why do children from the age of 8 to 16 tend to memorize song lyrics better than bookwork?

Question

my suggestions were that the book work may not be interesting, not enough time put into bookwork /homework, class sizes, kids bring electronic devices such as cd players to school, and poor attendance

Answer 1

I WONDER THE SAME THING MY DAUGHTER IS 8 YEARS OLD AND SHE KNOWS EVERY WORD TO EVERY SONG YOU COULD THINK OF...AND YET WHEN IT COMES TO SPELLING WORDS OR ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH SCHOOL SHE DOES NOT REMEMBER. WHEN U FIND OUT THE ANSWER PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

***I RARELY PLAY THE RADIO, SO ITS NOT FROM ME

Answer 2

Humans, children especially, remember what is familiar. If they hear a song 20 times a day they are going to remember it far better than the lesson or book they might have looked over once. You dont have to take the music away but get them to repeat repeat repeat the lessons until they remember them too. Children are great sponges that way. They can absorb every lesson and the music too if you present both equally.

Answer 3

I agree this is a growing problem, not just for teachers, but for students who are not getting the full effect of their lessons AND becoming less and less apt at reading text. That means their writing skills suffer as well. I think cd + MP3 players should be banned from school, at least during class.

However, it is NOT just kids aged 8-16, IMO, but even younger (and older!) ones. Why do you think so many software companies market books and learning programs to toddlers through elementary age, via song?

Song probably predates organized language, in human evolution, so it's naturally more...natural (!) and FUN to sing or listen something being sung than to read it, for most people.
In the link below ("The memetic origin of language: modern humans as musical primates",Mario Vaneechoutte (2): the writer states:

"The idea that the origin of speech lies in our ability to sing can be traced back to at least Jean Jacques Rousseau, in the seventeenth century [73]. It was suggested by the famous linguist Wilhelm von Humboldt in the nineteenth century [94] and by Otto Jespersen early in this one [41]. However, this approach to language has been ignored in more modern times. Indicative is that the word `music' lacks in the index of the recent books of Pinker [67] and Deacon [21]. In recent times, music has received serious attention by some linguists [48], but this was done within the Chomskyan paradigm and did not address the origin of language.

Just like song birds possess highly sophisticated syringes, there are very characteristic morphological changes of the human glottis and larynx, unequalled in any mammalian species [75]. Aitchison [1] remarks: "Our language has more in common with the singing and calling of birds, than with the vocal signals of apes."

I view song as an integral part of teaching speech and language, as long as it is used as an adjunct, rather than a distraction, or worse, a subsitution (a current fad)!

When I was teaching my son spelling, we used to do "spelling bees" in the car, to pass the time (no DVD's...that is SO lame!), but one word he would get stuck on every time was "vacation". I remembered a catchy, old song from the early '60's (by Connie Francis, NOT the Go-Go's, tho' I love them!), in which she spells it out: "V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N.../We're gonna have a ball!"

It worked like a charm, and we used it whenever we could for tougher words. This isn't surprising, since my child could sing (fully articulated songs) well before he could form entire words. Once site (see below) says that children use "song-like" babble, at 6-9 mos., whereas the first true words don't appear until 12-15 mos. (1).

What schools and teachers (AND PARENTS!) need to do is USE this penchant for music to encourage all types of learning, rather than repress it.

Answer 4

Listening to a song over and over and singing it with their friends is much more fun than reading a lesson in a book over and over to memorize. My 13 year old is the same way. I just put up ground rules...she must complete her homework before their is any TV, radio or hanging out with her friends. And she must maintain good grades or she loses her privileges.

Answer 5

songs are more fun that book work... make up a song using the topic they are studying. If they like music that much, it should be fun for them and you get to spend quality time with your kids and they will feel so proud and special after they sing that song with their mom or dad

Answer 6

I agree! After all, learning lyrics from a favorite song is fun. Books require concentration and effort.

Answer 7

Easy. Because it is fun, something they like doing. Ten times more interesting for them than homework.:))

Answer 8

its easier for them coz i dont know