Tip 1
Review of Tapping Procedure of a simple C-V-C Word:
Explain to students that the thumb stays in place.
Bring the pointer finger down to touch the thumb and then return it to its starting position.
Next, bring the middle finger down to touch the thumb and then return it to its starting position.
Continue with the same procedure with the ring finger and pinkie finger, if needed, to "tap out" the word.
It is a good idea to review this with your students periodically, as some children are not always starting with the pointer finger first.
Tip 4
Repeat Word before Tapping
When doing Echo Find Letters/Words, remember to have the students repeat the word BEFORE they begin sound tapping.
Example: “Elbows up. Everybody say thick.” Students should all chorally say “thick” and then begin to sound it out as they tap with their fingers.
It is important that they “hear” themselves say the word before they begin to tap it out. It will also help you to be able to catch anyone who might have heard the word incorrectly. ( I had a student today who thought I said "fick" instead of "thick".)
This is also important for them to do during dictation (both white board as well as on paper).
Tip 2
Remember to "Clip" those letters!!!
Don't allow your students to add a vowel sound to the consonants.
Using a "snipping" motion with your fingers helps the students to visualize clipping the sound short.
Tip 3
Remember to use 1 finger to "tap" a digraph or a trigraph.
A digraph is 2 letters stuck together to make 1 sound.."ch" or "sh".
A trigraph is 3 letters stuck together to make one sound........"tch" or "igh".
Even though they have more than 1 letter, they still only make 1 sound.