Eye Level Rulers from Crossbow Education

Do you have a student who is struggling to read?  Not just sounding out the words, but keeping their eyes focused on what line they need to be reading.  3 of our kiddos are diagnosed ADHD, and I have noticed that two of the kids are struggling with keeping their eyes on the line they need to be focusing on.  

In fact, Joey actually will make a decision about reading a book based on how many words are on each page.  So I have caught him reading way below his level because he finds himself getting lost on the page.

So I was very interested in trying out the Eye Level Reading Rulers from Crossbow Education.  They arrived in a wide array of colors.  We were given the opportunity to try out the Eye Level Reading Rulers Pack of 10 ($16.95).

The science behind this handy little tool was originally to help reduce the stress on people's eyes.  The tinted color helps to reduce the glare that can be seen by sensitive eyes.  Originally large sheets were created to cover the entire page.  Well those were bulky and not portable.  These small Eye Level Reading Rulers were created for their portability, but also the special design allows text to be highlighted and underlined.  This helps with tracking issues that kids who are ADD/ADHD or other visual delays, including dyslexia can experience.

So far three out of our 4 kids have visual perception delays.  Basically they have comprehension issues.  Their brain doesn't always decode what they are seeing as quick as say other people are able to decode the same text.  This issue is only exasperated by their ADHD.  So I was very excited, and yet nervous to use these.  In the back of my head, I have this little teacher pointing her finger at me saying, "Don't allow your child to use this device...they will never read independently."  I know...I know...very old school thinking, but even though the advice about using these extra guides for the kids is proven to help them I was afraid of kids using these as a crutch.

We received the 10 pack of Eye Level Reading Rulers and it had orange, pink, yellow, celery, grass, jade, aqua, sky, purple, and magenta.

These 6 inch rulers feature various colors that highlight either a single line of text:

Or a small section.

The various colors allow whomever is using the ruler to find the most color pleasing for their eyes.  Multiple colors also seem to be a handy choice depending on your page color.  We didn't seem to have an issue with paper color.  But I could see it being an issue for color sensitive kids.  Our kids chose their favorite color, or I would randomly hand them a color to see what happened.

At first Joey was struggling with the edge of the ruler sticking out over the side.....

But I pointed out to him how easy of a fix this was.  And it helped keep his book open.

He actually did not whine as much about more words on the pages of his chapter books when he was using the ruler.  The color single line seems to be working best for him currently.  He reads pretty fast though, so I have a feeling that in the next couple weeks we will be adjusting from single line reading, to the highlighted area (which is several lines at one time...or the larger area on the ruler).  I am not going to rush him though, as this ruler is meant to help children gain confidence and also allows them to train their eyes where to stay on a page.

Since Lydia is not reading beyond a simple sight word books currently, I use the rulers during our read aloud time.  By using the rulers as I read, she is learning to follow the sentences and can work on her eye tracking for when she is reading independently.

This picture just shows how she can gradually add larger areas of material to the window as she gains even more confidence in reading.

I did show her how to use the ruler to help with her worksheets though:

She was really able to focus on the sentences using the ruler.  So I am encouraging her to use them during her reading sheet assignments.

I have noticed improvement with Joey and his focusing.  With the improvement I have seen, I am encouraging him to use the rulers all the time.  I have added two different colors to his workbox for use on his independent reading.  He forgets they are there, but when I remind him to use the ruler he seems so much less stressed and frustrated when he is finished with his assigned reading.

Even Lydia is able to really focus on her eyes on the sentence that she needs to be concentrating on.  With the larger side, she is even able to read rebus sentences easily.  

I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to try the Eye Level Reading Rulers.  I have seen improvement in the kids stress level when it comes to reading.  Their confidence in turn is improving because of the lowered stress.  These have been a wonderful addition to our schooling.  I would highly recommend these to other parents.  They are such an inexpensive learning tool for the kids, and I am kicking myself for not trying them sooner.

Crossbow Education sells the Eye Level Rulers in packs of 5 ($9.45) or 10 ($16.95).  You can choose a specific color or get a variety pack to see what works for your family.  

Crossbow Education has many educational tools to help your family.  Visit their website and you can even check them out on Facebook.

Several members of the Schoolhouse Review Crew had the opportunity to try out the Eye Level Rulers, be sure to visit the Schoolhouse Review Crew blog to see how this product worked with their families.

*****Disclaimer......I received the Eye Level Rulers from Crossbow Education free of charge for the sole purpose of this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The views I have expressed are my own and are real experiences with my family. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html>:"Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."