Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Fast ForWord on an iPad®?

Yes! Fast ForWord can be used on an iPad®.

Can I use Fast ForWord on a Chromebook?

Yes! Fast ForWord can be used on a Chromebook.

How many times per week should my child use Fast ForWord?

Your child should use Fast ForWord for 5 times per week, 30 minutes per session.

Where does my child go to start the program?

Your child can access the program by going to www.myscilearn.com/learner. Once your order is processed, your child will receive an email with his or her unique username and password to log in.

What headsets should I use?

We recommend using over-the-ear, non-noise cancelling, stereo headsets for Fast ForWord. If you don’t have headsets yet, see our recommended headphones. (Please note: ear buds won't work).

What skills does Fast ForWord work on?

Fast ForWord simultaneously targets literacy & cognitive skills using the principles of neuroplasticity:

• Phonics, phonological awareness and word analysis

• Grammatical conventions and spelling

• Language (following directions) and reading comprehension

• Academic vocabulary and inference

• Organizational and planning skills for writing

• Memory, attention, processing and sequencing

My child has trouble writing - can Fast ForWord help?

Fast ForWord goes way back to the building blocks of writing – skills that you may not even think are involved in writing. You need to have good grammar, vocabulary, and excellent comprehension to be able to then write something yourself. Fast ForWord starts with the basics and builds little by little up to higher level tasks – making sure all the skills are there at the foundation, and that your child can access these skills quickly during writing time – not take a long time to generate ideas, plus figure out how to spell, which order to put the sentences in, etc. We work on the processing and memory pieces along with the grammar and vocabulary so that it all comes together when it’s time to write.

My child has a hard time taking tests - can Fast ForWord help?

Does your child know the content, but can’t apply it during testing time? It may be that your child needs extra time to complete work – he/she may know the content, but completes the work too slowly, or not quickly enough during a test. This is a sign of slower processing speed, which Fast ForWord improves.

My child is reading slowly - can Fast ForWord help?

There are many skills involved in reading – but there are also some fundamental areas of weakness that the vast majority of struggling readers have.  Reading has been researched so much – and there’s not too much mystery anymore about what’s going wrong. The consensus in research is that there’s an issue with something called phonological processing, which is just a fancy name for the ability to hear sounds in words.  This is one of the main culprits. There are plenty of other reasons that children struggle with reading on top of phonological processing, but the beauty of Fast ForWord is that it addresses all of these, simultaneously.

Does insurance cover it?

If you have a Flexible Spending Account, you should contact your plan administrator to see if Fast ForWord can be covered.

What product should my child start on?

Your consultant will help to ensure that your student is placed in the right product.

How can I help my child if he or she is struggling in Fast ForWord?

One way to keep students motivated is to know when to help them if they’re struggling.

We recommend these steps to keep students engaged and progressing.

1. Stay engaged – The most efficient way to recognize when your child is struggling is to keep your eye on them while they’re using Fast ForWord!

2. Review weekly reports – Your consultant will send you weekly reports and go over these results with you. Comparing reports can indicate when your child starts to struggle, before they get frustrated.

3. Identify the problem – Try using Y-adapters and headphones to listen in on your child’s sessions, and then ask questions to assess their understanding. Does your child understand the purpose of the exercise? Is he or she getting bogged down by the vocabulary? Are they focused on the task at hand?

4. Focus on improving accuracy - Consistent accuracy is the most important way to progress in Fast ForWord. When working with your child, point out the areas on the screen that track accuracy and completion in Fast ForWord.

Should I use rewards?

Using high achievement scores and points to award more concrete rewards—such as prizes or special recognition—has been shown to improve a child's participation in the exercises, and children who consistently work on the exercises each week typically gain the most benefit from the product.

What are the most challenging exercises for students?

Children tend to need the most help with the “sound exercises". These are exercises that require the ability to tell the difference between sounds:

Language v2: Sky Gym, Hoop Nut, Moon Ranch
Language to Reading v2: Jumper Gym
Literacy: Space Racer, Galaxy Goal, Spin Master
Literacy Advanced: Sky Rider

In particular, Sky Gym (Language v2) or Space Racer (Literacy) are the most challenging exercises for many children. If your child is struggling with any of these exercises, contact your consultant for ideas on how to help them progress.