Speed reading can be broken down into a few simple techniques. These are natural vision, visualization, relaxation and daily practice. These are the basic elements of speed reading, and the things your child will have to work on to learn to read more quickly. Natural vision is the process of taking in entire blocks of type at once, and visualization is used to help retain the information gained from speed reading. Understanding these basic ideas is important before you start looking at ways for your children to learn to speed read.
The Speed Reading 4 Kids course is a downloadable course run by George Stancliffe. The course is contained within a downloadable manual, and there is also an additional DVD full of information relating to speed reading. George Stancliffe claims that children have an innate ability to pick up the skills associated with speed reading, and tells a story about a class of children he taught on his website. He claims that after four weeks' tuition, 17 out of 18 students could read at least 1,300 words per minute. Stancliffe makes even more extravagant claims on his website, but also has received praise from websites such as Educational Gateway. Stancliffe's book costs $57 to download or $77 for a hard copy as of February 2011.
There are many websites online with articles or content relating to speed reading that can be accessed free of charge. One article is written by George Stancliffe, and offers a simplified version of the speed-reading course, complete with exercises and information about his speed-reading system. As well as this, websites such as Happy Child feature articles documenting the basics of speed reading. There are also many speed reading tests online so you can track your child's progress.
There are also many software programs designed to help children and adults learn to speed read. These include programs such as The Reader's Edge, Rocket Reader and Ace Reader Pro. All of these programs are designed to help your child improve the speed of their reading through lessons and tests. Many of these programs also offer free trials that can be used to determine which speed-reading course you prefer.