Measuring Your Child’s Reading Skills

Testing by a qualified clinician is certainly the most accurate measure of your child’s reading skills, but there are simple tests you can do at home that will help you figure out if your child could use help.

Last week, we showed you how to test your child’s percentage of accuracy on a one-minute reading exercise. If you missed it, go back to check it out before completing the one below.

This week we’ll introduce another important measure: correct words per minute. This step is very easy.

What you’ll need for this test:

• Your notes from last week with the results of your child’s percentage of accuracy test.

What you need to do:

• On last week’s results you should have figures that show the number of words your child read in one minute (example, 50), the number of mistakes (example, 6), and the difference (50 – 6 = 44), which shows you the correct words per minute (CW/M).

This figure is important because if a child is a slow reader, it will take that child much longer to do homework, finish work in class, and comprehend the reading material. So we’re concerned not only with how accurately your child reads, but how fast. Children pick up speed as they become more skilled readers. By the end of the following grade levels, children can be expected to read within the ranges shown:

• 1^st grade: 40-60 CW/M

• 2^nd grade: 80-100 CW/M

• 3^rd grade: 100-120 CW/M

• 4^th grade & above: 120-180 CW/M

For a more detailed explanation of this procedure, see Sally Shaywitz, Overcoming Dyslexia, NY: Alfred A. Knopf (2003), pages 276-280.

If your child is reading toward the lower end of his or her grade range—or below—the child may need further assessment. If you would like to arrange for a professional evaluation or talk with a clinician, contact us today.