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How Can You Encourage Subvocalization?
Madeline Waters • August 14, 2023
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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Valentine’s Day, a holiday about love, seems to instead fill a large portion of the population with dread. If romance isn’t your thing, you feel doomed. If you’re unpartnered, you feel left out. If you’re a teacher, you’re bracing yourself for a day of mayhem and over-sugared students. And if you’re a parent of school-aged children, your living space is suddenly littered with dozens of valentines your children need to address. Does anyone actually love this holiday? Perhaps those of us working with struggling readers can reclaim it. After all, the written word is central to many of the ways we celebrate Valentine’s Day. Here are some Valentine’s Day-themed literacy ideas parents can do with their kids leading up to the holiday: Have kids write a “love letter” to their favorite book or One Minute Reader story. In the letter, they should explore how the book/story relates to their own life and why it is meaningful to them. Require kids to use their school spelling words, challenging vocabulary words, or words from One Minute Reader stories as they write valentines to friends and family. Have kids use candy conversation hearts as starting points for thinking about and creating sentences. For example, how could a heart that says “Be Mine” be turned into a question or a declarative sentence? Explore the genre of poetry and teach kids about simile, metaphor, personification, alliteration, and rhyme. You could even read a few Shakespearean Sonnets together—it’s never too early! Allow kids to eat a treat and then think of five or more adjectives to describe it. The Internet is full of Valentine’s Day-themed printables, worksheets, and projects , such as word finds and puzzles. Or, design your own incorporating the words your students are currently studying. And of course, read plenty of feel-good and Valentine’s Day-themed books aloud to your kids, followed by meaningful discussion about the books' vocabulary and themes. We can also encourage parents to reframe how they think about all the valentines littering their homes, waiting to be addressed. Are they a tedious chore? Or do they provide SO MUCH reading and writing practice? (I’ll admit, I might need this reminder.) If you have any ideas to add to our list, we’d love to hear them. We’ll be thinking of you and your kids with great admiration leading up to Valentine's Day, and always!
Regardless of where kids are on their reading journey, there are countless ways to incorporate reading into cozy days at home this winter. Here are some easy ideas for kids to try at home over winter break and beyond! Have kids think of the trusted friends, family members, or adults in their lives who can read, and encourage them to read aloud with these people as often as possible. Depending on their reading ability, they can simply listen to a book read aloud, or they can take turns reading and being read to. Have the kids fill out this Read-Aloud Log every time someone reads to them or every time they read to someone. You could offer a small reward for completing this activity every day of winter break (or every day during a predetermined time period). Reading aloud to their pets, stuffed animals, or even to themselves counts too! Set up reading challenges in which kids set goals and record their minutes spent reading or the number of books they read. Have kids color and decorate these winter-themed bookmarks to make reading even more fun. Encourage kids to borrow books from the library and have a big pile to choose from on cozy winter days. See this Cozy Wintertime Book List for book ideas. Refer to our 7 Ways to Create a Cozy Reading Environment document to create an ideal reading space. Lend or gift kids the first book in a series that’s likely to hook them. Sometimes all it takes is the right series to turn a reluctant reader into a bookworm! Incorporate reading time into other fun activities. For example, while making dinner or baking holiday treats, kids can read the recipes and write out the grocery lists. Create a snowflake book wall. Print out this Snowflake Wall Template , and have kids fill out a snowflake each time they finish a book. Then, have them tape the snowflake to the wall. Encourage kids to find ways to read while playing favorite games or while spending time on electronic devices. While playing games, have them read the game instructions aloud. While watching shows, have them turn on and read the subtitles. Have kids practice reading and writing while completing this fun Winter Scavenger Hunt . They’ll get some fresh air too! Refer to this Send Some Cheer printable for addresses to places where kids can send letters. Have them practice their writing skills and spread kindness by writing to kids in hospitals, senior citizens, refugee children, and more. Set up daily One Minute Reader time, and see literacy progress in just minutes! This research-proven, parent-trusted program is free for 7 days and just $8/month after that. Your kids will have so much fun beating their goals, they won't want to stop. Download the Splat-o-Nym vocabulary iPad app , which keeps kids entertained while boosting their vocabulary. Kids can try a free version of this game and purchase to get the full experience. Note that this app is only available for iPads, not smartphones or other devices. Add your own ideas to this list! Our hope is for all kids to experience the joy of reading this winter season and always.
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