Reading backwards

[LadyAberlin]

My ds 5 keeps reading words backwards. Is this common? Is there something that I should be doing to help correct this other than moving to Israel:lol:?

[Ellie]

Although moving to Israel might be fun and educational :D, you can just keep emphasizing the left-to-right directionality of reading and writing. Spalding does a great job of that.

 

Unless he does lots of things "backwards," it's just probably an issue of his being little and not yet knowing that we read and write in *that* direction and not *this* one.

[Aurelia]

Ariel does this, too. Usually what I do is uncover each letter (or letter blend) one at a time to keep her eyes focused on reading left to right. We did this for awhile, and now I only need to do it for certain words and she's learning to do it herself.

[tdeveson]

This is normal in little ones.. Don't worry about anything being wrong. Lots of kids do that and eventually get it right. Be patient and remind your little guy each time he starts to read backwards.

Edited October 3, 2009 by tdeveson

[LadyAberlin]

Thanks everyone! I'll just keep reminding him and cover up the letters like you said. :001_smile:

[Storm Bay]

Phonics Pathways addresses this. It starts with reading one letter, and moves along, and you can emphasize L to R. In fact, that's one of the things I remember them stressing that they stress (hmmm, rather redundant sentence?).

[hmschooling]

Very normal...both of my older kids have done or still do this. The others not to that point yet, but I'm sure he'll do it too (as will the new one still to be born, I'm sure!).

 

I find it helps ds if I make him follow the words with his finger under them. Also, I got some of those free paint color samples from wal-mart, the ones with the little hole in them and he thinks it's cool to use that to uncover the letters to read the word. I also got some of them that have lighter to darker paint color samples (like all shades of blue) and write one letter on each square (3-4) that he reads from light to dark (left to right). We might also put 3 letter words on them and I'll cover up the 4th square that is hiding a silent e. We read the 3 letter word, then read it with the silent e. It's all helping with his L to R issues.

 

BTW, my dd had MAJOR L to R issues, still doesn't do well with L to R outside of a book, and she is now reading WAY above grade level with excellent comprehension.