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The Magic of One-Minute Timings: Debunking Myths and Promoting Fluency

Madeline Waters • November 27, 2023

In the literacy education landscape, one-minute timings often find themselves at the center of discussion—and sometimes misconception. 


Critics argue that these timings only foster stress and promote speed reading. It’s true that one-minute timings, when introduced without proper framing, can indeed lead to stress or a misguided emphasis on speed. But that isn’t the whole truth. When used in an appropriate way, one-minute timings can be a highly useful tool. 


The purpose of a one-minute timing is to measure oral reading fluency. Oral reading fluency is where a lot of misunderstandings around speed reading are born. Oral reading fluency is made up of three components: accuracy, expression, and rate. Rate is only one of three essential components, and it does not equate to speed reading. Rather, oral reading rate is about reading at a pace that is natural and conversational. 

Developing oral reading fluency is essential because it is the gateway to automaticity and thus comprehension. As readers become more fluent, their cognitive load is lessened, allowing them to concentrate more on comprehending the text.


One-minute timings are a valuable tool for developing oral reading fluency. They are not about pushing developing readers to read faster, faster, faster—rather, they are a precise tool for measuring progress. One-minute timings can provide educators and parents with concrete data, allowing them to accurately track growth in reading.


Additionally, kids are motivated by seeing their own progress, and words-correct-per-minute graphs serve as great visual representations of their improvement. Having concrete data about their growth is highly motivating for developing readers. What’s more, one-minute timings are short, accessible, and effective assessments for reluctant readers who may be intimidated by the idea of a reading assessment or who struggle with reading stamina. 


Now, it’s natural for kids to turn on that “speed reading switch” when they know they're being timed. Some kids may need a reminder that the one-minute timings serve as practice. With practice, they will improve—and the timings will reflect that. By emphasizing the purpose behind timings as a measure of growth, rather than a race, parents can frame this exercise in a way that motivates kids and allows them to reach their reading goals more quickly. For more tips on nipping the speed-reading tendency in the bud, check out our blog, 7 Tips to Slow Down Your Speed Readers


One-minute timings, when used responsibly, are a fantastic tool to support educators and parents in fostering and supporting the growth of developing readers.

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By Anne Hauth September 23, 2025
Reading fluency is a crucial skill that bridges the gap between decoding words and understanding their meaning. One effective strategy to build fluency is repeated reading —a technique where a student reads the same text multiple times until they achieve a level of fluency that feels natural and confident. What Is Repeated Reading? Repeated reading involves selecting a short passage at an appropriate reading level--ideally at or slightly above the student's instructional level. The student reads this passage several times, focusing on improving speed, accuracy, and expression with each reading. This practice allows for mastery of the text, leading to fluent and confident reading. Fluent reading should sound like conversational speaking--natural and expressive. Why Does It Work? Research shows* that repeated reading can lead to significant improvements in reading performance. The benefits include: Improved Word Recognition : By encountering the same words repeatedly, students become more familiar with them, leading to quicker and more accurate recognition. When these words become automatic, the students no longer need to put effort into decoding them. Increased Reading Fluency : Reading the same passage multiple times allows students to build fluency--each time reading it more smoothly and with greater expression. Enhanced Comprehension : As fluency improves, students can focus more on understanding the text, leading to better comprehension. This improvement in comprehension extends to unpracticed passages as well. Increased Confidence : Repeated reading is a form of mastery learning. Many beginning or struggling readers don't often get the opportunity to hear themselves sounding like fluent readers. After reading a passage multiple times, they've mastered it--and they sound great! This is a huge confidence boost that motivates them to keep reading. Repeated Reading at Home Incorporating the repeated reading strategy into your child's home reading routine doesn't have to be complicated or boring. In fact, many kids already do it! You've probably noticed that they often want to read the same book over and over. Don't discourage this--as long as they haven't totally memorized the entire text, they're building skills each time they read it. To work on repeated reading with your child at home, here's a simple strategy: Use an Appropriate Passage : Have your child choose a new short text that is slightly challenging but still within their level. Listen to Your Child Read : Have your child read the passage aloud to you. Note any words that are difficult for them to decode. Read Aloud Together : Read the passage aloud with your child, modeling fluent reading. Do this one to three times. Identify the difficult words together, and provide definitions. Independent Practice : Encourage your child to read the passage independently a few more times, focusing on improving their expression with each reading. Celebrate Progress : Affirm how much your child improved from the first reading to the final reading. Acknowledge their hard work and progress to build confidence and motivation. Additional Tips Keep Sessions Short : Aim for 10- to 15-minute sessions at first, to maintain focus and prevent frustration. Consider Using a Timer : If your child is open to the idea, set a timer each time they read the passage. Note their improvement in time, and celebrate their fluency growth. Make the timing element a fun challenge, but emphasize that this exercise isn't about speed reading--it's about building fluency. Repeated reading is a powerful strategy that can significantly enhance your child's reading ability. If you're looking for an easy-to-use program that incorporates this research-proven strategy, check out One Minute Reader . This program uses repeated reading and gamified learning to help kids at various reading levels build fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and confidence. * Dowhower, S. L. (1987). Effects of repeated reading on second-grade transitional readers’ fluency and comprehension. Reading Research Quarterly , 22(4), 389–405. Kuhn, M. R., & Stahl, S. A. (2003). Fluency: A review of developmental and remedial practices. Journal of Educational Psychology , 95(1), 3–21. LaBerge, D., & Samuels, S. J. (1974). Toward a theory of automatic information processing in reading. Cognitive Psychology , 6(2), 292–323.
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