Matthew Glavach, Ph.D.
This issue of NASET’s Practical Teacher was written by Matthew Glavach, Ph.D. When most people hear the word Rappin’, they often associate it with negative language and feelings. It doesn’t have to be. Rapping can be uplifting and searching for a rhyme for rapping, for a song, or for poetry can ignite the imagination in unexpected directions.Developing poetic intelligence can open new patterns of thought. As students practice building their own rhymes, they are developing a greater understanding for words. Middle school and high school struggling readers consider most books at their level baby-work and are embarrassed by them. Often, these students respond to rhyme and developing rhymes for their song and poetry ideas. The article describes how to improve reading and writing skills, and poetic intelligence while teaching rhyming for rapping, song, or poetry development.
When most people hear the word Rappin’, they often associate it with negative language and feelings. It doesn’t have to be. Rapping can be uplifting and searching for a rhyme for rapping, for a song, or for poetry can ignite the imagination in unexpected directions. Developing poetic intelligence can open new patterns of thought. As students practice building their own rhymes, they are developing a greater understanding for words.
Middle school and high school struggling readers consider most books at their level baby-work and are embarrassed by them. Often, these students respond to rhyme and developing rhymes for their song and poetry ideas.
The article describes how to improve reading and writing skills, and poetic intelligence while teaching rhyming for rapping, song, or poetry development.
Rhyming Words and the Brain
Rhyming words can improve reading and spelling. Brain research shows that a similar word pattern can prime the next word if it has a similar pattern and can accelerate reading and spelling. Rhyming words are especially powerful.1 (See Figure 1.)
Figure 1. Rhyming Word Pattern Examples
explanation – estimation – punctuation
Reading, Spelling, and Rhyming’s Emotional Response
New research shows the routes for reading and spelling are intertwined, and that spelling can improve reading by increasing the connectivity between the brain regions. Rhyming words, because of their consistent endings, strengthen this connectivity for reading and spelling. And rhyming words produce an emotional response, like music, that is linked to the brain’s reward center in the right hemisphere.2 This keeps students motivated.
Developing Songwriting and Poetry Skills
For most writers of songs or poetry, words do not automatically appear. It requires work to master these skills. Most lyrics are lists of ideas or thoughts or feelings or people or events. Most song and poetry writers keep a notebook of their rhymes and ideas. While some of the rhymes may not seem important, often the brain will connect this over-time. Reviewing rhymes and ideas is important. Song and poetry writers strive to write rhymes with the fewest words to bring about the greatest meaning.
Getting Started
Students will need a rhyming dictionary or a list of rhyming words. A rhyming dictionary with consistent spellings for the rhyming words is important. The rhyming words can be in specific areas where students need to improve reading and spelling skills. (short vowels, long vowels, multisyllable words, etc.). or words that students are studying in class and can include their own words.
Exact Rhyme Word Search Activity
In this activity students’ search for exact rhyming words. (See Figure 2.) This activity should be practiced at every session for students needing reading and spelling skill improvement. Students write the words in their notebook. They are developing a bank of words to develop song and poetry ideas. They can add their own words and ideas
Figure 2. Exact Rhyme Word Search Examples.
Example 1: Short Vowels
Find four exact rhymes for each of these words.
(1.) sad (had, dad, bad, glad)
(2.) jam
(3.) hat
(4.) map
Example 2: Long Vowel Words
Find four exact rhymes for each of these words.
(1.) made
(2.) maid
(3.) pale
(4.) pail
Example 3: Multisyllable Words
Multisyllable words are like music, they have natural rhythms that can make learning them easier. “Accent structures in words naturally make a sort of melody.”3 The rhythmic feature creates less demand on the brain. 4
Find four exact rhymes for each of these words.
(1.) summarize
(2.) ambition
(3.) motivate
(4.) communication
Free Association
Free Association is an activity that helps build a lyric. This is sometimes called a word web. In this activity, students write a word of interest in a circle. On the lines around the circle, they write words that have a similar sound, a similar meaning, a different meaning, or words they like. After this activity, students write a rhyme or rhymes based on their work in their notebook.
Poetic Intelligence
The rhyme below shows that the student, while challenged with decoding and spelling, was expressing poetic intelligence and empathy.
“A wise crack can never be taken back”.
Having Fun with Rhymes. Some student examples.
The examples were from students that were also challenged for decoding and spelling.
Tick-tock went the clock.
A braggin’ windbag.
Rappin’, clappin’, makin’ it happen.
A wise crack can never be taken back.
The wrong song lasts too long.
Last dance, my last chance, romance.
Needed you to be true. What did I do?
These can lead to phrases like:
Revive, alive, survive .
An attitude with latitude.
Imagination with no limitation.
A civilization of cooperation.
Headache, heartache, a big mistake.
And to longer rhymes like:
A conversation without hesitation, information,
explanation, communication, or consideration.
Reading, Writing, Rappin’ Dictionary, Matthew Glavach, Ph.D.
(Only Good Words.)
The book provides thousands of rhyming words for developing songs and poetry. It also improves reading and writing for middle school to adult learners.
The words are organized by rhyming and spelling patterns. Most rhyming books are not organized by spelling patterns, only rhyming; so, identical spelling patterns are not being reinforced in the brain.
Words with imagery as well as words important to school learning. Included are words that make up the common core vocabulary and sections for Biology and World History rhyming words.
WORDS ENDING IN -ATION
The example is from the Author’s book Reading, Writing and Rappin’, Dictionary:
location donation vacation vocation
inflation creation equation flirtation
frustration probation salvation sensation
starvation taxation temptation vibration
education motivation dedication inspiration
perspiration conversation information explanation
preparation determination anticipation expectation
graduation celebration appreciation demonstration
vocation innovation imitation constipation
population transportation destination exploration
recreation relaxation circulation publication
confrontation retaliation complication participation
conservation obligation civilization automation
illustration animation fascination observation
medication association agitation negotiation
irritation altercation violation accusation
allegation provocation investigation segregation
separation integration deportation desperation
toleration discrimination isolation reservation
immigration adaptation agitation legislation
exploitation obligation liberation compensation
justification interrogation examination manipulation
intimidation exaggeration determination elimination
eradication evaluation exoneration gratification
hallucination humiliation incarceration infatuation
insinuation procrastination interpretation manifestation
acceleration investigation deterioration personification
References
(1) Dehaene, S.D. (2009). Reading in the Brain (p. 42). New York: Viking/Penguin Group.
(2) Rately, J. J. (2001). Perception: A users guide to the brain (pp. 48-109). New York: Vintage Books.
(3) Levitan, D.J. (2009). The World in Six Songs. (p.25) New York: Penguin Books.
(4) Levitan, D.J. (2009). The World in Six Songs. (p.172) New York: Penguin Books
Download Information
To view or print this handout you have the following options:
View or Download PDF Version of this Issue CLICK HERE
