One Minute Reader from Read Naturally is for beginning readers to adults. 6 levels are available, with 8 books per level. We received a Level 3 book and CD set and a Level 1 starter kit which includes a book, CD, instructional DVD, red/blue pencil, and a timer.
To use One Minute Reader the child chooses one of the 5 stories included in the book and then reads as much as possible in one minute marking misread words. When the timer goes off the score is calculated and marked on the score page as the cold score. The child then plays the CD and reads along(out loud) with the narration. He can practice with the CD more than once if needed. The story is recorded on the CD in three different speeds to help the child gradually get faster at reading each story. Then he times himself again and marks the score at the bottom of the story page. There are 7 spaces to record reading times on each story page. He continues to practice with the CD and timer until he feels he is ready to read a final time for his hot score. A parent or someone who reads well should be around when the child reads for the last time to keep track of errors. This final reading is calculated as the hot score and marked on the score page in red. After lots of practice this score will often be much higher than the cold score.
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| Level 1 Starter Kit |
I was a little worried that my daughter wouldn't like using One Minute Reader after I watched the instructional DVD but she was actually excited to try it out and got right to work. She read two stories in the Level One reader and was then ready to try the Level Three book. The Level One reader was a little too easy for her but three was perfect. She is in 6th grade and reads OK but has difficulty with longer words and also reads slowly. Her younger siblings read better than she does so she is not as confident in her reading as she should be.
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How it Works
She loved seeing how much higher she could get her score every time she practiced a story. I was amazed at how much faster and more accurately she was able to read by the time she was ready for her hot score. I saw an improvement in her confidence after she went through a few stories. She seems to be reading better in her regular work and has been reading more in her free time. Reading along with the CD has also helped her read more smoothly and she enjoys reading aloud more than before.
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| Level 3 Reader |
Placement Guide
Include in the book is a comprehension quiz for each story which I thought was a wonderful inclusion to help me check my daughter's comprehension. There is also a crossword puzzle and a glossary of words. The stories were interesting and my daughter learned something new from each one.
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| Quiz and Next Story in the Level Three reader. |
My only complaint about this program is that it is not reusable unless you make an answer sheet and score page on another sheet of paper. Also the child is supposed to underline any words he has a problem with as he reads which may be distracting to another reader later. For the price of each book/CD set I would like to have a reusable product. Keep in mind I have a tiny budget for my homeschool and am very picky about buying things I can't reuse. This product works so well for my daughter that I would buy it anyway and work out a way to make it reusable!
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| Score Sheet and Answer Page |
To purchase visit One Minute Reader.
Starter Kit $24.95
Book & CD Set $12.95
bundle(starter kit + 7 books) $99.95
Risk Free Offer
As a member of TOS Homeschool Crew I received a free One Minute Reader Level 1 Starter Kit and Level 3 Reader and have shared my honest opinion. To read more reviews please visit TOS Homeschool Crew blog.
