Independent Reading Rates

Assessing Vision and Reading

Even children who pass visual acuity tests with flying colors may have difficulties with tracking. Tracking refers to the types of eye movements needed for reading. To screen eye movements, hold a pencil 12 to 16 inches from a child's eyes. Instruct the child to follow the pencil as you move it in various directions. Make certain to use slow, smooth movements. Watch the child's eyes for the following patterns.

Your Action	Eye Pattern	Result/Problem
Any movement of an object 12 to 16 inches in front of the child's eyes		Tracking in all directions creates jerky eye movements. The child will probably lose the place when reading.
You move the object up and down.	vertical	Child is unable to visually track the vertical motion without jerky eye movements. The child will probably have problems copying from the board or overhead
You move the object back and forth in left to right movements.	horizontal	Child is unable to track the side-ways motions without jerky eye movements. The child will probably reverse words or parts of words
You move the object from upper left to lower right; then upper right to lower left.	diagonal	Child is unable to track the diagonal motions without jerky eye movements. The child's eyes will probably focus on the wrong line after the return sweep of the eyes at the end of a line
	Eyes stop in one place and quiver.	The child will probably reverse words or parts of words
	Blinking eyes	The child will probably read words from wrong lines.
	Frequent starts and stops of eye movements.	The child will probably omit words when reading.

Daily Practice for Tracking

If you observe any of the jerky eye movements described above, guide the child to practice tracking that particular movement for approximately three to five minutes each day until the eyes begin to follow the moving object smoothly.