Fun & Creative Pointers: Matching Voice to Print

Matching voice to print is milestone in learning to read.  When a child is just beginning to read (and even into 1st or 2nd grade), he tends to finger point at words as he reads.  This is normal and okay.  For a quick tip on helping older students move past finger pointing, see the end of the post. 

Just the other day, while perusing through the $1 bins at Target (like I do every time I go), I noticed those little witch fingers.  I was so excited to pick up a package.  No, none of my kids are going to be witches for Halloween.  BUT…they’ve been using them ever since to point to print as they read; especially NJoy (a few days shy of 4 years old).

{permission granted to use photo}

Pointers don’t have to be fancy or expensive.  As a matter of fact, sometimes the best ones are homemade or recycled.  Here are a few ideas on DIY reading pointers:

• Halloween Fun Pointers for Reading {Pragmatic Mom}
• Fancy Feathers {Creekside Learning}
• Popsicle Stick Pointers {Creekside Learning}
• Decorate Your Own Popsicle Sticks {Pink and Green Mama}
• DIY: Paint Sample Bookmarks {Bookworms Read More Books}*
• Recycled Bubble Wands as Pointers {This Reading Mama}
• Fun erasers, magic wands, fun reading “glasses” (with the lens out-great to purchase at the $1 store)-all suggestions by Busy Kids Happy Mom and 3 Dinosaurs

*As students get older, finger pointing can be a hindrance to fluency.  Struggling readers may still feel the need to finger point.  Here’s a quick tip to help them move beyond it: take a popsicle stick or a bookmark and turn it sideways.  Students can use it to hold their place on the line and move it down each row of words as they read.

~Becky