As a para-educator, I’ve had the unique opportunity to observe and discuss teaching methods with educators across various disciplines. One topic that consistently piques my interest is the integration of music in English Language Arts (ELA) classrooms, and vice versa. It’s fascinating to see how many teachers are unaware of the powerful connection between rhythm and reading skills.

While most ELA teachers incorporate some form of music in their classrooms, it’s often not integrated into the day’s lesson. Even more surprising is that safety net or Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) teachers tend to exclude music entirely from their curriculum. On the flip side, music teachers express interest in cross-disciplinary teaching but struggle to find time amidst teaching essential skills like solfege, breathing techniques, and proper instrument handling.

So, how can we bridge this gap? Here are some thoughts on how to better integrate music in ELA and ELA in music:

1. Workshops and Professional Development: Organize sessions where music and ELA teachers can share their expertise and brainstorm integration strategies.

2. Collaborative Lesson Planning: Encourage music and ELA teachers to plan lessons together, finding natural connections between their curricula.

3. Rhythm and Reading Activities: Introduce simple activities that highlight the connection between musical rhythm and reading fluency.

4. Song Lyrics as Literature: Use song lyrics to teach literary devices, poetry analysis, or even historical context.

5. Musical Storytelling: Incorporate background music or sound effects into story reading to enhance comprehension and engagement.

6. Instrument-Inspired Writing Prompts: Use different musical instruments as inspiration for creative writing exercises.

7. Music Theory and Grammar: Draw parallels between music theory concepts and grammatical structures in language.

8. Cross-Disciplinary Projects: Assign projects that require students to combine musical and literary elements, such as creating a soundtrack for a novel or writing lyrics based on a story.

Integrating music and ELA not only enhances student engagement but also promotes a deeper understanding of both subjects. It’s time we harmonize our teaching methods to create a more holistic learning experience.

What are your thoughts on this? Have you seen successful examples of music-ELA integration in your educational experiences? I’d love to hear your ideas and continue this important conversation!