Q: How much should I worry about reading speed? Is there a reading fluency program out there that you'd recommend? Or, do you know of any methods to use on a daily basis to slowly improve speed?
Answer:
There
are helpful measuring tools as well as information on appropriate
reading speed for Reading Fluency located at http://dibels.uoregon.edu/
--these tools are very helpful for assessing whether your
child is reading at a functional speed. Repeated Oral Reading
is the primary way that reading fluency is improved. Benchmarks
go up to sixth grade in the free download area, although the
menu only shows lower grades. The measurement tools are at:
https://dibels.uoregon.edu/measures/download.php
You are wise to be concerned about slow reading speed as slower
reading speed often affects comprehension. While a child may
have decent comprehension, the slower they read, the more
likely they are to be working at decoding and not remembering
critical information. Of course, the more complex the reading
material, the more likely comprehension issues will rear their
ugly heads. ;-)
Additionally, it may be that your child can learn to Speed Read more readily than other children. Believe it or not, we found this to be quite true and have used the Speed Reading for Kids program. It is inexpensive and worth a try!
Best Wishes
Sandy