Reading is not a natural act for the brain. In other words,
there are no existing structures wired into the brain
specifically for reading. To read, the brain uses structures
meant for other processes. This is a complex task that takes
years to perfect. The brains of readers who seem to learn with
relative ease have chosen a particular pathway in the brain that
works best. However, not all brains choose this route. When that
happens we see struggling readers. The Good News The good news
is that the brain is “plastic,” or changeable throughout our
entire lives. With the proper interventions, a struggling reader
can become proficient. There are several strategies to help
accomplish this, and I have already touched on some in this
blog. The issue I would like to address today is fluency and its
connection to processing. Researchers have found that a random
automated naming (RAN) is a good indicator of future reading
success. Students who can quickly and accurately name random
symbols, colored shapes, or simple o