Better Speed

It is one of the great and simple discoveries of Proportional Reading that the best way to improve reading speed is to improve comprehension. This is possible to do with PR because PR provides specific solutions for each reading issue. Please click on the Comprehension button and read this section. The best way to improve speed is to go right through the steps listed to improve comprehension.

Having said this, the following specific points can be made directly about improving speed:

Effort is made to improve reading speed only to the extent that speed improves comprehension. Students need to read at a certain minimum speed in order to maximize concentration and understanding. In addition, students must be able to read fast enough to finish reading what they are tested on. They must also be able to read fast enough so that they can do homework or seat work in a reasonable time.

Statistics on comprehension and reading rate for any large group of students will show that the best readers, those reading with 90% to 100% comprehension, are mostly reading above the subvocalization level. This is 220 to 420 words per minute. At this speed it is impossible for most people to keep up and still form the words with their lips or whisper them, etc.

In PR there are 12 speeds for silent reading (1-12). These speeds advance from 60 words per minute to 1,000 words per minute. Students reading at speed 7 are reading at 220-420 words per minute. This speed is the goal for students to reach with PR. It is not necessary to read any faster. A few students can reach this goal at speed 6, but not many. Speed 7 is where the advance really takes place.

Any student who has learned to overcome muscle movement and subvocalization with PR, will tell you that hearing an internal voice is much easier than forming the sounds of the words with your muscles. They will also tell you that making pictures of what you read becomes much easier. This is the promise of PR; once you get to speed 7, reading not only becomes much easier but it becomes a lot more fun and a lot more successful.

About half of all students get to speed 7 on their own. The remaining 50% need help from the teacher to see how to do this. The teacher plays a very important role at this point.

Specifically, about 50% of all students will make steady progress up to the point of overcoming subvocalization and then hit a snag. At this point they will start to read one way with their eyes and another way with the muscles in their mouth, lips and throat. The two styles of reading will conflict with each other with the result that frustration and boredom occur. Teachers need to help these students over the hurdle of subvocalization. This can be done in about five minutes per student. However, if the teacher does not do this, the student can begin to falter.

Technically, many students can not go from the known to the unknown by incremental steps; they need to make a big jump. The teacher can quickly help these students do this with the PR program by jumping the speed two notches; usually from speed 5 to speed 7. Students can no longer continue to say the words with their lips or voice; they begin to hear an inner voice instead. Once students personally experience reading with the inner voice and that they can do it, they build on this foundation.

Teachers also help each student determine which type of pausing is best for that student to use in silent reading, and whether or not sentences should be automatically repeated. Most students follow the same pattern of choice. At speed speed 4 and speed 5 most students want extra pause between sentences. At speed speed 6 most students want less pause (standard pause) between sentences. At speed 7 and 8 many students want and need to have the sentence repeated. At speed 9 and above students want manual pause between sentences. Students will change their needs as they grow. Pausing and sentence repetition choices will often determine whether or not a student can comprehend.

For Further Information

Please read our introduction to PR. This article is called "Improve Reading Quickly". Click on the link here, or access this article from the center of our home page. This article describes our progression of seven separate steps for creating good reading habits. This article describes how the program is used and each of the specific purposes. It explains briefly how our software provides help for almost every possible reading difficulty, and describes how two of the seven approaches provide different methods for anyone to immediately read text with increased speed and comprehension.

This Introductory article also explains how ideally this seven step, interactive program is combined with initial evaluation and periodic consultation. Our 16 page paper describes in depth why this should occur and spells out in detail the specific approach used by the PR trainer in the classroom, or with individual students or adults. A detailed description of the eight step initial evaluation process is also available. We offer a Free Demo DVD with free shipping anywhere in the USA.

The introductory article on PR also explains how immediate reading improvement can occur by using specialized hardware which holds book pages open. By freeing up the hands, this tool allows the reader to sit back in a relaxed and supported position and to type notes while reading. It also enables one to stop turning ones head from side to side while typing. For many people, this tool immediately improves reading comprehension and enjoyment as well as productivity.

Please contact us to discuss your specific needs, or those of a family member or friend.