New research reports examine two reading programs 

The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) has released two new reports that review research on programs designed to improve reading skills: Read Naturally and Fast ForWord.

Read Naturally is a supplemental reading program designed to improve the reading fluency, accuracy, and comprehension of elementary and middle school students using a combination of books, audio CDs, and computer software. According to the WWC report, Read Naturally was found to have potentially positive effects on general literacy achievement for adolescent readers. 

Fast ForWord is a computer-based reading program intended to help students develop and strengthen the cognitive skills necessary for successful reading and learning by adapting the nature and difficulty of the content based on individual student's responses. The WWC found that Fast ForWord has positive effects on alphabetics, no discernible effects on reading fluency, and mixed effects on comprehension for beginning readers. 

Johns Hopkins University

School of Education

Center for Research and Reform in Education

Research in Brief