In honor of Dyslexia Awareness Month, California‑based dyslexia specialist Bonnie Terry, M.Ed., BCET, and founder of Scholar Within, introduced a simple five‑minute daily drill program designed to raise reading fluency for children and adults with dyslexia.
Why reading fluency matters
National assessments reveal that only 29% of fourth‑graders in California meet proficiency standards in reading, a key predictor of academic success. Terry explained that short, consistent practice can close that gap by targeting the visual‑processing challenges that often accompany dyslexia.
Key signs of dyslexia
- Difficulty sounding out unfamiliar words
- Problems remembering letter sounds
- Inconsistent spelling of the same word
- Reading at a slow or choppy pace
- Skipping or substituting words while reading
- Repeating words or entire sentences
How the five‑minute program works
Terry’s program addresses 17 distinct processing challenges through carefully spaced letters and lines that train the brain to track words smoothly. The drills are meant to be completed for just five minutes a day, three to five times per week. “A short amount of time of repeatedly doing something makes you proficient,” Terry said. “You won’t achieve the same progress by cramming three days’ worth of practice into one session.”
The program is available in a two‑book set: one for the child and a companion guide for parents to count words and monitor progress. The drills also incorporate reading aloud, which reinforces auditory processing and helps with tongue‑twister‑type passages.
Evidence of success
According to Terry’s own data, first‑ and third‑grade students with reading difficulties nearly doubled their fluency rates after one to two years of using the drills. Fourth‑ through sixth‑grade participants saw fluency more than double in the same timeframe. An independent study conducted in Trinity County replicated these gains, and researchers at the University of Florida reported similar improvements with short, consistent fluency training.
Parent and community feedback
Edie Lambert, a parent who used the program with her daughter, said the child reached grade‑level fluency within seven weeks. Lambert, who volunteers at a local elementary school, has also worked with dozens of fourth‑ through sixth‑grade students, observing noticeable progress in each case.
“It just feels pretty amazing when you see the strides that they can make,” Lambert remarked.
Cost and accessibility
The two‑book set is priced at $100, which Terry notes is more affordable than traditional tutoring that can range from $60 to $150 per session. She emphasized that the program can be sustained for an entire year, offering families a cost‑effective alternative to ongoing private instruction.
For families uncertain about their child’s reading level, Terry offers an assessment tool on the Scholar Within website. The online version includes a $1 verification fee, while a printable version is available for free.
Looking ahead
Terry’s son, Nick, who co‑owns Scholar Within, is expanding the program into an online format that adds support for note‑taking and text‑reading skills. The digital version aims to make the five‑minute drills even more accessible to families across the state.
With dyslexia affecting an estimated one in five people, Terry’s evidence‑based approach provides a practical, faith‑affirming solution for parents seeking to empower their children through improved literacy.
Original reporting: 40/29 / KHBS (NW Arkansas) — read the source article.
