For years, reading science has focused on phonological awareness: how well students hear and manipulate the sounds in words. But researchers studying dyslexia and language processing are uncovering a deeper layer of the story.
The brain learns to read not only through sound and sight, but through movement.
Clapping, tapping, stepping, shaking—these rhythm-based actions activate the same neural systems that support fluent reading. And the more senses you involve, the stronger those systems become.
Rhythm helps the brain predict patterns in sound. Movement helps the brain organize those patterns in time. Together, they build the timing and sequencing systems that fluent reading relies on.
When students tap along with a beat, clap out syllables, or react to timing cues, the brain’s auditory, motor, and attention networks fire in sync. Decades of research, including work by Habib, Besson, Chobert, and other leading dyslexia neuroscientists, show that these networks form the foundation for:
In other words, the skills struggling readers need most.
Across your research library, several consistent findings emerge:
Studies show that when students move to a beat—clapping or tapping in time—their brains become more sensitive to subtle differences in speech sounds.
This is especially important for children with dyslexia, who often struggle with rapid changes in sound.
The research repeatedly highlights tasks like:
These tasks strengthen the brain’s internal timing system, which is directly linked to fluent reading.
Motor engagement sharpens focus. Rhythmic movement increases predictive processing. Together, they prepare the brain to read more efficiently and with fewer breakdowns.
Neuroscientific studies show that after rhythm–movement training:
These neural shifts are foundational signs of future reading gains.
Because the research is clear: the more senses the brain recruits, the stronger (and faster) learning becomes. In Poppins, students don’t just listen to rhythm—they interact with it:
These multisensory interactions strengthen the same cross-modal networks highlighted in the research.
And because the activities happen inside a game-like environment—with levels, avatars, and real pop music—students stay engaged long enough for those neural systems to truly grow.
Fluent reading depends on the ability to:
Rhythm and movement build these systems. Multisensory play amplifies them. And when both come together, the brain becomes better equipped to make reading feel smooth and natural.
Movement and rhythm are part of how the brain organizes language, builds timing, and develops fluency. When students clap, tap, and move in time, they’re not just having fun—they’re strengthening the foundational systems that fluent reading is built on.
That’s why Poppins combines rhythm, movement, music, and play:
because when the whole brain learns, progress accelerates.