4 Parents

The big secret about reading.

Reading is hard work. It's really, really hard work. And for those who slip in the early years, it can be tough to catch up.

However, there are a few simple tricks to increase speed and comprehension.

Over the past thirteen years of working in a primary school, I've lost count of the different approaches to reading support and intervention I've done - and most simply don't work.

But one trick does work, and it's super simple.

Pick one book and read it again and again.

It sounds silly, but it works for a whole load of reasons.

Reading a book for the first time is difficult because there is so much to focus on: difficult words, punctuation and of course, what's actually going on in the story. But, this is the key reason that children who have books read to them, especially those who have a favourite book, advance quickly. It isn't because they are more intelligent or more able, it's simply a case of seeing the same printed words again and again.

Once you know the story, following the details of what is going on is so much easier. Once you've decoded those tricky words for the first time, it's easier next time, and easier again after that. 

A good way to prove this method is working is to time yourself. Those tricky words don't cause stumbling blocks so you get faster. High-frequency words like the, it, is, at, like, said, he, she (there's loads of them) become almost invisible. 

Once your child can read through with only a few mistakes, and be able to tell you what's going on in the story, only then is it time to pick another and go over it again. 

It isn't easy, and it does require work and repetition, but it does work and is by far the best and quickest way to increase reading speed and comprehension.

It might not make them love books. It might not make them want to read for pleasure, but it will help them in general, whether it's being able to read a math's problem, a recipe or a joke from a Christmas cracker, increasing their ability to read fluidly and confidently is one of the best skills a child or a young adult can develop.





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