Revisiting Silent Reading —
Abstract of

Chapter 15
Assessing English Learners' Silent Reading Ability: Problems, Perils, and Promising Directions

Gary J. Ockey

D. Ray Reutzel

This chapter examines practices associated with assessing English learners' (ELs') silent reading. It begins with a description of some of the unique challenges of assessing ELs' silent reading ability. Its main focus is on the perils and problems associated with some of the appealing and popular silent reading assessment tasks that are in current use, including brief oral reading events, self-report, probed and free recall, and story retellings. The chapter concludes with a discussion of alternative approaches and future directions for assessing ELs' silent reading. The potential of high-speed, infrared, eye-movement photography for this purpose is a particular focus.

Ockey, G.J., & Reutzel, D. (2010). Assessing English Learners' Silent Reading Ability: Problems, Perils, and Promising Directions. In E.H. Hiebert, & D. Reutzel (Eds.), Revisiting Silent Reading (pp. 258-274). Newark, DE: International Reading Association.