Tips to encourage DD to point at words while reading, to ensure she does not lose her place.

[Readytomakechanges]

DD's reading has come along alot since she started reception in September.
She's now reading purple band books, which are longer.
Her decoding, expression and comprehension are good, but she regularly accidently skips a line then gets flustered when she realises that it doesn't make sense.
Her school want her to point at the words she's reading, but she's very stubborn and is refusing to do this. When I try to make her, she concentrates extra hard to prove the point that she doesn't need to point, which works until she gets slightly tired.
Any tips?

My son was given a 'reading stick' ie. A stock that you get in a cafe to stir your tea! He loved it

Sit next to her and run your finger underneath as she reads. If you are encouraging and chat about the story she may not notice you are doing it.

Or, use a bookmark under the line. I still read like this, as I tend to read too fast and jump lines. At work, I use a ruler.

Not worth a fight, though.

My ds used to do this.
I asked him to place the bookmark under the line as Sitting suggested.
Or piece of paper. Anything handy.

What about using a ruler? Dd was given a smiggle wristband that rolls out to a ruler as a birthday present. Obviously because it's smiggle she loves it!!
On second thoughts a wooden stirrer might be better!!

She's happy for me to use my finger, but I think the teachers want her to hold the book herself and read it totally independently.
I'll get her favourite ruler out and try that.
Thank you for the suggestions.

I'm interested in this too ready as I regularly get the comment in DS's book from the teacher about him not pointing and then rushing/skipping words. Also stubborn and refuses to but happy for me to run my finger. It's tricky as don't want to put him off reading by constantly insisting.

Lol, I'm here exactly with my DS in reception (purple band in last week and skipping lines). It is getting better for him but will probably invest in a bookmark or a ruler to help him, although he does seem to realise and correct himself if the line makes no sense.

It seems we're not alone with this problem.
I wonder whether it'll just click one day and they'll be able to follow the words with their eyes and no aids.
Until then, I'm hoping she'll be open to the idea of a ruler or pointer stick.

lol I have to admit I wondered if it was to do with my sons sight at first but his sight has improved but after seeing this it looks like it is just a phase. Kind of like sounding out.
But on a good note with the children on purple the chip and kipper days are numbered.

I think it requires the "nag factor" and to some degree that it's reinforced at home and in school.

Same issue here with a precocious reception reader. Frustrating as it is I have just put it down to being just another phase - hopefully a short one!

Yes, a see-through coloured ruler, or coloured acetate sheet should help; discontinue use eventually when child becomes more confident.

A Reading ruler can help to keep children on the right line when they are reading but finger following is a useful skill when needing to keep the place if following others in shared or guided reading especially when text becomes more dense.

We use coloured lolly sticks for reading during Read,Write,Inc lessons ( you can get them in Poundland).
The children use them to point at each word.

Tried various pointing implements today and she refused to use them properly and I don't want to press the point and make reading a negative experience.

She was happy using a ruler today and didn't miss any words. I'll talk to her teachers on Monday and ask whether that's suffucient.

Thank you everyone for your advice.

Teacher here. For reluctant pointers, I've used magic wands (homemade but could be bought) and those plastic witch fingers. Kids adore them! 😊

Will she put her finger on the page next to the first line and just move it down the page line by line as she goes?

My DS used to do that a lot in KS1 and even beyond. He has dyslexia and problems with visual tracking. Sounds like your DD is struggling with tracking too - following the words from left to right with her eyes, then switching down a row. Get something little and pointy and pretty she can point to the words with it, or better still do it for her. There is a lot to get right - coordinate your pointing using hand and eye together, follow words with eye in correct direction, make sense of symbols and translate them into sounds, turn those sounds in to words in your head, say words out loud. It's tough for any kid!
I would suggest from experience with two kids who are struggling readers, don't push it, don't exhaust her and wear her out, certainly don't dent her confidence. Work with her at the level she is comfortable, lots of praise and keep it enjoyable. Sometimes teachers get fixated on a quick fix solution "If she can just point at the words, she'll crack it." That pressure can translate to you and in turn to the kid, and can only be counter productive. With my two I focused on turning them in avid readers, not into climbing up through the book bands. My DS now age 8 always has his head in a comic or a Beast Quest book. He got there at his own speed and probably reads far more than his peers who romped through the reading levels and spelling tests early on. It's not a race. They will all get there, but hopefully they can get there with a love of reading, and self esteem well in tact. x

I use these on the end of a pencil to remind the children to keep their eyes on the words