If you want to understand and retain what you’ve read, it is best to spend some time with the text even after your first or second read-through is done. Two people have a much better chance of understanding difficult sections than one person alone, and reading socially is more fun and less of a chore. Reading out loud to yourself can make the words and ideas clearer, and so can reading in a pair or group. Reading aloud and socially: Reading doesn’t have to be a solitary, silent act. Paying close attention to the organization of a text helps you figure out things like how all the different parts are connected and what the main ideas are, as well as what the writer was trying to accomplish. Sections and chapters and scenes are organized in certain ways for a reason. Pay attention to organization: In a textbook or story or article, every sentence and paragraph is connected to every other sentence and paragraph. If you like formal organization, try using a method like graphic organizers or reading logs. Highlighting, underlining, and writing down information forces your mind to think about what you’ve read more than once, as well as helping you pick out the really important parts. Take notes: Many people think better with a pencil in their hand, and even if you don’t it is still a way to keep your mind engaged and active. Possible questions include not just “what’s coming next” but also “what is the author really trying to say,” “what is the main idea in this section,” and “do I really understand what I’m reading?” And answer those questions before you read any further. Try scanning first and then reading carefully, or reading carefully the first time and then scanning through again just for main ideas.Īsk questions: Do this constantly while you’re reading. Reading a book or section twice makes it far easier to remember as well. Read more than once: Sometimes it is best to read challenging material a few times, giving it the chance to really sink in. And you’ll come away with a deeper understanding for and appreciation of what you’ve read. These involve keeping your mind and often your hands busy, because if you are predicting what’s coming next and taking notes you avoid the temptation to mentally check out and just skim the words half-heartedly. Instead, try reading actively, using critical reading strategies. It is important, especially for those who wish to improve their reading skills, not to just passively read. This keeps your mind focused and engaged. And keep making predictions about what’s coming up next. Then while you are reading, pay attention to see if what you find agrees with your expectations. Before you read, try predicting what kind of information you’ll find. Predict: This strategy actually belongs in both this section and the next one. Get a feel for how the work is organized and what it covers, so there won’t be any surprises. Flip through and look at the chapter titles and headings and subheadings (unless you are reading fiction, of course). Scan the headings: Take a look at the title of what you’ll be reading. What is the topic? What do you already know about that topic, and what would you like to learn? This helps you get in the right frame of mind to read and tells your brain to start focusing on the right topic and subject. Think it through: Look at the book or article you will be reading, and think seriously about it. If there isn’t a place like that in your school or home, try the library or even reading outside. Find an area where you won’t be disturbed to do your reading. The kinds of strategies you use before you really get down to the reading itself are often called pre-reading strategies.įind a quiet place: Good reading takes concentration, and is hard to do in a place that is noisy or not private. Like with so many things in life, careful preparation and up-front work make the act of reading much smoother and simpler. Good reading starts before you even open a book or read a sentence. This list of reading strategies can be put into practice before you begin to read, while you are reading, and after you’ve finished. #WHERE DID MY READING LIST GO HOW TO#Putting in the time and work now to learn how to read well and comprehend what you read will save you energy and frustration later on. But reading is such an important skill that everyone needs to learn how to do it well at some Becoming a better reader takes some effort.
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