Does Spacing after a Period Affect Reading Speed and Comprehension?

Ever since there has been typesetting and printed text, there has been a debate about spacing, particularly about the spacing after a period – should there be one space or two? The first printers used two space sizes. A regular space was used for separating words, and a slightly larger space (called the emspace) was … Continue reading “Does Spacing after a Period Affect Reading Speed and Comprehension?”


AceReader and the Assessment Process

Now that the school year is coming to a close, both teachers and students may wonder how AceReader’s Assessment tests can help determine the amount students have improved in their reading fluency skills over the past academic semester or year, as well as how they demonstrate the program’s effectiveness for reading instruction. When working through … Continue reading “AceReader and the Assessment Process”


Interview with Sam Adams – Writer, Poet, and Avid Reader

[Editor’s note: This interview was conducted by Miriam Ruff, and it is the second installment in what will be a series of interviews about the different approaches people take to discover and learn new topics. It was lightly edited for clarity.] MR: We’re talking today with Sam Adams, a reader, writer, poet, and co-founder of … Continue reading “Interview with Sam Adams – Writer, Poet, and Avid Reader”


Interview with Joseph Silver – Norse Mythology Enthusiast and Avid Reader

[Editor’s note: This interview was conducted by Miriam Ruff on February 19, 2018, and it is the first installment in what will be a series of interviews about the different approaches people take to discover and learn new topics.] MR: We’re talking today with Joseph L. Silver, a comic artist, illustrator, avid reader, and Norse … Continue reading “Interview with Joseph Silver – Norse Mythology Enthusiast and Avid Reader”


Humans Hard-Wired for Speech but not for Reading and Writing

Humans communicate naturally by speech – that is to say, without any special training besides hearing individuals speak to each other. The reason is the structure of our brains. Researchers have shown that there are two specific centers in the human brain that oversee and control language acquisition; both are in the brain’s left hemisphere. … Continue reading “Humans Hard-Wired for Speech but not for Reading and Writing”


Conducting a Reading Evaluation

If a child is struggling with reading, it is critical to have a specialist conduct a reading evaluation to determine what the specific difficulties are and what can be done to correct them. Such an evaluation should always be conducted by a qualified professional, someone who has an expertise in reading in addition to any … Continue reading “Conducting a Reading Evaluation”


Podcast Interview with Reader, Editor, and Writer Patrick LoBrutto

Patrick LoBrutto has been an editor, author, and anthologist for over 30 years. He has worked for Ace Books, Doubleday, M. Evans, Random House, Kensington, Stealth Press (an internet publisher) and Bantam, working with authors that include Isaac Asimov, Stephen King, Eric Van Lustbader, Walter Tevis (the author of The Hustler and The Color of … Continue reading “Podcast Interview with Reader, Editor, and Writer Patrick LoBrutto”


Choosing Books for Your Child

Reading is an important skill, one a child will use all through their entire life. It will not only help them in school, but it will also help them working their way through achievement tests, getting into college, graduating from college, and making a success of their chosen career. But how do you get a … Continue reading “Choosing Books for Your Child”


Interview with Fiona Quinn – Reader, Writer, and Homeschool Mom (Part 2)

[Editor’s note: This interview was conducted by Miriam Ruff to trace one person’s path as a reader; to demonstrate the relationship between writing and reading; and to convey the experiences of a homeschool mom teaching her children the love of reading. It has been edited slightly for length, fluency, and clarity. To read Part 1, … Continue reading “Interview with Fiona Quinn – Reader, Writer, and Homeschool Mom (Part 2)”


Visual Stress Relief

Visual stress is something most people can relate to. We’re so busy looking at our computers, tablets, and smartphones every day that we overtax our eyes to the point where simply reading can be difficult. When we were hunters, gatherers, and farmers, we used our long-distance vision more. Today, though, we mostly use our eyes … Continue reading “Visual Stress Relief”