Ashley Read '05, Head of Early Childhood

Dear ECC Families,

Due to the short week last week, we continued celebrating our differences. We are proud of the rich diversity that makes up our school community. Learning about and appreciating our unique backgrounds is what makes us special. 

Why Rhythm Matters: Building Readers Through Music & Movement

In my role as an instructional leader, I am deeply committed to using research-based practices to shape the standards, curriculum, and experiences that support your child’s growth and learning. Because of this, I was especially interested in an article I read about the connection between rhyming and early reading skills. Here is an excerpt from that article: “Did you know that research tells us that students who can clap to a beat often learn to read easily? Music and language share the same brain wiring, so teaching rhythm may boost reading too. Rhythm is one of the strongest building blocks for reading not because it sounds musical but because the brain uses timing to understand language. Unlike memorizing letters, reading depends on the brain’s ability to hear patterns, break words into sounds, and follow the flow of speech. Research in child neuroscience shows that preschoolers who can clap or tap in time with a beat often perform better on early language and reading tasks.” 

This research is exactly why our music and movement program at Oakridge plays such an important role in your child’s overall learning experience.

Sources: Frontiers in Psychology; Musical Predictors of Language Development; Digital Rhythm Training and Reading Fluency

January 26 - 30: Save-the-Date for the Oakridge Book Fair. 

More information to come next week. 

 

January 29: Inside Today’s College Admissions: College Colloquium 2026

Oakridge parents, guardians, and students are invited to College Colloquium, College Advising’s signature annual event. Hear directly from senior admission leaders from USC, Trinity University, and The Ohio State University as they share insights on today’s college admissions landscape. Families will gain clarity, confidence, and perspective through a dynamic panel and interactive breakout sessions. Join us on Thursday, January 29, 2026, from 6:00–8:00 PM in the Flavin Fine Arts Performance Hall. This program is made possible through the generous support of Oakridge Parent Club.

January 30: STEM Showcase and All-School College T-Shirt/Sweatshirt Day:

You are invited to attend our annual STEM Showcase on January 30. This event takes place from 8:00 - 9:15 a.m. in the Student Activity Center (SAC) on main campus. Students in grades 5 - 8 will be presenting on a variety of STEM topics and will have hands-on presentations to share with you and our students. Additionally, students are invited to wear college t-shirts/sweatshirts and casual bottoms (skirts, shorts, jeans) on January 30 to lean into the portion of our mission statement that centers around being a college preparatory school. Tennis shoes, only. 

Warm regards,

Ashley Read, Oakridge Class of 2005
Head of Early Childhood