SuperFit Reading Kit FAQs
What should I look for to determine if my child may get
a boost from using the SuperFit Reading Kit™?
●Slow reading speed
●Poor reading comprehension
●Does not like to read aloud
●Frequently skipping words while reading aloud
●Frequently losing their place while reading aloud
●Difficulty finding the next line to read
●Losing their place on the page
●While reading, their head and neck moves with their eyes
●Having to use a finger to point to every word to help their eyes find it
●Having to cover up the rest of the page in order to keep their eyes on the line they are reading
●Frustration while reading, or they don't like to read at all
●Complaints of neck pain/headaches while reading
●Signs of dyslexia (difficulty recognizing and comprehending written words)
How important is proper eye focusing and convergence?
Very important! All children should have their eye focus ability (acuity) and convergence ability tested by a licensed professional prior to beginning the SuperFit Reading Kit. Young children tend to have short attention spans, so these eye exercises are quick to perform. Frequent repetition, with rewards if needed, will help your child master these movements. Persistence and practice, as with learning a new musical instrument, are the keys to success.
What are the eye movements needed for efficient reading?
Saccades are the eye movements needed for reading. A saccade is a rapid movement of the eyes. The brain must tell the eyes to saccade to the next word when reading a line of text. The brain must also tell the eyes to saccade to the next line of text at the end of each previous line. Equally important is the ability to stop the saccade movement on the next word. If your eyes overshoot the next word, this is called hypermetria. This is one reason that kids skip words. If your eyes undershoot, or stop too early, this is called hypometria. See the figure below for a graphic description of how this effects reading. Both are inefficient ways of reading. Accurate stopping of the eyes is coordinated by your cerebellum. For more information on the importance of optimal cerebellum function read Basic Brain Development and Function.
Why are accurate saccades so important for reading?
If your eyes move slowly, overshoot or undershoot you will likely be a slow reader. Worse yet, you may frequently miss one or more words completely. You may also skip lines of text. These difficulties make reading a labor, with the reader frequently losing their place on the line or on the page. If you skip words and lines of text, you will likely have difficulty with reading comprehension also.
Can these eye movements be practiced and optimized?
Yes! By using the SuperFit Reading Kit you will practice accurate eye saccade movements necessary for easy reading!
How do the brain and eyes learn these movements? The brain tends to learn best with frequent repetition done for short periods of time. Young children tend to have short attention spans, so these eye exercises are quick to perform. Frequent repetition, with rewards if needed, will help your child master these eye movements. Persistence and practice, as with learning a new instrument, are the keys to success.
Don't kids naturally learn these movements?
Many children will develop these eye coordination movements on their own, but not necessarily by the time they are in school and depend on their eye movements for efficient learning and concentration. We at NeuroFitness, Inc. believe that if you can practice a simple exercise to optimize your brain and body, then it is best to help all children with these reading skills as soon as you can! Our goal is to provide all children with the basic body and brain coordination skills necessary to thrive in the classroom and the world!
What else do kids need for easy reading?
Kids need to be able to use phonemes to sound out words that are new to them. Knowing how to
pronounce the basic phonemes propels kids toward a broader vocabulary.
What is a phoneme?
Phonemes are combinations of letters that together make up sounds needed for the English language.
Does the SuperFit Reading Kit help with phonemic learning? Absolutely! The SuperFit Reading Kit uses over 100 common words that contain the majority of the phonemes that make up the English language.
What else does the SuperFit Reading Kit do for younger kids just starting to read?
For younger children, it teaches basic color, number and letter identification. It also incorporates aspects of visual memory and attention in order to remember your place on the exercise charts while moving your eyes back and forth.
Why is it important to keep the head still during the exercises?
When your eyes coordinate poorly, often your head and neck will help position your eyes. It is much more efficient for your eyes to move well on their own so your neck can stay relaxed and comfortable. Also, the eyes can move much faster than the neck and head. So, quick and easy reading depends on your eyes moving well, not your head!
Is it OK for the supervising adult to do the exercises also?
