Eyes also move backward on occasion. The natural return sweep can also be seen. As a child gains skill in silent reading, fixations and regressions decrease in number and the eyes take less time to fixate. Mature silent reading is characterized by a minimal number of fixations and regressions, and by fixations that are very brief. The eyes yield to this lower pace.
Fixation is longer.
Is it likely that the oral reading done by one child is fostering subvocalization and inefficient eye fixations, etc. Silent Reading Fluency involves maintaining an adequate rate so that good comprehension can occur. Students, should be comfortable with word recognition and vocabulary before striving to improve rate. Silent reading efficiency, however, can encourage the accuracy through chunking and provide a purpose for repeated reading. Many older challenged students may be motivated to improve rate simply because of the adult status of such a practice in our society.