If you know me, you know I LOVE going to get coffee. But that little “spill stick” you can get at Starbucks? It can do so much more than stop your car from getting covered in (delicious) coffee;) Spill sticks, fancy drink stirrers, & even popsicle sticks or regular pens & pencils are great for becoming “reading pointers.” Not only can the pointers help keep your little one’s eyes trained on the words he’s reading, but they can also help him remember to read through the whole word rather than just guess what it is based on the beginning letters.
When we’re helping our little ones learn to read we want to set them up for success by giving them tools & strategies that help them become strong readers. There is often a lot on a single page (text, pictures, different fonts & designs) that draws kids’ eyes & can distract them. By encouraging your child to use a simple pointer it will make it easier for him to keep his eyes on the actual words he’s reading.
To use this tool simply model how to use your Starbucks spill stick;) or pencil by holding it under the first letter of the word, then slowly moving it across, staying UNDER the words. Even using a finger works, however with so much being virtual/ on devices with touch screens, I’d recommend some kind of pointer when using eBooks or digital media. Sliding a notecard or piece of paper under words or texts can help too:)
It’s also important to make sure whatever tool you use starts UNDER the words, beginning with the first letter and stays under (rather than above) so you don’t block the text. In addition, I encourage you to point out why you hold the tool this way, so your child understands how & why to use it on his own.
I’ll be posting a video soon showing you how to use this tool, but in the meantime feel free to comment if you have questions or found this to be an effective method/tool for your young reader.
