Learning to Speed-Read is Important
Ellen Klinke
The average reading speed and comprehension in the United States is 250 wpm with 60% comprehension. The average reading speed for CEOs and Doctors is 1000 or better.
At Jefferson Christian Academy (JCA), we feel that a student who can read better than the national average has a greater chance in life. All freshman entering the academy are required to take the reading class, but it is open for any other student to take. It is the student’s choice as to whether they take advantage of the opportunity. They can do the required two stories per class period or they can push it hard.
For the past three years, our JCA principal has added an incentive. The student whose reading speed is the highest–above 1000 words per minute–receives $200 cash in their pocket and a $1,000 dollar scholarship. The highest score between 500 and 999 words per minute gets $100 cash in their pocket and a $500 scholarship. The student who increases the most from their beginning speed gets $100 cash in their pocket and a $500 scholarship. The prize-winning student’s names, date of success, and speed is put on a brass plaque in the registrar’s office. The program is on the computer and will not accelerate any faster unless they are doing 80% or better on their comprehension. This incentive is only available one year at a time, but the incentive has been available for the past three years and has been done by several students.
This year after JCA days in April, the competition really heated up. Kade Jenkins finally won the competition at 2,686 words per minute with 80% comprehension. Abbi Minett had the greatest increase at 2,529 words per minute after beginning the year at 137 words per minute. Thomas Gale received the award for highest score between 500 and 999 words per minute. These students all took more time that the regular class period to accomplish this, but they have access to these computers anytime they have free time when the library is open.
“This year our reading program has done WONDERS for me,” Abbi comments. “I not only increased my speed, but also my accuracy. At the beginning of the year, reading for my various classes was a trial. I would always have to reread things over and over again, and it still wouldn’t make sense. While taking the reading class, I found I could read something once and it would stick. It would make sense. It didn’t take me as long to complete my assignments either. Toward the end of the year, a student in my class challenged me and accelerated his reading speed. I took that opportunity to increase my own speed and for the rest of the school year there was some pretty tight, but friendly competition. I am so glad that that student pushed me to do better because I improved so much as a result.”
