Then, we received a pack of 10 different colored eye level reading rulers ($16.95) from Crossbow Education. The colors caught the eyes of all the children. I let the daughter that has the toughest time choose which color worked for her first. Her first inclination was to choose the color she liked the best. I encouraged her to try all of them to find the one that helped the best, not just the prettiest color. She still stuck with her first choice as being the most helpful. I find that very interesting.
The other children were then free to choose their own reading ruler much to their delight. I have found them inside all of the various books they read. Some have theirs kept in their Bible cover, others are doubling as a bookmarker in their free reading chapter book. Even though they do not have struggles with reading, they have found these reading rulers to be very handy. When reading aloud, anyone can lose their place. I keep 1 of these rulers in the desk drawer to be ready at a moments notice for reading aloud our school books.
So, the main guinea pig? How is she doing? She completed double the usual amount of free reading than she had been doing. When were figuring what she has read during our 6 week school period, she was amazed to see how much more she read. I am so thrilled for her. The right color can make all the difference! Maybe there is something to rose colored glasses?
This tool is one that will be useful for her throughout her life. She can use this in any book – free reading, textbooks, Bible, cookbooks. We will be ordering a pack of just her color (pack of 5 $9.45) for spares or to keep in her Bible and one with her free reading choice as well as one in her school binder. They are small enough to use anywhere without shouting out “learning disabled”. We are so happy to have found something so simple that really works, I wouldn’t mind sharing it – she might though.
Crossbow has other products to aid dyslexics and those with visual stress. There are full page overlays, plain color rulers without the stripe in the center, even a virtual overlay for your computer screen. Another interesting note – my daughter chose a different color for the computer screen. Learn more about these many other products on Crossbow Education’s website. For international readers, they are based in the UK and have distributors across the globe.
Other families also tested out these reading rulers. Be sure to read their reviews from the Crew blog.
