How to Improve Reading Comprehension. The purpose of reading is to connect the ideas on the page to what you already know.

How to Improve Reading How to Improve Reading Comprehension Comprehension

The The purpose of readingpurpose of reading is to is to connect the ideas on the page connect the ideas on the page

to what you already know to what you already know

If you don't know anything If you don't know anything about a subject, then pouring about a subject, then pouring words of text into your mind is words of text into your mind is like pouring water into your like pouring water into your hand. You don't retain much. hand. You don't retain much.

For example, try reading and For example, try reading and remembering these numbers:remembering these numbers:

7516324 7516324

This is hard to read and This is hard to read and remember.remember.

Now try this one:Now try this one:

751-6324 751-6324

This is easier because of This is easier because of chunking (breaking something chunking (breaking something

into smaller bits).into smaller bits).

Now try this one: Now try this one: 123-4567123-4567

This is easy to read This is easy to read because of prior knowledge because of prior knowledge and structure. and structure.

Similarly, if you like sports, then Similarly, if you like sports, then reading the sports page is easy. reading the sports page is easy.

You have a framework in your mind You have a framework in your mind for reading, understanding and for reading, understanding and

storing information storing information

What can you do to improve your What can you do to improve your reading comprehension?reading comprehension?

Reading comprehension requires Reading comprehension requires motivation, mental frameworks for motivation, mental frameworks for holding ideas, concentration and holding ideas, concentration and good study techniques. Here are good study techniques. Here are some suggestions :some suggestions :

Develop a broad background. Develop a broad background. Broaden your background Broaden your background knowledge by reading knowledge by reading newspapers, magazines and newspapers, magazines and books. Become interested in books. Become interested in world events world events

Know the structure of paragraphs.Know the structure of paragraphs. Good writers construct paragraphs that Good writers construct paragraphs that have a beginning, middle and end. Often, have a beginning, middle and end. Often, the first sentence will give an overview that the first sentence will give an overview that helps provide a framework for adding helps provide a framework for adding details. Also, look for transitional words, details. Also, look for transitional words, phrases or paragraphs that change the phrases or paragraphs that change the topic. topic.

Anticipate and predict. Anticipate and predict. Really smart readers try to Really smart readers try to anticipate the author and anticipate the author and predict future ideas and predict future ideas and questions. If you're right, this questions. If you're right, this reinforces your understanding. reinforces your understanding. If you're wrong, you make If you're wrong, you make adjustments quicker. adjustments quicker.

Create motivation and interest.Create motivation and interest.Preview material, ask questions, Preview material, ask questions, discuss ideas with classmates. The discuss ideas with classmates. The stronger your interest, the greater stronger your interest, the greater your comprehension your comprehension

Pay attention to supporting cues.Pay attention to supporting cues.Study pictures, graphs and Study pictures, graphs and headings. Read the first and last headings. Read the first and last paragraph in a chapter, or the first paragraph in a chapter, or the first sentence in each section. sentence in each section.

Highlight, summarize and Highlight, summarize and review.review.Just reading a book once is not Just reading a book once is not enough. To develop a deeper enough. To develop a deeper understanding, you have to understanding, you have to highlight, summarize and review highlight, summarize and review important ideas. important ideas.

Build a good vocabulary. Build a good vocabulary. For most educated people, this is a For most educated people, this is a lifetime project. The best way to improve lifetime project. The best way to improve your vocabulary is to use a dictionary your vocabulary is to use a dictionary regularly. You might carry around a pocket regularly. You might carry around a pocket dictionary and use it to look up new words. dictionary and use it to look up new words. Or, you can keep a list of words to look up Or, you can keep a list of words to look up at the end of the day. Concentrate on at the end of the day. Concentrate on roots, prefixes and endings roots, prefixes and endings

Monitor effectiveness.Monitor effectiveness.Good readers monitor their attention, Good readers monitor their attention, concentration and effectiveness. They concentration and effectiveness. They quickly recognize if they've missed an idea quickly recognize if they've missed an idea and backup to reread it. and backup to reread it.

You can become an excellent reader with You can become an excellent reader with practice.practice.

What’s the reward? Doors will open for What’s the reward? Doors will open for you. You will be successful at achieving you. You will be successful at achieving your dreams and aspirations!your dreams and aspirations!

http://www.marin.cc.ca.us/~don/Study/7read.html