Teachers Want DD To Read Slower

[boolifooli]

DD, whose been a free reader for over a year has always read very fast. Her comprehension isn't a problem but her teachers are always commenting that she reads too quick. We're both getting frustrated with it now. DD resorted to singing her book last night as she gets irritated with me asking her to slow it down. If you're naturally a fast reader is there any benefit to slowing it down other than when you have an audience?

Same with my dd. The thing I noticed is that if I read with her then I don't really notice a problem but if I'm just listening I don't follow a thing! So I do try to slow her down.
I don't think that would make any difference for her speed when reading just for herself.

I think it is a real skill to read well. When we go to story telling time in the library you see such differences between readers.

Are you talking about reading out loud or to herself?
My son has always read very fast and books that are way above his actual age. The speed at which he reads has always been entirely his choice and he has the ability to understand everything he reads!
However this has always caused a problem when reading out loud as he doesn't seem able to slow down and stumbles over words and garbles it out as his brain processes the text faster than his mouth can verbalise it! It really is a problem (and he still garbles at 13!) so I would say that learning to slow down at times would be beneficial for her and for others who have to listen to her out loud!
Obviously when she is reading on her own for pleasure she can read at whatever speed she likes!

if it's an outloud reading issue then yes she does need to slow it down - if this type, is she nervous of her own voice being heard?

If it's just that she gets through the books too quickly then obviously not - I have always been a very fast reader and it hasn't ever been a problem for me.

I'm an ultra fast reader (am not showing off with that btw, everyone I know comments on it and I've never met anyone who reads as fast), and when reading aloud I make a real effort to put expression and interest into the reading as it can be difficult with your visual reading being faster than your mouth. Maybe she could be guided to make it interesting rather than slow down ?

If it's reading out loud that's the problem, perhaps talk to her about going at a slower pace so the other person understands? And remind her to take the time to breathe?

Agree with the others. I too am a natural speedreader, but reading out loud requires a different technique. You need to guide her, not to read more slowly as an end in itself, but to read with the corrrect expression and emphasis to make it comprehensible to, and enjoyable for, her listeners. Explain that when reading in her head she can still read as fast as she likes.

Thanks for all your good points. I will assure her that she can read as fast as she pleases in her head, not that you'd have any control in that area anyway, and just ask her to imagine she is reading to the class or something.

I'm a speed reader but love reading out loud - it's a completely different skill - your dd can try to make it really interesting for people to listen to, with different voices, varying the pitch, making it quiet or loud, pausing and then speeding up again for effect

basically, whenever your dd is reading aloud she's reading to an audience

it doesn't make any difference at all to how she reads to herself inside her head

the other day I noticed dd's eyes moving when she was reading silently - and could not believe the speed at which she was scanning the page - no wonder she gets through books so quickly! But as long as the comprehension is there, there's no problem