Left to Right Progression
Basics on the topic Left to Right Progression
Directionality – Reading from Left to Right
What is Directionality in Reading? Let’s learn more about consistent directionality in reading and teaching students directionality when reading with the following explanation.
Directionality in Reading – Definition
In order to understand beginning reading skills of directionality, it is important to remind students that a book has a left side, a right side, a top and a bottom. The spine of the book is on the left and the open side with the pages is on the right. A book has a front cover with the name of the book, or the title. The opposite side is called the back cover. The covers and spine protect the pages and keep the book together.
When we open the book, we move from the front to back by turning the pages gently so they don't rip.
On the first page, we start reading at the top, left corner. Then we read the words from left to right, moving down one line as we go. When we reach the bottom, we move to the top left of the next page. We keep reading this way until we reach the end of the book.
Directionality in Reading – Summary
Let’s review what we learned about reading books in this text:
A book has a spine, a front cover, a back cover, pages and a title.
We hold a book with the front cover facing us and the spine on the left.
We start reading the words at the top of each page, moving left to right as we go.
When we get to the bottom of one page we move on the same way to the top of the next one.
Have you practiced directionality when reading yet? On this website, you can also find interactive exercises and worksheets on directionality in reading.
Transcript Left to Right Progression
While hiking, Dee and Kala stumble upon a magical library. The librarian is nowhere to be found, but someone, or something special is waiting inside. The book introduces itself and tells us more about how to use it! Let's listen as our new friend explains about, "Reading from Left to Right." Did you know there is a certain way to hold and move the pages of a book? You might already know this is the left and this is the right; this is the top and this is the bottom. The spine of the book goes on the left and the open side with the pages goes on the right when reading. This is the front cover; you can tell because it has the name of the book, or the title, on it. This is the back cover. The covers and spine protect the pages and keep the book together. Now that we are holding the book correctly, we can open it and move from front to back and turn the pages gently so they don't rip. When we reach the first page, we start reading here at the top, left corner. Then we read the words from left to right moving down one line as we go. When we reach the bottom, we move here to the top left of the next page. We keep reading this way until we reach the end of the book. Now that the book has told us all about itself, let's help Dee and Kala practice! Dee found another book in the library. How should he hold it? He should hold it like this, showing the front cover with the spine on the left! Don't forget to open it gently, Dee! Now that he's turned to the first page, it's time for Kala to read. Can you point to where Kala should start? She should start here in the top, left corner. And which way should she read? Use your finger and move it along the screen to show Kala the path her eyes should follow. Kala will start here at the first word and continue reading from left to right, moving down to the next lines as she goes. Great job, Kala! She reached the end of the page. Can you point to where Kala will start reading next? Kala will start here with the first word at the top left of the next page. While Dee and Kala finish reading, let's remember! Today we learned about the parts of a book and the direction we read in. A book has a spine, a front cover, a back cover, pages and a title. We hold a book with the front cover facing us and the spine on the left. We start reading the words at the top of each page, moving left to right as we go. When we get to the bottom of one page we move on the same way to the top of the next one. Excellent work, Dee and Kala! It looks like they get to choose one book to take home with them. "Dee, let's take this one!"
Left to Right Progression exercise
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Which hand is which?
HintsAre you left-handed or right-handed? Which hand do you write with?
If you hold up your hands, palms facing away from you, you can see an L shape on your left hand.
SolutionHere we can see the correctly labeled hands.
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How do we read books in English?
HintsThis is an open book. Which side would we start reading on?
You can use your hands to help you remember which is left and which is right.
SolutionIn English, we read books from left to right.
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Where do we start reading?
HintsWe should start reading on the left.
We should start reading at the beginning of the first line of writing on a page.
SolutionWe always start reading on the left, at the beginning of the first line of writing on a page.
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Can you label these parts of a book?
HintsWhere is the front of the book and where is the back?
The spine holds the book together.
The title is what the book is called.
We turn the pages when we read.
SolutionHere we can see the book labeled correctly.
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Which book is ready to read?
HintsWhen looking at the front cover, the spine should be on the left.
Is the writing the correct way?
SolutionThis book is ready to read. We can see the spine on the left and the writing is the correct way.
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What is the first word that we would read?
HintsWe start reading in the top left corner.
The first word in a sentence always starts with a capital letter.
SolutionThis is the first word we would say if we were reading this book.
