Here are some ways music can support reading skills.
Phonemic awareness & sound recognition
Songs break words into smaller sounds, helping kids develop phonemic awareness.
Clapping or tapping to the beat of syllables strengthens their ability to hear different sounds in words.
Vocabulary expansion
Singing exposes children to new words and phrases in context.
Repetitive lyrics reinforce word meanings and pronunciation.
Fluency and expression
Singing along to songs improves reading fluency by helping kids practice rhythm, pacing, and intonation.
Songs encourage natural pauses and phrasing, which are key for comprehension.
Memory and sight words
Catchy melodies make it easier to remember high-frequency words.
Singing sight words (like in the "Dolch Sight Word Songs") helps with quick recognition.
Comprehension and storytelling
Songs with narratives encourage kids to follow a story structure.
Discussing song lyrics can improve listening skills and reading comprehension.
Practical ideas for using music
Sing-along books (like rhyming books with rhythm).
Karaoke reading (kids read lyrics while singing).
Rhyming games & chants to practice phonics.
Create songs about spelling rules or grammar.
Music-based reading activities
Here are some music-based reading activities and song recommendations for Kindergarten to Grade 5 to help with phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension.
Kindergarten – grade 1: phonics & early reading
Focus: Phonemic awareness, letter sounds, sight words, and simple sentences.
Songs and activities:
Alphabet songs
"ABC Song" (Super Simple Songs, Sesame Street)
"Phonics Song 2" (KidsTV123)
Activity: Sing the alphabet with different rhythms or clap for each letter.
Rhyming songs
"Down by the Bay" (Raffi)
"Willoughby Wallaby Woo" (Raffi)
Activity: Pause the song before the rhyming word and let kids guess it.
Sight word songs
"The Sight Word Song" (HeidiSongs)
"Jack Hartmann Sight Word Songs"
Activity: Have kids write or point to the words as they hear them.
Sing-along storybooks
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (With song version)
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
Activity: Read along with the music while pointing to each word.
Grade 2 – 3: Fluency and vocabulary
Focus: Word recognition, reading fluency, and comprehension.
Songs and activities:
Fluency and expression songs
"Five Little Monkeys"
"There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly"
Activity: Sing a song with varied speeds (slow/fast) to practice pacing.
Storytelling through songs
"Puff the Magic Dragon" (Peter, Paul & Mary)
"The Cat Came Back"
Activity: Have kids illustrate or retell the story after listening.
Reading comprehension with lyrics
"Somewhere Over the Rainbow"
"A Spoonful of Sugar" (Mary Poppins)
Activity: Listen to a song and discuss what it means.
Rhyming and spelling songs
"Rhyming Words" (Jack Hartmann)
"The Vowel Song"
Activity: Write down rhyming words from the song.
Grade 4 – 5: Advanced reading and comprehension
Focus: Figurative language, critical thinking, and comprehension.
Songs and activities:
Songs with similes and metaphors
"Firework" (Katy Perry)
"I'm Like a Bird" (Nelly Furtado)
Activity: Identify similes/metaphors and explain their meanings.
Analyzing song lyrics for meaning
"What a Wonderful World" (Louis Armstrong)
"Imagine" (John Lennon)
Activity: Discuss how the lyrics create imagery and emotions.
Lyric writing and poetry
Activity: Have kids write their own song or change lyrics to a familiar tune.
