain development through daily music-making. Access our free resources at rocknreadproject.org/pre-reading skills, including: free musical fitness assessment, “brain train” activities, and professional development opportunities.
Save the Date: Science of Music & Reading Summit (Fall 2026)
Join neuroscientists and educators to explore evidence-based strategies to prepare all children for reading success—more details to follow via the website.
Contact: Ann C. Kay, Co-Founder/Education Coordinator ann@rnrproject.org
Be on the lookout for my upcoming blogs. This week, I spoke with Dr. Latisha Smith, the author of numerous children’s books. She calls herself an avid writer. I must agree with that assessment. The timing for talking about her books couldn’t be better. After all, it’s Black History Month, and Latisha is a black author writing books for black children. You can’t get a much better match than that. Because the Read All About post came in late, I am waiting until tomorrow (Sunday, February 28th) to post the blog about that interview.
And there’s more to come after that, including Dr. Chase Young and Rachel Gabriel.
So those are the headlines of this week. Until tomorrow:
Happy Reading and Writing
Dr. Sam
The guy in the middle: catching flak from all sides
Copyright 2025 by Dr. Sam Bommarito. Views/interpretations expressed here are solely this author’s and do not necessarily reflect the views of any other person or organization.
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