Fast Forward has been developed for students in the middle years who are experiencing difficulty with literacy. These students may be from non-English speaking backgrounds, experiencing learning difficulties, disengaged or simply require further reading practice. Whatever the reason, Fast Forward aims to engage and increase reading ability and confidence by appealing to the student's interest level and reading level.
Fast Forward Guided Reading
Online Audio Files now available!
Accessing the Fast Forward Guided Reading Audio Files is easier! As we phase out the mini Audio CDs, Fast Forward audio files can be downloaded from our website. You and your students can download the files free of charge anytime, anywhere you have internet connection. The Audio Files can be downloaded to PCs, iPods, iPhones (and similar devices) and MP3 players.
Note: the phasing out of the mini audio CDs may take a few months, in the interim some packs may include a mix of titles with and without the mini Audio CD.
Fast Forward's highly visual and engaging titles are perfect for guided reading sessions with your less able readers. The guided reading texts are accompanied by audio files (either on CD or online www.nelsonprimary.com.au/fastforwardaudio) for modelling fluency, phrasing and expression.
Fast Forward exposes students to a range of text types which they can use as models in their own writing. Text types featured include narrative, report, recount, procedure, explanation, exposition, description, discussion and response.
The Fast Forward Fiction Books provide a variety of different styles and genres that appeal from nine to 14-year-olds. The Fast Forward fiction books feature compelling storylines and clearly defined characters, some of whom recur throughout the series.
The Fast Forward Factual Books have all the components commonly found in factual books – contents pages, a glossary of terms and an index. Visual communicators such as timelines, graphs, charts, maps and fact boxes have been used to deliver or further explain information. The factual texts link directly to themes covered in science and social studies curricula.
Fast Forward Interactive
The new Fast Forward Interactive features 800 interactive learning objects to support and reinforce the skills learned in the guided reading texts. Each title is supported by four interactive activities focusing on comprehension, phonics, vocabulary and writing.
Fast Forward Independent Texts
The Fast Forward Independent Texts reinforce the skills and knowledge students have gained from instructional/guided reading sessions. The Fast Forward Independent Texts are carefully levellled for independent reading allowing children to experience reading success on their own terms. The Fast Forward Independent Texts Audio CD is packaged in the boxed sets.
Fast Forward Teacher's Guides
The comprehensive Fast Forward Teacher’s Guides are an essential component in effectively implementing Fast Forward. The Teacher's Guides have been written to ensure everyone from teachers to trained specialists can implement the program.
The Teacher's Guides feature
implementation recommendations
teaching notes
activity sheets (on CD-ROM)
curriculum links
assessment sheets (on CD-ROM)
graphing and planning pro formas (on CD-ROM).
Fast Forward Assessment and Profiling Software
The Fast Forward Assessment and Profiling Software allows teachers to
create student profiles
record errors, self-corrections and calculate accuracy rates
record students’ comprehension
record students’ reading behaviour
record students’ development and identify their area(s) of need
view recommendations for ongoing teaching
view/print assessment summaries, reports and graphs.
The software allows students to enter self-evaluations and book reviews, and view their reading level, fluency progress and the activities they have completed.
Fast Forward Audio
Fast Forward audio-assisted reading provides an excellent model of fluent reading whereby students can learn how a readers voice, using fluency, phrasing and expression, can help written text make sense.
Click here to listen to our Fast Forward Audio Files.
