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How Can You Encourage Subvocalization?
Teacher modeling has a huge impact on potential for mastery in almost any complex skill. Think of an instrument you may have tried to play when you were young—how did you learn the proper fingerings? Did a skilled musician demonstrate turning disconnected notes into a smoothly played song or the difference adding dynamics can make? Maybe you played a sport involving a club, a bat, or a racket. Did your coach move your hands to the proper position? Teacher modeling can be executed in unison or as imitation. You’ll likely see both in a dance class; the instructor demonstrates a move while students watch, and then the whole class performs the move in unison. Note that active participation by the student occurs in all these scenarios. It’s the same with reading development.
In One Minute Reader, Teacher Modeling shows up in our Read Along Step. The student reads along, quietly vocalizing the words along with a recording of the story, often three times. At least, that's what they’re supposed to do. As parents, we know that subvocalizing will help our children learn unknown words, proper pronunciation, expression, and phrasing. Because we understand that practicing reading aloud along with the recording will increase confidence and decrease reading anxiety, we instruct our children that the Read Along Step is not a listening step. Yet, you may sometimes notice your child blankly staring at the screen while the narrator is reading the story. So, aside from verbal encouragement, what can we do to encourage subvocalization?
Two significant barriers to subvocalization are distraction and self-consciousness. The following are tips for combatting these obstacles.
- Make your reading space a device-free zone.
- Smartphones are endlessly entertaining. With an unlimited number of apps and notifications, it can be hard to resist the temptation to respond to that text, play one more game, or scroll for just a few minutes on a favorite social media platform. Set all devices (don’t forget about watches!) to “Do Not Disturb” and keep them in a basket out of reach and out of sight.
- Keep your reading space tidy.
- Messy space can be distracting, or at the very least, create a feeling of unease. An ideal reading environment is tidy and organized.
- Keep your reading space separate from other spaces.
- A reading space should be a space for just that—reading. Conversations, toys, activities, or even too much movement can interfere with a reader’s ability to focus. Even if the reading space is part of another room, dedicate a corner or a small section of the room for the sole purpose of reading.
- Be mindful of your readers' energy levels
- Food can be a great way to help the body stay alert. Coffee and tea are beverages that are often associated with reading time, but even just having a fresh glass of water within reach can be helpful. Gum or mints can be good options, too. If you want to go above and beyond, find a special treat to only serve during reading time. Your young readers will associate the delicious snack with the activity of reading.
- Some young readers might have trouble sitting still for so long. Fidget toys or a book stand are good options for allowing movement during quiet reading time.
- Provide headphones.
- Headphones reduce distractions, making it easier for students to concentrate on the task at hand. Consequently, the comfort level of insecure students also increases with minimized reminders of other students surrounding them.
- Respect privacy.
- Reading time can make people feel vulnerable. A person may feel embarrassed about what they're reading our how they sound reading aloud. Privacy can help your readers feel more comfortable and secure. Bookshelves or curtains can function well as dividers.
- Make some noise.
- Your child may not want their voice to dominate the space, especially if other people are around. Instrumental music or white noise can help them feel less self-conscious. Or, try reading along with your child to provide support and keep them on-task.
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