Method and apparatus for timing reading

• US 20060216679A1
• Filed: 03/22/2005
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jane Matsoff
• Original Assignee: Jane Matsoff
• Inventors: Matsoff, Jane
• Granted Patent: US 7,527,498 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/178
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 17/00 Teaching reading teaching lip-reading G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 17/04 for increasing the rate of reading; Reading rate control

Abstract

There is described method and apparatus for timing student reading. According to the method and system it is provided that a timer device is used to time student reading and determine a words read per minute score. According to one example embodiment of the inventive subject matter, the teacher/test administrator sits down with a student. The teacher places reading passage in front of student. The passage may indicate number of words in the passage. The teacher presses the Start/Stop button 108 on the reading timer 100 when the student starts to read. The student reads the entire passage and while they read the time taken is displayed, counting up, on display 102. The teacher presses the Start/Stop 108 button on the timer 100 when the student finishes reading the passage. The teacher uses the numeric keypad 110 on the timer 100 to reflect the number of words read by the student during the timing, and the entered reads read are displayed on the display 104. The teacher presses the Calculate button 112 which calculates the words read on a per minute basis and the number is displayed on the display 106. The teacher presses the Clear button 114 twice to erase all time and words read data.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a housing;

at least one button to start a reading timer;

at least one button to stop the reading timer;

one or more displays to display the time elapsing on the reading timer from the point the timer is started, the number of words read by a student, and the number of words read per minute;

at least one set of numeric keys to enter a number of words read; and

at least one calculate button that is pressed to cause a number of words read per minute to be calculated.

2. A method comprising:

providing a reading timer that may be used to calculate a number of words read per minute based on an input mechanism consisting of a start/stop button, a numeric keypad and a calculate button;

a student reading a number of words and an observer using the start/stop button, numeric keypad and calculate button to determine the number of words read per minute.

3. Apparatus for determining a number of words read per minute comprising a reading timer having an input mechanism consisting of a start/stop button, a numeric keypad and a calculate button.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 further including a display for elapsed time, a number of words read, and the number of words read per minute.

5. A system comprising:

a housing;

at least one start/stop button alternately operating to start and stop a reading timer;

a display to display the time elapsing on the reading timer from the point the timer is started;

a display to display the words read by a student;

a display to display the number of words read per minute;

at least one set of numeric keys to enter a number of words read; and

at least one calculate button that is pressed to cause a number of words read per minute to be calculated.