Reading is an effective way to gather information and an enjoyable means of passing time. However, those who are not strong readers may find their ability to read with a purpose or their enjoyment of reading for pleasure hindered. If you struggle with reading, you dont simply have to accept your deficiency. Instead, you can actively engage in activities designed to build your reading skills and, in doing so, allow yourself to reap the maximum reward from your reading efforts.
Read with Regularity
Just as an athlete who hopes to become the best in his selected sport must dedicate time to developing his athletic abilities, those who hope to read well must put time into the task. The more you read, the better you will become at reading. Select reading material you are interested in, enhancing your natural motivation to read, and set aside a regular block of time to read.
Preview
When you pick up a book or sit down to read a newspaper or magazine article, dont dive right in. Instead, flip through the book or skim the article. Make note of the title, any table of contents that may be available and the section headings. In doing so, you can prepare yourself mentally to absorb what you will read, giving yourself some preconceived notions as to the information the written work will contain and creating a context through which to understand it more adeptly.
Question
As you read, pause periodically and ask yourself questions about what you have just read. For example, if you are reading about a girl who is going on a trip, stop after several sentences and ask yourself questions such as, why is she going on this trip? By mentally posing and answering these questions, you can ensure that you are absorbing the content you are reading and identify any areas of confusion more rapidly, allowing you to revisit the text and gather the information you require for full understanding of the content.
Paraphrase
Sometimes its not what the author is saying, but the way in which he is saying it that creates a problem. Stopping and paraphrasing what you have just read can help you better understand the text as a whole, particularly if you are working your way through jargon-filled text. After you finish each paragraph, re-state the contents in your own words either in your head or orally. This re-wording accomplishes two important tasks. First, it ensures that you really understand what you have read. Secondly, it provides you with a quick reminder of what the paragraph said, likely improving your retention.
Discuss
If your efforts at improving your reading arent going as smashingly as you had hoped, seek the help of a reading partner. Ask a friend who is also working to build her reading skill, or a trusted companion who is already a good reader, to read the same text you are exploring. After you have both read the text, discuss the facts and ideas it contains. By working with this co-reader, you can benefit from the addition of anothers perspective on the piece you are reading, likely enhancing your overall understanding.
