“Music and reading are a powerhouse combo.” M.A. Rosko, Fox 9 News

Rock ‘n’ Read Project has helped thousands of children make phenomenal progress in reading.

First 6 years

“If kids can’t read, they can’t succeed.” This was the simple statement that drove Bill Jones and Ann Kay to launch the Rock ‘n’ Read Project in 2014. Bill converted a retired city bus into a mobile reading lab. Outfitted with rows of computers and a singing-based TUNE into READING (TiR) software, the bus proved to be unique solution for struggling readers. That summer, Bill drove the bus to north Minneapolis every weekday where dozens of young, enthusiastic learners jumped on at a Minneapolis Public summer school and the YMCA. The Rock ‘n’ Read bus with the singing-to-read program was a fun, engaging experience. Children who sang with the program for at least 10 hours gained 1/2 year (avg.) in reading.

The MN Legislature awarded Rock ‘n’ Read $600,000 in grants to run a 5-year project that successfully implemented the TiR software with 2500 students in 25 elementary schools in MN. Students gained 1 year (avg.) in reading after 14 hours of usage. Although the software is available for home and school use, Rock ‘n’ Read Project no longer offers it because we have shifted to early childhood preparation.

Since 2021

Rock ‘n’ Read helps prepare young children’s brains for reading from prenatal on. Our strategies and workshops are rooted in current brain research. We have a published PreK/K curriculum, A Song a Day: Brain Prep for Pre-Readers.