READING TOOL

A reading device for helping to learn to read comprises a body (2) have an elongated through opening forming a reading window (3). The window (3) is sized and shaped to enable at least a part of a single row of reading text to be displayed in the window (3). A panel (4) is moveably mounted on the body (2) so as to be longitudinally movable relative to the body (2) so as to variably overlap the window (3) from one side in order to restrict the width of the window (3) and thereby obscure some of the text aligned with the window (3).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present relates to devices to aid in teaching how to read.

2. The Prior Art

When learning to read and write in school, children initially learn through phonics, which are the sounds (phonemes) which individual or combinations of letters make, that when blended together produce words. Initially the most common phonics are taught in isolation (m, s, a, h etc.), and then, once these are known and recognized, the student moves on to connecting the different phonics together as they appear in words to build up the sounds of the word.

However, when moving on to reading full words—and in particular progressively bigger words, students can find it difficult to make the transition from knowing and recognizing individual phonemes to being able to identify and recognize the individual phonemes when they grouped together with other phonemes within a word.

There is accordingly a need for a device which helps a student to break down words into the individual phonemes so as to help develop reading skills.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a reading device for helping to learn to read, comprising a body have an elongated through opening forming a reading window which is sized and shaped to enable at least a part of a single row of reading text to be displayed in the window, a single moveable panel slideably mounted on the body in longitudinal alignment with the window such that it can slide longitudinally across the window from one longitudinal side of the window towards the other to variably overlap the window selectively to partially or completely close the window and hence at least partially obscure the underlying text aligned with the window, a fixed panel on the other side of the window remote from the moveable panel, said fixed panel acting as a stop to limit the movement of the moveable panel beyond the window, and an arm associated with and attached to each panel at a first end, the arms being attached together at their second ends opposite the first ends and remote from the panels in the manner of a tong/tweezer, whereby movement of the or each moveable panel can be effected by means of the arms.

The reading device according to the invention has the advantage that it enables words to be broken down by moving the at least one panel to restrict the portion of a work displayed in the window to just an individual phoneme, allowing the individual phonemes within a word to be displayed separately so help the student to identify each one, before being built up together to reveal the word. This helps words (segments) to be broken down easily and effectively during a reading session—whether this be in, for example, a school, at home etc. The device of the invention enables the phonemes within words or sections of words to be isolated so the reader can more easily see the individual building blocks in the words working in practice, blend more confidently, and ultimately support their early reading experience.

The fixed panel may be integrally formed. The fixed panel preferably extends only partially across the width of the body and is spaced from either longitudinal side so as to define a longitudinal channel on either side of the fixed panel. The moveable panel optionally then has a pair of spaced apart longitudinally extending fingers which extend from the moveable panel towards the fixed panel on either side of the window, the fingers being sized and positioned to engage in the channels on either side of the fixed panel to guide the sliding movement of the moveable panel.

Locking means may be associated with the or each moveable panel such that the or each panel can be locked in position.

The height of the window may be variable to accommodate text of different heights.

The arms are preferably biased away from each other such that the moveable panel is biased away from the fixed panel and into a position in which it is completely withdrawn from the window and the window is fully open.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring first toFIG.1, there is shown a side view of a reading device1of the invention. The device1has an elongated rectangular body2with a rectangular window3formed therein which forms a reading window as set out below. Extending along each longitudinal side of the body2is a flange2a,2bwhich upstands from the longitudinal face of the body. At one end3aof the window3is formed a fixed panel5, the fixed panel5being narrower than the width of the body such that it is spaced apart, on either longitudinal side, from the flanges2a,2bsuch that a channel6a,6bis defined on either side of the fixed panel5between the fixed panel5and the flanges2a,2b. A locating peg7is formed on the fixed panel5for locating a connecting arm13aof an actuator12as discussed below.

The device1furthermore includes a moveable panel4which locates on the body2between the flanges2a,2bso as to be slideable along the face of the body2towards and away from the fixed panel5. The moveable panel4has a spaced apart pair of guide fingers4a,4bextending longitudinally from its end which faces the fixed panel5, the fingers4a,4bbeing sized to extend along either longitudinal side of the window3and locate in the channels6a,6b. Like the fixed panel, the moveable panel6also has a locating peg8on its outer face for locating a connecting arm13bof the actuator12.

The pair of connecting arms13a,13bof the actuator12extend in a V configuration from a connecting arc13c, the connecting arc13cbeing resiliently deformable such that the arms13a,13bcan be pressed towards each other. Each connecting arm13a,13bhas a locating eye14a,14bon its free end, each eye14a,14bbeing engageable onto the locating peg7,8of one of the panels so as to fasten the arms13a,13bto the panels4,5. In this way, when the arms13a,13bare pressed towards each other, the moveable panel4is caused to slide along body2and across the window3, overlapping the window3so as to reduce the width thereof. The fixed panel5acts as a stop for the moveable panel4. Upon release pressure from the arm, the connecting arc13cbiases the arms13a,13baway from each other and the moveable panel4away from the fixed panel5such that it uncovers the window3.

The device is used as follows:

The body2is positioned on a page of text with the window3aligned with a portion of the text such as an individual word which it is desired to read so that the text or word is visible in the window. Using the arms13a,13b, the moveable panel4is then moved across the window to conceal portions of the word or text so that just a single phoneme is visible therein as shown inFIG.4, helping the reader to identify and sound that phoneme. Once that phoneme has been identified and sounded, the device is either moved to the next phoneme or the window extended by allowing the moveable panel4to move back to reveal the neighboring letter or letters. In this way, the reader can easily build the word until the whole word has been sounded.