I’ll get to the POINT! Pointers are a fun way to engage students’ attention. Make some of these before the school year begins and you can pull them out of your “bag of tricks” when needed.
What? craft sticks, chop sticks, googly eyes, fake jewels and fingernails, E6000 (or other craft glue)
Why? Children love anything novel and different. These pointers just add some “hands-on” to the task at hand.
When? Small group, independent
How? Take a look at the list below and choose your favorite.
*Use to track print from left to right.
*Identify key details in a picture.
*Point out letters, words, punctuation, etc. in print.
*Touch shapes, numbers, etc.
*Space between words with pointers.
Finger nail – glue a fake fingernail to a craft stick
I Spy – glue a googly eye to a craft stick
Jewel – glue a fake jewel to a craft stick
Witches’ finger – great fun
Magnifying glass - pipe cleaner formed in a circle
Swizzle stick – buy these at a dollar store
Pretzel stick – point and then eat
Seasonal – glue small seasonal toys or stickers to craft sticks or purchase seasonal pencils
Bugles - point, read, and eat!!!
Glue a toy to the end of a cardboard pants hanger or decorate a butterfly net.
Smart Center
This was one of those simple, yet clever ideas that a teacher shared years ago. She said she had a center called the "smart center" with an old pair of glasses and a hand pointer. Children wore the glasses and walked around the room and pointed to words, shapes, colors, letters, etc. to show how "smart" they were. The only rule was you had to use a whisper voice. The teacher who shared this said the kids LOVED this center. She said nobody paid any attention to them, but they thought they were smart just the same!
