“I Do Not Like Green Eggs & Ham!”

“I would not like them here or there? I would not like them anywhere.

I do not like green eggs and ham. I do not like them, Sam-I-Am.”

You likely recognize these lines from the bestselling Dr. Seuss book which has sold over 8 million copies around the world. The author of this beloved book was born on March 2nd and since 1998 we have celebrated the day as Read Across America Day.

Reading is a joy that can take you places you may never have the opportunity to otherwise go, teach you things and grow you in ways you never expected, and entertain you for a lifetime.

The basics of reading are that letters stand for sounds. Groups of letters together stand for words that represent things. But the real magic of reading is how our brains transpose those letters and words into thoughts and images in our minds. Isn’t it amazing that when you look at the letters g-r-e-e-n e-g-g-s, you see in your mind something that doesn’t exist? Although you have never actually seen green eggs, you can see them in your mind because you read the words. This is a critical part of reading called comprehension.

Reading is actually a complex activity that requires specific nerve pathways and centers in your brain as well as lots of practice. That’s why one of the best things you can do to become a better reader is practice, practice, practice. Read everything and anything you can. Cereal boxes, gree ng cards, billboards, and of course, books.

Even before you could read, your brain was being prepared to read by listening to sounds and building language. Learning to read is really developing the ability to connect the sounds of language to the letters of the alphabet and then building recognition of different collections of letters (words) and their meanings. The reading brain is like an orchestra with different parts doing different things to produce one product.

When you read, part of your brain works to identify and organize the sounds, another part handles speech production, grammar, and fluency, and yet another part is responsible for connecting the letters to make words. This doesn’t even include the nerve pathways involved in actually seeing the letters and transmitting them to your brain or those involved in coordinating the motion of your mouth and tongue should you want to read aloud!

Practice is definitely important if you want to become an excellent reader but doesn’t it make sense to keep your nerve pathways clear as well? Your Neuro-Structural chiropractor can help you with that. He or she will make sure that the bones of your spine aren’t disrupting the function of your nerve system. The clearer your nerve system, the better the communication and the better you will be able to focus, concentrate and really enjoy the magic of reading.
by Judy Nutz Campanale, DC, ACP, FCSC (hon)