‘Reading Fluency’ Blog Posts

How Reading Fluency Improves Comprehension
January 30th, 2024 2024-02-01T10:00:18-08:00 2024-01-30T20:15:06-08:00Reading comprehension is the ability to understand and retain the information given in the text as you read it. Reading fluency, on the other hand, is the accuracy and speed of reading without conscious attention to the mechanics of reading. A fluent reader has the ability to read and understand words automatically. They are able to more easily comprehend complete sentences and entire reading selections.

How to Improve Reading Skills in Just 5 Minutes a Day… for Anyone!
December 4th, 2023 2024-02-01T08:45:32-08:00 2023-12-04T14:41:08-08:00When I first heard of Bonnie Terry’s 5 Minutes to Better Reading Skills program, I assumed it was only for beginning readers. Not so! It’s for everyone! My kids from 3rd to 6th grade are already benefiting from it and we’ve only been using it for a week. Their reading speed, confidence, and comprehension are going up by leaps and bounds!

Laterality and Directionality: How Does it Relate to Learning?
February 16th, 2022 2022-02-17T15:24:24-08:00 2022-02-16T21:06:13-08:00We read from top to bottom and left to right. We form letters in specific directions. Even writing your letters correctly involves directionality. Starting letters at the top and moving down is easier and faster and coincides with how we read. Yet, kids left to there own often start writing letters from the bottom up. These are often the kids that haven’t learned the top down orientation of reading, starting at the top of the page and reading from left to right.

What is Reading Fluency? How to Become a Fluent Reader in 5 Minutes a Day
November 22nd, 2019 2020-04-23T18:18:36-07:00 2019-11-22T22:41:25-08:00Reading fluency is the speed and accuracy of reading without conscious attention to the mechanics of reading. In other words, a fluent reader has the ability to retrieve and read words automatically. Efficient readers are fluent readers. Multiple studies show that slow single word reading leads to both poor comprehension and frustration.

What is Rapid Naming? How does it relate to reading and dyslexia?
September 4th, 2019 2020-04-23T17:15:55-07:00 2019-09-04T18:40:37-07:00Children that struggle with rapid naming, dyslexia, or learning disabilities typically perform more slowly on tasks that deal with the speed of processing. So, when helping a child with dyslexia or learning disabilities, we also need to help them improve their processing speed.

Auditory Closure, Visual Closure and Reading Fluency
November 27th, 2018 2018-11-28T21:28:06-08:00 2018-11-27T16:22:39-08:00Auditory and visual closure play an important role in reading fluency. Auditory closure is the ability to bring sounds and/or words together to gain meaning from them, visual closure is the ability to bring letters, partial letters, or words together to make sense of them.

5 Signs of ADHD
March 14th, 2017 2018-02-20T22:22:17-08:00 2017-03-14T12:00:12-07:00There are 5 hallmark signs of ADHD. These must be present early on and present for at least 6 months. You don’t develop ADHD suddenly in 3rd, 5th or 8th grades.

4 Easy Activities to Improve Reading Skills (Part 1)
November 29th, 2016 2019-12-04T12:05:52-08:00 2016-11-29T12:00:55-08:00There are 4 easy activities to improve reading skills that take just a few minutes a day to improve reading. Reading drills to improve reading fluency in 5 minutes a day. Improve spelling and learn the 8 different spelling patterns we use to make words. Improve reading comprehension by playing a reading comprehension game.

