How Can I Help Students Improve Reading Speed & Comprehension?

Are your students frustrated with their reading exercises? While we know that there is not one way to improve reading speed and comprehension, here at ReadWorks, we provide thousands of reading passages and worksheets to improve both skills for any student at any level through data-driven strategies created and tested by our teachers. 

Speed Reading & Comprehension

First, let's separate these two skills. Some people can read fast, and couldn't tell you much more about the topic covered than the headline given. Others read at a slower pace, but can tell you everything written in explicit detail. These two things, while connected through reading, do not equate to one another, and yet are not explicitly separate either. Working to improve both is the only way to see results in your overall speed and comprehension.

Speed Reading

Reading speed is a skill that can be practiced through reading passages on or lower than grade level for some students. This doesn't mean not understanding the material and word reading, but by reading easier material, you will learn to read the words faster and train your fluidity. 

Reading Comprehension

Reading comprehension can be strengthened by practicing with reading passages and books that are at or above grade level. Reflecting on the text and answering questions about what was read helps assess and enhance student understanding. Many ReadWorks passages include vocabulary activities and various question sets to support this crucial instructional practice. Learn more about how ReadWorks supports improved reading comprehension in a previous blog post.

Incorporating Reading Speed & Comprehension

Including the practices involved in improving both aspects of your students' reading, it's important to note that the most important thing to enhance your students' reading speed and comprehension is a routine! Encouraging reading speed and reading comprehension is excellent, but ensuring that through practice such at ReadWorks Article-A-Day™ routine, your students will develop improvement in reading comprehension, See our research-backed case studies to learn more.