subject: Powerful reading comprehension techniques [print this page] Powerful reading comprehension techniques - spend less time reading and more time having fun.
21 reading comprehension techniques
Most often it is students that with to learn reading comprehension techniques. This is because they want to spend less time studying and more time having fun. If you can triple the rate at which read, assuming comprehension is the same of better, the less time you have to study.
New students are often shocked by the incredible amount of reading that has to be completed for a semester. This can create overwhelming feelings of failure and just feelings of being overwhelmed. However if you know these powerful reading comprehension techniques you will have way more free time than anyone else around you. Use these 21reading comprehension techniques andsecrets to keep up with all the reading you need to do for school.
Stay Motivated: When reading, keep in mind why it's important for you to read what's at hand.
The earlier in the day you read the more you comprehend: Many students are able to improve their reading speed and concentration by reading important material early on in the day.
Read with your finger: Useyour fingerto get your eyes to follow along quickly. In essense your finger becomes the pace setter for your reader.
Do not reread even if you think you didn't comprehend what you read: Don't go back to reread-you'll only mess up the flow of reading. The idea here is to train the brain to keep up with the finger.
Read with a goal in mind: Pay attention and avoid reading in a passive way. Set a goal before you read. If the chapter you have to read is 50 pages say "I am going to read these 50 pages within the next 30 minutes"
Practice makes perfect: Learn how to speed up or slow down your reading depending on your needs and your mood.
Read in small chunks: This is a powerful reading comprehension technique because but breaking down the reading in small chunks you never feel overwhelmed and "getting done with your reading" is only a short time away
Eliminatedistractions: Read in a place where you are alone and can concentrate 100%. Reduce distractions to a bare minimum to improve your reading understanding and comprehension.
Get a birds eye veiw of the content: Give your brain an overview of the material by reading headings and only the first sentence of each paragraph. This will take a couple of extra minutes but will boost comprehension of what your reading at least 200%!
Work on your vocabulary: If you frequently fail to comprehend because you are often running into words you do not know this will be a roadblock to the speed you read and how well you comprehend what you read. Build up your vocabulary so that you won't have to pause for unfamiliar works.
Stop subvocalization: this is where you say the words you are reading in your head or mouth out what you are reading with your lips. Your voice and lips can not keep up with 1000 words per minute.
Create questions related to your reading: Make your reading more active and retain information better by questioning your reading. That way when you hit the answer your brain will 'file it away' which will increase reading understanding and comprehension.
Skim what your going to read: This relates to tip #9. Pick out the most important information before you actually read the text.
Avoid ANY interruptions: Similar to tip #8. Let others know that you're trying to read, and should not be bothered. It is important as an effective reading comprehension technique that you are focused like a laser beam with your reading. It is better to read for 10 minutes with complete focus than to read for 60 minutes being interrupted.
Varyyour speed: Adjust your speed based on the difficulty and importance of what you're reading.
Ignore punctuation: Don't stop or pay attention reading speed and comprehension stoppers such as periods, commas, and other punctuation.
Highlight during step #9 (get a birds eye view): Stay focused on only the most important details-highlighting and underlining tends to be a procrastination tool.
Write down your thoughts: When you have finished reading write down the key points for notes. You can refer to them later for increased remembering and reading comprehension.
Read in blocks or phrases: Do your reading in blocks of words rather than individual ones.
Limit your time: By giving yourself less time, you'll train yourself to read faster as it is easer to stay laser focused for 15 minutes than an hour.
Takefrequent breaks: Take breaks from reading if you find your focus slipping.
Following these reading comprehension techniques take very little additional effort but go a long way to helping you read much faster and remembering much more.
