LEFT TO RIGHT

Training eyes to move from left to right and then reverse sweep is a key to beginning reading and writing. A simple, yet powerful way, that teachers can do this is through modeling. Make it a habit to sweep your hand from left to right under words or lines of print on charts, big books, white boards, and so forth.


Right & Left Song
(Tune: “Up on the Housetop”)
Here is my right hand way up high.
(Hold up right hand.)
Here is my left hand touch the sky.
(Hold up left hand.)
Right and left and roll out of sight.
(Roll hands around.)
Now I know my left and right.
(Hold up left and then right.)

Hint! Focus on the right hand because then what is “left” over will be their left.

Sticker
Put a sticker on each child’s right hand and then play “Simon Says” or the “Hokey Pokey.”

Bracelet
Let children make bracelets out of pipe cleaners and wear them on their right hand. Throughout the day call attention to their right hand…right ear…right leg…right foot, etc.


Lotion
Rub lotion or scented lip balm on each child’s right hand.


Flag
Trace around your right hand on construction paper and cut it out. Place it near the flag so children can visually match up their right hand and then place it over their hearts.




Poem
Hold up your hands and stick out thumbs and index fingers as you say:
Which is my left? Which is my right?
Sometimes it’s hard to tell.
But when I stick my thumbs out straight,
My left will make an “L.”

Left From Right(Anthony Corbo aka “Mr. Kindergarten” taught me this song.)
(Tune: “Mary Had a Little Lamb”)
I want to learn my left from right,
Left from right, left from right.
I want to learn my left from right,
I try with all my might.
The left hand makes the letter L,
Letter L, letter L.
The left hand makes the letter L,
Hurray, now I can tell!

Tracking Left to Right
Draw tracks on sentence strips similar to the ones shown. Children can drive cars or move animals from left to right.

Hint! Make a green dot where they are to begin and a red dot where they should end.

TO THE POINT

I'll get right to the point with some pointers today.

WHY?
Children love anything novel and different. They can use these pointers to track from left to right, identify key details in a picture, point out letters or words in print, highlight capitalization and punctuation, touch shapes, identify parts of speech…I think you get the “point”!

WHAT?
Take a look at all these pointers I've collected. I bet you'll find at least one new idea that will capture your students' interest. 

Magic wand – dip the end of a chopstick in glue and roll in glitter

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 or have a drink at a bar (Just kidding!)

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!!!

Alien - Glue pipe cleaner antennas to the eye pointer and use for pointing and spacing between

words.

 

Giant Pointers
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!

LEPRECHAUN'S MAGIC WAND

I journeyed to 

The rainbow’s end 

And found not gold, 

But you, my friends! 

Thanks for being my friends! You might not find the leprechaun’s pot, but friendship is better than silver or gold! We used to sing a song in Brownies that went like this: 

Make new friends,
But keep the old.
One is silver and
The other’s gold.

The song reminds me of how I try to keep the “old” songs, stories, rhymes, and games alive for you and children. You also have to make friends with “new” technology and standards. Embrace the “new”, but keep your feet grounded in the “old.”

Leprechaun's Magic Wand

I don't have a pot of gold for you, but here’s a little leprechaun’s magic wand to make tomorrow. Take a square sheet of paper and color on all four sides as shown. Turn over and start at one corner and roll up tightly. Tape the end. Taaa daaa!

*Students can use the wand to read the room. One student points to a word (letter, color, shape) while a friend reads.

*Students can track print in big books and on charts with the wand.

*You can do invisible writing in the air with the wand.

*Use the wand as a springboard for stories about what they would do if they were a leprechaun with a magic wand.

*When you want the class to be quiet wave the wand in a circle and say, “Abracadabra.” Tell the children that when they feel the magic they will be quiet and listen to you. If a child isn't listening wave the wand over their head and say, "Here's a little more magic for you!"

TOP TO BOTTOM, LEFT TO RIGHT

Sometimes I think we put "the cart before the horse" when it comes to teaching young children to read.  Here are some tricks and tips for helping children learn some basic concepts about print.

Magic Fingers
Have children hold up their pointer and explain that it is their “magic finger” to help them read. Put a little spritz (magic lotion) on their finger. Use the finger to touch the front of the book and the back of the book. Touch the top of the page and the bottom of the page. Sweep your magic finger under each line from left to right.


When You Read You Start at the Top
Children can sing this song to the tune of “London Bridge” as they practice the movements:
When you read you start at the top,
Start at the top,
Start at the top.
When you read you start at the top
And go to the bottom of the page.
When you read go left to right,
Left to right,
Left to right.
When you read go left to right
And then go to the next line.


Yummy Pointers
Give children Bugles to put on their fingers to practice following a line of print. They can eat them when they are finished.

*Pretzel sticks also make edible pointers.


Finger Pointer 

Glue a fake fingernail to a craft stick. What an engaging way for children to track print from top to bottom and left to right!

      

Envelope Bookmark
Cut a diagonal corner off an envelope. (One envelope will make 4 of these.) Let children decorate these with markers. Practice reading books and putting the bookmark on the upper corner to “save your place.”

Simon Says
Each child will need a book to play this variation of “Simon Says.”
Simon Says show me the front of the book.
Simon Says show me the back of your book.
Simon Says show me the first page in your book.
Simon Says show me the last page in your book…