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Test Scores Are at Record Lows. We Can Help.

Anne Hauth • March 18, 2025
Results from the latest NAEP assessments are dire. Fewer than a third of the fourth and eighth graders tested nationwide are considered proficient in reading. Both groups experienced a two-point drop in average reading scores compared to 2022, continuing a downward trend that predates the pandemic. Notably, one-third of eighth graders scored below the NAEP Basic level, marking the highest percentage of underperformance in the assessment's history.

Proficiency in reading creates opportunities and is highly correlated with future success for students in academia, in their careers, and in general daily life. The written word is everywhere, and all students deserve the opportunities that come with being a skilled reader.

The fact that most of our students are not proficient in reading is a crisis we need to address immediately. Ideally, your kids' school is doing everything it can to support struggling readers. But many students still need extra support at home. One Minute Reader is here to help.
 One Minute Reader gets kids reading at grade level—quickly. It uses research-proven methods to build fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Kids experience immediate success, boosting their confidence as they see measurable progress in just minutes every time they use the program. One Minute Reader is easy to use, and kids work completely independently. High-interest, nonfiction content across six reading levels keeps kids of all ages engaged, and a gamified system makes even the most reluctant readers eager to use the program.
If you are not familiar with One Minute Reader, now is the time to check it out. After the free trial, it's only $8/month for unlimited use. If you already use One Minute Reader, please spread the word about this program to other parents. We are as dedicated to solving the literacy crisis as you are—let’s work together to turn things around.

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A mother comforting her son.
By Madeline Waters March 17, 2025
Boost your middle schooler's reading skills with age-appropriate content, fluency practice, and more. Discover effective strategies and the One Minute Reader program for reading success!
By Madeline Waters March 10, 2025
"Fluency is not an instructional target. It is the result of decoding instruction that leads to automatic word recognition." "If a child can decode accurately and automatically, they do not need fluency practice." "Fluency is an outcome of good decoding not a process to go through." "Fluency is a byproduct of solid word recognition skills and not its own distinct subskill." Have you ever heard someone say that reading fluency is just a natural byproduct of learning phonics? This idea has been a point of conversation lately in many literacy spaces, and surprisingly, it's not sparking much debate. Is reading fluency just a natural byproduct of decoding development? If only it were that simple! Fluency is one of the five essential components of reading because it’s a distinct part of skilled reading. Of course, the five components don’t exist in separate vacuums; they overlap and influence each other. Naturally, this can cause some confusion. Let’s discuss the relationship between phonics , fluency , and comprehension . There’s no doubt that automatic word recognition is a key reason why text fluency is so highly correlated with comprehension. When children can automatically read words, their cognitive load is freed up for meaning-making. Children must first develop their decoding skills in order to eventually become automatic decoders. But is an automatic decoder the same as a fluent reader? Consider this reading sample:
By Madeline Waters January 20, 2025
Comprehension is the ultimate goal of reading. As literate adults ourselves, we know it's not enough to simply read the words on the page—we have to truly understand and engage with the text. Helping your child develop strong comprehension skills will set them up for success in school and beyond. Here are some strategies you can use at home to support your child’s reading comprehension development: Embrace Storytelling: When reading aloud, bring the text to life by changing your voice for different characters or ideas, using appropriate expressions, and varying your phrasing to match the content. For example, give emphasis to important points with a firm tone, or use a questioning tone when asking something. Use gestures to demonstrate actions or concepts in the text. These techniques not only make the content more engaging but also guide your child through the text with extra support, making it easier for them to understand. Model Metacognition: Show your child how to think about their thinking by verbalizing your thought process while reading. The think-aloud strategy involves pausing while reading to express out loud what you're thinking. This can include making predictions, asking questions, visualizing, or summarizing parts of the text. This helps children understand how to approach reading comprehension by seeing the thought process in action. Watch this video for an example of how to do this. Initiate Conversation: Engage your child in discussions about what they have read. Ask them to summarize the text and share their opinions. If you're reading together, use book-club style questions to deepen the discussion. These conversations help reinforce comprehension and critical thinking skills. Review Different Question Types: To help your child develop a deeper understanding of what they read, it’s important to teach them how to approach different types of questions. Each question type requires a different skill and strategy to answer effectively. You can find questions online, use AI to generate questions, or create your own using basic formats. Main Idea : Explain that the main idea is what the text is mostly about, not just a fact. Ask, “Is this what the whole text is mostly about, or just one fact?” Practice by having your child summarize the story or present several summary statements and have your child choose the one that best captures the main idea. Literal : Explain that literal questions have answers right there in the text . Teach your child to underline the exact sentence that contains the answer. Practice by asking your child questions that require them to find specific details directly from the text. Vocabulary : Use context clues by looking at the sentences before, during, and after the word. Ask, “What do these surrounding sentences tell us about this word?” Practice by selecting challenging words from the text and asking your child to infer their meanings based on the context. Inference : Explain that inferences are logical guesses based on clues in the text. Encourage your child to look for hints or clues the author left behind to draw conclusions. Practice by posing questions that require your child to read between the lines and make educated guesses based on the information provided. Short Answer: Teach your child to restate the question in the answer. Identify key words from the question and incorporate them into the answer. Practice by asking open-ended questions that prompt your child to provide more detailed responses and explanations. Use Graphic Organizers: Use tools like flowcharts, story maps, Venn diagrams, and K-W-L charts (Know, Want to Know, Learned) to help your child organize their thoughts and understand the structure of the text. Graphic organizers visually display information to help children see relationships between ideas and concepts. Find Everyday Opportunities: Find opportunities for your child to practice reading comprehension in everyday situations. Let your child read recipes and help you prepare a meal, which involves following instructions and understanding measurements. Have your child read the weather report and find the high for the day. Ask your child to read the instructions for a new game and explain the rules to everyone. Subscribe to One Minute Reader: The One Minute Reader program supports reading comprehension and allows children to develop skills independently through a structured approach that combines short reading activities with immediate feedback. By incorporating these strategies and tips into your reading routine, you can help your child become a more confident and skilled reader.
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