(Click here for 7 Tips on How to Improve Reading Comprehension and Speed for Your Child)
Reading comprehension is a major issue for many 4th to 12th graders.
- We have assessed many students whose reading comprehension is 2, 3, 4 and even 5 years below grade level
- Too often their reading speed is so slow, that it is tortuous for them to read
- The good news is that with the right help, reading comprehension can be improved by 2, 3 and even 4 grade levels within months. Their reading speed can often be improved by 50 to 100%.
For too many smart and even gifted students, their reading comprehension is often at grade level, but two to three years below their peers. Their reading speed is often slow. The good news is that:
- Their reading comprehension can often be improved by 2 or 3 grade levels within 6 months
- Their reading speed can be improved by 50 or 100%
- This can dramatically improve their:
- Grade point average
- SAT and/or ACT scores
- Chances of getting into the college of their choice
These students are often either right brain neurodivergent learners and/or they have a visual processing issue. Many assessments miss these items or do not leverage a student’s ability to learn best when they see and experience information and/or miss a visual processing issue.
We strongly recommend sitting down with your child and completing these two screening tools.
Click here to see if your child is a right-brain neurodivergent learner.
Click here to see if your child has a visual processing issue.
Your child’s answers may surprise you and allow you to leverage the insights you become aware of.
Click here for a video on Why and How to Improve Reading Speed and Reading Comprehension for Your Child
Below are the 7 Tips on How to Improve Reading Comprehension and Reading Speed for your child.
Why and How to Improve Reading Speed and Reading Comprehension for 4th to 12th Graders
- Find out what your child’s present level of reading speed and reading comprehension are and what is their present Grade Point Average and SAT scores, if appropriate
- How would it change your child’s life if they improved their reading comprehension by 2, 3 or even 4 grade levels over the next 6 months? How would it help your child if they improved their reading speed by 50 to 100%? How would it effect:
- The classes they are in and their grade point average
- Their performance on standardized tests
- Homework time and stress
- Prospects for getting into the college or university of their choice
- Chances of getting a $20,000 or $30,000 scholarship
- Have a positive, open conversation with your child about how they feel. Listen to their fears, their ideas of what they want and what they like. Give positive support and together make a list of ideas that they want help on. As you work on this list – take note of what strategies work and what doesn’t work. Make as many activities hands-on or active as possible.
Note, discuss this with your child and if appropriate, create a WHY Document, why you want this and why your child wants it.
4. Strongly consider getting an outside evaluation that assesses for:
-
- How your child learns best.
- Their strengths and challenges
- Their present level of reading speed and reading comprehension
The two most common items that are missed are:
a- If your child is a right-brain neurodivergent learner who learns best when they see and experience information.
b- Does your child have a visual processing issue, where they skip words and lines when reading, process information slowly and make too many stupid mistakes in math tests,
We recommend sitting down with your child and completing these two screening tools:
Click here to see if your child is a right-brain neurodivergent learner.
Click here to see if your child has a visual processing issue.
- Set BOLD Goals for your child. Let’s say your child is presently 2 years behind in reading comprehension. Consider a goal to get your child back to grade level within months. We recommend including a non-academic goal in an area of interest to your child. This might be in sports, music, martial arts or another area of interest to your child.
6– Follow through for maximum results.
7- Being consistent is key! These kids need structure and a visual schedule to follow.