Summer Reading List: Top 5 Books to Read by Grade Level
June 5th, 2016 2017-05-19T09:21:26-07:00 2016-06-05T01:04:50-07:00Have a summer reading plan for the lazy, hazy days of summer. Kids should be reading on a daily basis. This can happen for 15 to 30 minutes after lunch, before swimming, or before bed. Kids should be reading pleasure books at one to two levels below their grade level so they are easy to read. Get the top 5 books to read this summer too.
Reading Fluency Training Solves the Most Common Reading Problem in Just 5 Minutes
September 19th, 2013 2016-02-25T01:02:41-08:00 2013-09-19T14:08:44-07:00Reading fluently describes how a skilled reader reads silently or aloud. You can only check reading fluency and improve reading fluency by reading aloud. Confronting Reading Fluency Problems Let me give you an example…I met Amanda in February; she was in 5th grade. She had brown straight hair and a great smile, although she didn’t […]
Learn the 5 Steps to Improve Learning Skills: Reading, Writing, Spelling, & Math
September 14th, 2012 2016-03-22T08:33:53-07:00 2012-09-14T19:39:35-07:00SpecialNeeds.com is sponsoring a FREE webinar: How to Improve Learning Skills: Reading, Writing, Spelling, & Math School has recently started and the homework wars may have already started too! This is the perfect time to learn the 5 steps to improving learning skills! How to Improve Learning Skills: Reading, Writing, Spelling, & Math Reserve your […]
Struggling with Learning Reading Skills?
September 21st, 2010 2023-09-01T14:58:44-07:00 2010-09-21T09:14:24-07:00Struggling With Learning Reading Skills? Many times when your child struggles they are actually working three, four, five times harder than their classmates. Your child gets frustrated and the homework battles start because the homework becomes overwhelming. When your child struggles with reading skills or your evenings become filled with ‘homework battles’ it is typically […]
How do I Motivate My Child?
June 14th, 2010 2010-06-14T18:54:04-07:00 2010-06-14T18:54:04-07:00Hi, Bonnie. We spoke on the phone when I ordered your materials, which I’ve since received. Thanks very much! You mentioned at the time that you are open to questions as I began using the materials–and, of course, I now have those questions! -My son will be entering 3rd grade. His 2nd grade teacher noted […]
Reading Help & Phonics Help for Older Students
November 18th, 2009 2017-02-16T01:27:18-08:00 2009-11-18T18:13:27-08:00Hi there, I recently found you on the web and just watching your vids, I’m VERY interested. To wit: I’m homeschooling my 16 year old nephew who has been diagnosed ADHD and dyslexic. With the phonics reading materials I’ve found on the net and at my local library, I can only find elementary school age […]
Adults with Dyslexia
June 30th, 2009 2009-06-30T12:44:39-07:00 2009-06-30T12:44:39-07:00I just received a question regarding using the products in the Reading Pack: Five Minutes to Better Reading Skills, Making Spelling Sense & Making Spelling Sense II and Ten Minutes to Better Study Skills. Here is the question: The Bonnie Terry Reading Pack – is this pack recommended for me? I am 39 years old […]
Spelling, Reading Fluency, and Visual Processing
June 18th, 2009 2009-06-18T17:28:15-07:00 2009-06-18T17:28:15-07:00Hello, I’m interested in a couple of your products. Regarding the Spelling Sense book 1, what ages is this appropriate for? How are the words arranged and how many do you give weekly? I have tried a word family approach with my 9 year old ( just turned 9). He’ll do fine for that week […]
My daughter didn’t qualify for an IEP…Can we do 504 Plan due to her reading fluency problems?
June 11th, 2009 2017-02-16T01:23:44-08:00 2009-06-11T10:08:52-07:00Dear Bonnie, I have a 16- year old sophomore (homeschooled all her life) who is very bright and compliant. However I had suspected for some time that there was some sort of processing or automaticity problem because of her reading. After testing with a local public high school a reading fluency deficiency was noted in […]
Reading Comprehension Problems? Learn the 3 Causes
May 21st, 2009 2015-01-24T01:21:42-08:00 2009-05-21T15:31:22-07:00Whether you have dyslexia, a learning disability, ADHD, or are just struggling with reading comprehension, it is due to one, two, or all three causes of comprehension. Understanding the underlying cause of the comprehension problem is important because you do different things to address the different problems. So, view the video to understand the causes […]
How to Improve Reading in 5 Minutes a Day
May 20th, 2009 2019-01-14T16:29:54-08:00 2009-05-20T16:01:51-07:00I Can Hardly Believe It? Check it out…
April 25th, 2009 2017-02-16T01:23:04-08:00 2009-04-25T13:44:01-07:00The call is filling up fast – Reserve your spot now. I have had so many calls from parents this year that are wondering how to help their child and confused about why their child is struggling that I finally decided to have a webinar where I will present information and you will be able […]
Learning: Why Do Our Kids Need To Practice or Prepare?
April 2nd, 2009 2015-01-24T00:58:25-08:00 2009-04-02T18:59:07-07:00I just got back from a 3 day seminar that I had spent the past two months getting ready for. In fact, I arrived two days early so I could spend more time preparing for it – so that I would be able to get the most out of the seminar. The gentleman who sat […]
Live: The LD Screening Tool Has Arrived!
March 23rd, 2009 2015-11-30T19:29:17-08:00 2009-03-23T18:49:30-07:00Yes, it is here! Spring is here, the tulip tree is blooming as is the manzanita tree, daffodils, the wild violets…And the Learning Disability Screening Assessment has arrived! You will now be able to have your child or student assessed and find the underlying root cause of their learning problems. You will know the […]
How To Improve Reading Skills With a Non-verbal Autistic Student
March 17th, 2009 2015-02-04T23:58:09-08:00 2009-03-17T15:01:37-07:00This question just came in from Penny Ray: Hi Bonnie! I have a question about “Five Minutes to Better Reading”. Have you used that program with a non-speaking student? What do you recommend for non-speaking (non-verbal autistic) kids in terms of boosting reading skills? Am looking for anything that would help. Thanks, Penny Ray Hi […]