The study examines whether the average performance of the population with dyslexia in a working memory measure can be inferred dimensionally from the characteristics of the typical population. Specifically, we focused on Associative Phonological Working Memory (APWM), an ability that we predicted being impaired in dyslexia due to the relationship…

Serial rapid automized naming (RAN) has been often found to correlate more strongly with reading than discrete RAN. This study aimed to demonstrate that the strength of the RAN-reading fluency relationship is dependent on the format of both RAN and the reading task if the reading task consists of sight words. Seventy-one first-grade, 74…

This study described oral reading fluency and within word pattern spelling, using rate and accuracy as the fluency measures. Oral reading measures, including reading for one minute, reading an entire passage, word recognition in isolation, and in context reading accuracy were examined with 56 second, third, fourth, and fifth graders. All students…

We measured the increase in reading speed afforded by two currently available systems of coloured overlays: the "Intuitive Overlays," which provide a choice of 30 colours, and the "Eye Level Reading Rulers," which provide a choice of 5. Forty-eight pupils from a local authority primary school who reported experiencing symptoms of visual stress…

The relationship of reading performance to difficulty level of material was the focus of this study. Participants in the study were 83 fourth graders from four urban schools. Each student was administered passages at different levels of challenge (independent, instructional, frustration) based on word identification accuracy. Passages were scored…

Conventional wisdom has suggested that the rate at which a reader processes text matters little as long as the reader can read with accuracy and comprehension. This paper makes the case that reading rate is an essential component of proficient reading, and is significantly correlated with other measures of proficient reading, such as standardized…

Describes some of the detrimental effects of speed reading. (DD)

Investigated, at three elementary levels, how word reading speed is related to rapidly naming series of numbers, letters, colors, and pictures, and to general processing speed. Also sought to determine how these relationships vary with the reading task employed. (Author/VWL)

Argues that educators must address the challenge of helping all students read fluently. Presents strategies to improve student performance in reading speed, accuracy, and the ability to chunk meaning into units or gists. Advises teachers to encourage students to increase reading speed as they encounter an unfamiliar word, use repeated readings,…

Discusses the concept of reading flexibility; suggests a two-step instructional procedure (termed ReFlex Action) for teaching children to be flexible in reading rate and purpose. (DD)

Two young autistic children exhibited normal reading comprehension but reading speeds considerably faster than controls. The effect of randomizing word order was minimal for the older of the two autistic boys. Results indicate that efficient grapheme-phoneme conversion is primarily responsible for the fast reading of the autistic children.…

A study involving 238 fourth grade pupils was conducted to determine whether a relationship exists between the use of instruction with masked materials and pupils' word recognition and comprehension. The pupils were placed into either an experimental or a control group. Each group was administered a pretest to measure reading rate, to insure that…

Describes four teaching techniques which help poor readers experience decoding automatically. (MKM)

Compared to placebo controls, 28 individuals treated with Piracetam (a new drug thought to enhance learning and memory consolidation) showed statistically significant improvements above baseline scores on measures of effective reading accuracy and comprehension, reading speed, and writing accuracy. The medication was well tolerated and showed no…