Determine how long it takes a child to read by calculating the number of pages he reads per minute. Time the child and then count the number of words used on the page he read within that minute. This is his baseline word per minute.
Encourage the child to read by timing him while reading to himself at least once per day. Try and set a goal to read so many words per minute, increasing it gradually from the baseline words per minute.
Have the child read aloud for 15 minutes per day. This will help with fluency and confidence. Correct the words he mispronounces when reading aloud so that he will be more accurate when reading to himself.
Ask the child about what he read after each timed 15-minute interval. While reading faster is important, it is useless unless the child knows what he is reading about.
Discourage the child from moving his lips while reading. This slows the pace down. Encourage him to sound out the words in his head instead of with his mouth. This may be difficult at first, but the child will get used to it with practice.
Encourage the use of an index card underneath each sentence. This will help your child stay focused on the task at hand and pace himself. As the child's reading rate increases, allow him to remove it.
Begin each reading session with a warm-up passage to help students get used to the flow. Allow five to 10 minutes for this exercise.