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Primary education

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When do you stop pointig to the words?

10 replies

ThreIsNoSpoon · 27/01/2011 16:50

When DS first started reading we pointed to the words. He would sound them out and we would then re-read the whole sentence if needed.

Recently he has been able to look at the page and read it with out pointing. He hardly sounds out any words at all now. He literally turns the page and reads it off the top of his head iyswim? He may pause over a tricky word, but has got the 'reading in your head' thing so doesnt 'sound out' out loud. He will think then say the word. But, as I said, it is very rare for him to do so.

We are pleased with his progress and are happy to let him read this way, as he obviously can and do it correctly but his teacher has written in his book that he needs to point to the words?

His comprehension is good and he can do the little questions at the end easily. He can also recall events in stories and often cracks up laughing at some of the funnier ones - often he has 'read in his head' and started laughing before he has read it to me! Then he struggles to stop laughing in order to read it aloud!!

Anyway, should I encourage him to point at the words still? I feel it actually stilts his reading?

Is there a 'level' he should be at before he is allowed to stop pointing?

OP posts:
mrz · 27/01/2011 16:55

I would only ask a child to point to the words if they had difficulty remembering their place in the text once a degree of fluency has been reached.

ThreIsNoSpoon · 27/01/2011 16:59

Hmm. Maybe he does it differently at school then. Because I think he is fairly fluent at the level he is at. He has just gone up levels, but seems to read them as easily as the level below. There are not yet any sounds he cant get but they havent done things like /ow/ yet, although they have done /ie/, /ee/ and /igh/. He literally just reads it. Should I ask for his level to be reassessed?? The teacher wrote he had no problems with the book, but needed to point to the words. I dont want to appear to be interfering, because I generally trust their judgement, but this one has me confused!!

OP posts:
mrz · 27/01/2011 17:02

The teacher probably wants him to point to the words to show he is actually reading them and hasn't memorised the book. It's easy enough to ask him to read a book he hasn't previously seen to check.

ThreIsNoSpoon · 27/01/2011 17:07

Ok that makes sense. So should I get him to point to the words at home? Or let him get on with it?

OP posts:
mrz · 27/01/2011 17:17

It would probably be easier for him to remember to point at school if he does at home.

blackeyedsusan · 27/01/2011 17:54

I find that pointing to the words reduces dds fluency. I occasionally point to the start of line if she has skipped one, or to difficult words. The teacher has not commented on pointing to the words yet. She is still reading one line books at school, so I imagine that she will be asked to point to the words soon to prove that she can read them. We read school books how school wants them read and do our own thing at home. (Not helpful)

Greeninkmama · 27/01/2011 18:48

It's fabulous when your child loves reading, so I wouldn't point unless he misses something or says a word wrongly etc.

Am just having a phase on pointing as my DD is a bit too keen to race ahead. But as soon as she slows down again, I will drop it.

polarfox · 27/01/2011 19:09

Same here Green, if they are racing I use it as a slow down- they are good readers but when they go fast they make silly mistakes, so it does help on the focusing side!

Seville · 27/01/2011 20:34

I get DS1 to point to the words to draw his attention to the book and away from the fairies... Hmm

maizieD · 27/01/2011 20:43

With much older children, admittedly, but I get them to point to the words if they start missing out words when they're reading...

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