My son is doing good with learning how to read. (We used "Teaching Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons") One area he needs work with is telling the difference between a "b" and a "d". He knows the difference when he thinks about it, but unless the word is very familiar, if it starts with either letter, he usually says it wrong. He doesn't realize his mistake when he reads it wrong. He would just keep on going if I let him. I've been trying to tell him to "remember to look at which way the letter points" before he starts to read the word, and then he does it right. But when I don't do that, he doesn't pay attention to what letter it is and often reads it wrong again. Is there an easy way to help him to LOOK to see which letter it is as he is reading? Thanks! Jennifer
Hi, We had that problem a few years ago. I had my daughter take her hands and hold them out where the thumb faces up. Then take the fingers and close them into the palms. (you're making a fist with the thumbs pointed up) The left hand makes a b and the right hand makes a d. It worked for her after a few times of doing this where she could see it. Hope this is of some help. Kim R
We did the same thing. We also made sure to tell them about your hands left to right are "b" and "d" - the order that they come in the Alphabet and the order that you read - left to right. Sabrina
Hi Jennifer..... B and D are so very normal to get confused. A LOT of children do. :wink: I have heard a lot of tricks over the years. The one I like and used with my boys is making the word *bed* with our fingers. Make an L with both of your hands using the index finger and thumb. Bed fits in there, and it shows which way the *hump* its suppose to go. I like this way because it helps with writing too when they are sounding out letters. They can look at their fingers and tell which way the b is suppose to go and the d is suppose to go. Make sense? There is no one thing that is going to make him instanly recognize it. It is developmental, just like everything else it is... I even did flash cards everyday with my second one, and he still got it wrong.. :lol: .But the next year, no problem.... By the 3rd grade, most problems like that should not be present. Up until that time, we have to keep reminding them.. :wink:
Faythe is eight, and still confuses them on occasion. Yesterday, she did it again, and I showed her the fist thing. She's more of a tactile/kinesthetic person, and really liked that. I think it will stick with her. Thanks!
thanks! Thanks for the suggestions! He is only 5 right now (barely 5), so I guess like someone said I might just have to keep reminding him for the time being. I was hoping there was some sort of "quick fix" out there! lol! He can tell the difference, because I've explained the the "b" points RIGHT and the "d" points LEFT. He doesn't take the time to think about it when he is reading though. As he learns to recognise words, it no longer is an issue, so thankfully he can read the most common words without getting it mixed up. Jennifer
"b" and "d" We did the fist and bed combination: fists with the thumbs up, left hand forming a b and right hand forming a d and told our boys that it was a bed and the b was at the front of the bed and d at the end. My 7 year old will hold his hands up every so often when he's working on things even now!
