Speed Reading Camp for Younger Students (Ages 10-14)

*****Students must come to class WITH A BOOK.  A real print book. No kindle/ebook, no cartoon, poetry, narrow column books.  A normal chapter book that they can read and turn the pages.*********

Students will learn how to speed read and improve their reading speed and comprehension skills in one week. However, I challenge the students on the 1st day of class to commit to 30-days of practice just 10 minutes per day (the average amount of time this class would be given in a traditional school setting. They will set a 30-day goal on the 5th day of class once they take their last speed reading test with me). 

The average young reader is around 100-250 Words Per Minute.  The goal is to increase by 20%-30% during the week of practice.  After a month of daily practice, students should begin to see their normal reading speed increase to 400-600 wpm, and then with practice over 3-6 months, ideally even up to speeds of 1000 wpm. (Globally, only 1% of English readers read at 450 wpm or faster, but I am regularly seeing students reach that and much higher every week since July 2020). 

I ask the students to commit to 10 minutes/day of speed reading practice using the techniques I teach but pushing themselves to read at a comprehension of 7 (I explain this in class).  The way they help their brains is by practice, practice, practice! 

During this week, students will learn the key skills they need to learn to speed read, as well as 3 techniques to understand and remember better what they read. I work to help them become much more aware of what is happening in their brain in 3 areas: speed, focus, and comprehension. When do they understand what they've read and when don't they?  It's imperative they commit to practice these skills for 1-3 months after to really see the full effect of reaching 600 wpm or more. (30-days to new habits!).

Please know I'm primarily teaching the skills that normally a "brick and mortar" school would teach and practice for a month.  However, teaching this class since July 2020 in five sessions have proven the skills can be taught - and learned - in 5 days.  Please PLEASE encourage your student to practice 10 minutes a day for a full month after taking my class so they experience the full effect of the class. 

Parent and Student Expectations (Written on July 27, 2020/Updated December 2023)
Here is an idea of what you can expect: after teaching a total of 1300 students so far, here are the stats of what has happened:   Not including the student that missed 3 sessions and saw no increase in their reading speed, the range of increase after 5 days of class with me was from 13% speeding read increase (from a Monday to a Friday) to a high of  400% increase from a Monday to a Friday. The highest reading rate achieved was 2500 wpm.  The average rate of increase was 72%.  Results like these are not guaranteed.  However, a modest increase of 30% in reading speed means they have just decreased the amount of time they need to read a school-assigned book by 1/3rd.  Help your students see the value so they put in the work to gain a skill that will stay with them for life!!!

Students need to come already very comfortably reading chapter books at or below their reading/grade level - please choose one to use all week. NO DIGITAL BOOKS, NO POETRY BOOKS, NO CARTOON BOOKS. I really do not think this class works for 9 year olds, no matter their reading level. Please wait until they are at least 10 years old - it has to do with vocabulary, brain development, and personal awareness development. 

Speed reading skills will be explained, demonstrated, and then students given time to practice in class, ask questions, and receive feedback during class time. They will be timed approximately 5 times during the week to show student their progress almost immediately! For students who have either or both of bad habits: regression or subvocalization (speak while they read), it takes time to break the habit but if necessary, they will be equipped with additional tips to help them work on learning to read without subvocalizing. 

Parents, please know that students should be comfortably reading chapter books before taking this course.  

Day 1 
- Why Speed Read? 
- Find starting base rate. 
- Speed Reading Technique #1 
- New reading base rate
-10 minutes speed reading practice for homework 


Day 2
- The connection between sight and touch
- Two Bad Habits in Reading
- Speed Drill:  4, 3, 2, 1, Skill and practice - Expand your brain! 
- 10 minutes speed reading practice for homework 


Day 3
- RRR - Reading Comprehension Strategy #1 - First R - How to remember what you read: Comprehension: 4 strategies to trained skimming
- Speed Reading Technique #2 - Learn Peripheral Vision reading
- Try a 2-minute Peripheral Vision reading
- Find new wpm base 
-10 minutes speed reading practice for homework 


Day 4 
- RRR Reading Comprehension Technique #2 - Second R - Note Methods and Note Hacks
- Speed Reading Technique #3 - Three-dot technique for speed reading 
- Speed reading test using 3-dot
-10 minutes speed reading practice for homework 


Day 5
- RRR Reading Comprehension Technique #3 How to remember what you read - Third R
- Find ending base rate 
- Share your 30 day goal  - what speed do you want to reach? 
- 30-day Homework assignment