Absolutely! Everyone can benefit from optimum eye coordination for easier reading.
●Slow reading speed
●Poor reading comprehension
●Does not like to read aloud
●Frequently skipping words while reading aloud
●Frequently losing their place while reading aloud
●Difficulty finding the next line to read
●Losing their place on the page
●While reading, their head and neck moves with their eyes
●Having to use a finger to point to every word to help their eyes find it
●Having to cover up the rest of the page in order to keep their eyes on the line they are reading
●Frustration while reading, or they don't like to read at all
●Complaints of neck pain/headaches while reading
●Signs of dyslexia (difficulty recognizing and comprehending written words)
How important is proper eye focusing and convergence?
Very important! All children should have their eye focus ability (acuity) and convergence ability tested by a licensed professional prior to beginning the SuperFit Reading Kit. Young children tend to have short attention spans, so these eye exercises are quick to perform. Frequent repetition, with rewards if needed, will help your child master these movements. Persistence and practice, as with learning a new musical instrument, are the keys to success.
What are the eye movements needed for efficient reading?
Saccades are the eye movements needed for reading. A saccade is a rapid movement of the eyes. The brain must tell the eyes to saccade to the next word when reading a line of text. The brain must also tell the eyes to saccade to the next line of text at the end of each previous line. Equally important is the ability to stop the saccade movement on the next word. If your eyes overshoot the next word, this is called hypermetria. This is one reason that kids skip words. If your eyes undershoot, or stop too early, this is called hypometria. See the figure below for a graphic description of how this effects reading. Both are inefficient ways of reading. Accurate stopping of the eyes is coordinated by your cerebellum. For more information on the importance of optimal cerebellum function read Basic Brain Development and Function.
Why are accurate saccades so important for reading?
If your eyes move slowly, overshoot or undershoot you will likely be a slow reader. Worse yet, you may frequently miss one or more words completely. You may also skip lines of text. These difficulties make reading a labor, with the reader frequently losing their place on the line or on the page. If you skip words and lines of text, you will likely have difficulty with reading comprehension also.
Can these eye movements be practiced and optimized?
Yes! By using the SuperFit Reading Kit you will practice accurate eye saccade movements necessary for easy reading!
How do the brain and eyes learn these movements? The brain tends to learn best with frequent repetition done for short periods of time. Young children tend to have short attention spans, so these eye exercises are quick to perform. Frequent repetition, with rewards if needed, will help your child master these eye movements. Persistence and practice, as with learning a new instrument, are the keys to success.
Don't kids naturally learn these movements?
Many children will develop these eye coordination movements on their own, but not necessarily by the time they are in school and depend on their eye movements for efficient learning and concentration. We at NeuroFitness, Inc. believe that if you can practice a simple exercise to optimize your brain and body, then it is best to help all children with these reading skills as soon as you can! Our goal is to provide all children with the basic body and brain coordination skills necessary to thrive in the classroom and the world!
What else do kids need for easy reading?
Kids need to be able to use phonemes to sound out words that are new to them. Knowing how to
What is a phoneme?
Phonemes are combinations of letters that together make up sounds needed for the English language.
Does the SuperFit Reading Kit help with phonemic learning? Absolutely! The SuperFit Reading Kit uses over 100 common words that contain the majority of the phonemes that make up the English language.
What else does the SuperFit Reading Kit do for younger kids just starting to read?
For younger children, it teaches basic color, number and letter identification. It also incorporates aspects of visual memory and attention in order to remember your place on the exercise charts while moving your eyes back and forth.
Why is it important to keep the head still during the exercises?
When your eyes coordinate poorly, often your head and neck will help position your eyes. It is much more efficient for your eyes to move well on their own so your neck can stay relaxed and comfortable. Also, the eyes can move much faster than the neck and head. So, quick and easy reading depends on your eyes moving well, not your head!
Is it OK for the supervising adult to do the exercises also?
Absolutely! Everyone can benefit from optimum eye coordination for easier reading.
