Reading: Reading Fluency & Strategies (Beginnings): Lesson 1: Pointing to Words While Reading Very Short Texts

Reading: Reading Fluency & Strategies (Beginnings)

Lesson 1: Pointing to Words While Reading Very Short Texts

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A New Skill for Smooth Reading

Today we will learn a very important skill to help you become a better reader. The skill is called Tracking Print². This means you will point to each word with your finger as you read it.

This helps your eyes follow the words from left to right so you don't get lost. It is the first step to building reading fluency¹. It also helps you match one spoken word to one written word, which is called one-to-one correspondence³.

How to Track with Your Finger

1. Get Ready: Put your finger on the first word of the first sentence.
2. Listen Carefully: Press the "Listen to Practice Texts" button above. The voice will read only the practice texts, slowly.
3. Move Your Finger: As you hear each word, slide your finger to that word. Keep up with the voice.
4. Continue: Follow with your finger to the end of the last sentence.

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Let's Practice Together

Put your finger on the first word below. Press the "Listen to Practice Texts" button and follow along. The voice will read all the practice texts in this lesson.

I can see a cat.

My school is big.

The school is in Kampot.

Practice On Your Own

Self-Practice Activity

Now, try to track these sentences on your own. First, try reading them aloud slowly while pointing to each word. Then, press the "Listen to Practice Texts" button again and check your tracking.

The sun is hot today.

I see a blue boat on the river.

A man rides a red moto.

Vocabulary Glossary

1. Fluency (*noun*)
   ភាសាខ្មែរ: ភាពស្ទាត់ជំនាញ (Pheap stuat chum-neanh)
   The ability to read smoothly, accurately, and with good expression, like talking. ↩ back to text
2. Tracking Print (*verb*)
   ភាសាខ្មែរ: ការចង្អុលអក្សរពេលកំពុងអាន (Kaa chang-ol ak-sar pel kampong aan)
   Using your finger to follow each word as you read it. ↩ back to text
3. One-to-one Correspondence (*noun*)
   ភាសាខ្មែរ: ការផ្គូផ្គងមួយទល់នឹងមួយ (Kaa phkow-phkwang muoy tul neng muoy)
   The idea of matching one spoken word to one written word exactly. ↩ back to text

Homework Task

Practice Pointing!

Find a simple English book (a children's story is perfect) or use a printed copy of this lesson.

For five minutes, practice reading the sentences aloud while tracking the words with your finger. It is okay to be very slow. The goal is to touch each word as you say it.