Only 100 words, sight words, make up over 50% of the words students will ever read. Many of these words cannot be sounded out phonetically and thus must be known at sight, instantly.

The more quickly students can read sight words, the faster they will read.

Superspeed reading games developed by Whole Brain Teachers of America and classroom tested by hundreds of educators, provide a simple, extremely entertaining way to help K-12 students improve their reading speed.

SuperSpeed Letters and Phonics teaches K-2 students the alphabet and letter sounds;  SuperSpeed 100 helps K-3 (and remedial) students master the 100 most common sight words; SuperSpeed 1000, designed for 3rd-high school students, teaches the 1,000 most common sight words. The games use lists of sight words (click "Free Downloads" above), arranged by order of frequency in reading.

SuperSpeed is played as follows:

1. Hand out the SuperSpeed item list (Letters & Phonics, 100 or 1000).
2. Match up pairs of weaker and stronger readers.
3. If you have an odd number of students, then one team will have three players.
4. Have players on each team decide if they are a 1 or a 2. The three player team will have two 1's.
5. Give the players time to review word (or letters) on the list.
6. Then, say something like the following, "I want each player to read alternate words as quickly as possible. So, if youre a 1, you'll begin and read word 1, then your partner will read word 2, then you'll read word 3, and so forth. The 1's on the three person team will take turns. I want you to read the words like lightening, super fast! I'll give you a minute. If one of you doesn't know a word, the other can say it."
7. Time the reading for a minute, and then say "Stop!" Ask the teams to draw a line on the page marking their personal record. Then, give them a chance to beat this record, but have the 2's go first. (Thus, both players must read all the words.)
8. You'll find that students love this game. In fact, middle school teachers let their students play SuperSpeed as a reward for good behavior! Kids are begging instructors to let them play a game that improves their reading ability. GET OUT A HANKY RIGHT NOW AND WEEP TEARS OF JOY!
9. Students love SuperSpeed because they are, week by week, setting and breaking personal records. Every player is a winner ... because every student can break his or her personal record ... no matter their reading ability! Encourage your class to celebrate each time they set a PR. Play SuperSpeed for only a few minutes every day, and all your students will feel like reading champions.
10. Click "Free Downloads" at the top of the page for SuperSpeed Letters & Phonics, 100 or 1000.
11. Our copyrighted materials are free to anyone who registers on this site AND forwards a link to this site to 10 other educators ... we are eager to help teachers who want to help other teachers!

For more information, contact Chris Biffle.