[blindkid] reading rates

trising trising at sbcglobal.net
Thu Mar 22 17:00:17 UTC 2012


Hello:
    Before I began assisting Braille readers to improve their reading speeds, my husband and I both entered the Adult Braille 
Readers are Leaders Contest. We had to determine our speed for this contest. We timed each other for a period of one minute each 
time, on a passage of material from a novel that we intended to read for the contest. At that point, our reading speeds were 
consistently between 250-260 words per minute for each minute that we timed. This put us in the expert category for the contest.
    Then, when we were asked to assist with Braille camp at Camp Tuhsmeheta, we read NFB literature and also  discussed strategies 
for improving Braille reading speed. These include, using more fingers on the Braille, reading silently, keeping palms off the 
Braille, and keeping hands together until the end of the line. When we were at camp with the teens, we made sure each teen had a 
hard copy Braille book that they were interested in and that they could keep. We then timed their speed on Monday morning without 
any instruction. Then, we gave instructions on how to improve speed and gave time for practice throuout the week. Last summer, by 
Friday, we  had numbers that improved for all of our students who were working on speed. Some others, who were just learning the 
alphabet completed the alphabet and had a good start on the contractions that involve each letter of the Braille alphabet standing 
alone. This is probably not a scientific method, but it has worked for us as we help teens improve their speeds. If they have 
something to read that they enjoy, even if it challenges their reading level, the results are much better than trying to get teens 
to read books that are written more for the elementary level. Sorry this is so long. I hope it helps

Sincerely,
Terri Wilcox
Secretary, National Federation of the Blind of Michigan
Ann Arbor Chapter President 





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