Both reading speed and comprehension are valuable. The faster you read and the more you comprehend, the more books you can read and the more you will enjoy them.

So I would say, you start on day one and work toward a reading goal in terms of words per minute. (Very easy to measure). I think a reasonable goal is around 1000 wpm. It’s likely to take years to get to that level but it’s really about technique and a lot of practice. Almost everything worth learning takes practice.

I think a reasonable comprehension goal is around 90%. Again it takes years and practice but I think there’s a lot of value in getting something out of what you read.

The best approach is that it’s not a single class in grade 1. It’s something that is built into other studies and stretches over multiple years.

Competence builds confidences which leads to motivation. I state one the first day that everyone can be a great reader and the benefits are huge. It’s going to take time and practice but we have 12 years to work on it.

For example, here’s a great reading test. I give you a book and have you read a chapter to me. I then ask you to tell me about what you read. I now know a lot about your reading and comprehension level and what we need to work on going forward.

Dealing with pressure and stress is a skill that can be learned. It is a key to long term success. It’s something that schools should add to the curriculum other than just putting you under stress and hoping you figure it out.