Rapid Learning explores evidence-informed study methods, memory techniques, reading, comprehension, practice, and strategies for learning more effectively.
Metric System Mnemonic: King Henry’s 7-Step Ladder What is the metric system mnemonic? Say “King Henry Died By Drinking Chocolate Milk” to remember seven familiar positions: Kilo (k), Hecto (h), Deka (da), Base unit (metre, litre or gram), Deci (d), Centi (c), Milli (m). This “King Henry” memory aid shows the order of common prefixes,…
What is the best speed reading course online in 2026? It depends on whether you need instructor-led practice, self-paced video lessons, a reading-fluency assessment or simply a tool for previewing long documents. We reviewed current official course descriptions and compared what each program actually teaches, not headline promises of “triple your reading speed.” Quick picks:…
Does reading aloud slow reading speed? True or false? True, in general. Reading aloud is usually slower than reading silently because spoken words require physical articulation. A major 2019 review of reading-rate studies found averages of about 183 words per minute aloud, compared with 238 words per minute silently for English nonfiction. That is a…
I’ll admit it: I once believed that “speed-reading” meant transforming into a literary Flash who could breeze through War and Peace before breakfast. Then I read the research—slowly—and learned better. There are articles that will help you read faster, but only if you practice with purpose and keep your comprehension hat firmly in place. Below…
What are the best speed reading books in 2026? It depends on whether you want a structured workbook, short daily drills, a traditional reading curriculum or strategies for remembering what you read. The seven books below offer different approaches. None can guarantee that you will read two or three times faster with exactly the same…
I love the idea of tearing through a stack of physics papers before my coffee gets cold, but my inner science teacher keeps whispering, “Sure… but did you actually understand any of it?” Let’s unpack what researchers have found about speed reading and comprehension, and then look at practical, brain-friendly fixes. How Fast Is “Fast,”…
Reading comprehension is the happy moment when the squiggles on a page turn into living ideas in your head. It’s not just pronouncing words; it’s connecting them to meaning, prior knowledge, and “A-ha!” insights. If you’ve ever reached the bottom of a page and thought, What did I just read?, this article is for you….
Does speed reading actually work? Speed reading can help you get through text faster when your goal is to find key ideas, but substantial speed gains usually come at a cost to comprehension. The idea that almost anyone can double or triple their reading rate while understanding every detail equally well is not supported by…
PAO table and flashcards: how to use the 00–99 chart This resource contains the author’s personal Person–Action–Object (PAO) table, assigning a memorable person, action and object to each two-digit number from 00 to 99. Use it as an example, not a universally standardized code. Find the row for each two-digit number and identify its person,…
Use these five simple strategies to improve concentration. Concentration is best defined as the ability to control one’s attention. It is how we direct attention to a specific subject. Sometimes it isn’t easy to give something our full attention because we think about other things while working. This is especially true while reading. Other times,…