Skipping little words

[Embassy]

My 6 year old will often skip little words like in, of, the, and a during his reading. He is currently reading beginning chapter books. Is this something you have seen?

[Momma H]

My daughter does that too. Those little words they miss can do a lot of damage! Words like "not" can change everything! She also breezes over really big words. We have been working on this. It is definatley something I would try and remediate. Have him read out loud to you a lot and see if you can nip it now!

[curlygirlzx2]

My 7 yr. old dd does this also. She will sometimes skip a and the or mix them up. I gently point out to her that she skipped the word and have her go back and read it over. Sometimes I think she is just trying to read too fast.

[8filltheheart]

This is very common amg beginning readers. I would just ask something like "Does that sentence make sense the way you read it?" to encourage them to pay more attention.

[Persephone]

You could try the notched card technique. I have used it with one of my own children and with students I tutor. It typically fixes the problem very quickly.

 

Check out the discussion on the "misreading small words" issue here:

 

http://rrf.org.uk/messageforum/viewtopic.php?t=3815&highlight=notched+card

 

Here is a picture of a notched card: http://www.piperbooks.co.uk/documents/Notched_Card_Technique_000.pdf

But, in your child's case, you would use it word-by-word, not letter/sound-by-letter/sound.

Good luck!

[trying my best]

I like the idea with the card! i would have to try it :)

[Embassy]

Thanks for the ideas. I'll try the notched card with him today.