Learn to Speed Read

Accelerate Your Reading,

You may believe that speed reading is only for genius types. After all, you need to center on what you're reading if you hope to grasp what the text is trying to tell you. However, this is a misconception. Anyone can speed read; it's a skill that has to be acquired. Before you can begin to speed read, you should take a speed reading test to determine your reading speed level. You can find free speed reading tests online. This will help gauge how fast you can read at present and be the bench mark to see how far you've come. It is awe-inspiring when you view the results of both tests, before and after you've taken your speed reading course, to see that it is possible for you to become a speed reader; even if you thought it was impossible.

Speed Reading Education

You can learn how to speed read in a number of ways.

Some prefer audio tapes that take you thought various tips and tricks of learning how to accelerate their reading. These audio tapes will generally come with booklets that include a speed reading test. Again, you should take it before and after you've completed the course so that you can see how well you're progressing.

You may also want to buy books on the subject. Many books can teach you how to speed read by also including tips and tricks. It may seem strange to buy a book on speed reading, even though you're not speed reading it at first, but soon you'll be cruising along page by page, reading a book in a fraction of the time it took before you started the course.

Speed Reading Instructor

One of the best ways to learn speed reading is to find a instructor who already speed reads and who is well versed in teaching others. This person is also someone that can give you a speed reading test, as you know it will be graded by someone else and not yourself; as is the case if you were to take a test via an audio tape or book. You can find speed reading teachers at your local library or you can look them up on the internet as well, either through the yellow pages directory or on free listing sites such as Craig's List.

Speed reading, again, is a skill you can learn. It doesn't take a genius, you do not have to have an oversized brain, you just have to learn how to skim the words quickly so that you can comprehend what is written. It takes concentration, a quick mind and you should take many speed reading tests so that you can gauge your progress every step of the way.

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About the Author:

To learn more about the art of speed reading visit: http://speedreadreview.com/

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/online-education-articles/learn-to-speed-read-510923.html

Improve Your Reading Speed

There are a number of ways by which to improve your reading speed One of the simplest method is knowing how to skim the content before you actually read it. It is always a good idea for you to speed read for the main themes in any text or work of non-fiction. You can achieve this simply by going over the table of contents , the first and the last sentence of each paragraph before reading the main text.

Contrasting Priorities

Differentiating your material according to priority consisting of most important, slightly important and very unimportant is another way in which you can improve your reading speed. Also try reading one category at a time according to its priority. In addition, it also pays to do your reading in an harmonious environment and it is never a good idea to read important subjects or anything that is hard to comprehend while lying in bed, it is far better to use a desk.

Another way in which you can improve reading speed is to read in the early hours of the day because that is when your mind will be clearest and it is also a very good reason why many people choose to read during the early hours of the day rather than in the evenings.

You can also improve reading speed by treating the headings as questions, especially when reading reference books or textbooks and then you can scan the rest of the text and look for answers to these questions this way you will be able to remain more focused as well as improve your reading speed.

Highlighting text is not a good idea this will not allow improvement in reading speed and although many people tend to highlight certain parts of a text; the end result are lower comprehension and reading speed, in fact, it can even cause you to have to read the text twice. However, it is not a bad idea to preview the material before actually reading it. You should spend a short period of time previewing a chapter before actually reading it so that you get a sense of significant as well as relevant text .This will then help to improve your reading speed.

In fact, nearly everyone that does a fair amount of reading will wonder just how to speed read and for them a simple answer is that you can achieve your goals by simply enrolling in a speed reading course. There, you will learn the best method to increase your reading speed and learn flexibility when it comes to reading speed and learning to pace your speed according to the kind of material that you are reading.

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About the Author:

Would you like to learn more about speed reading?

My name is Francis X. Hesse, come visit me athttp://speedreadreview.com

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/online-education-articles/improve-your-reading-speed-511102.html

Developing a Superior Speed Reading Eye

In this present-day era in which information is available in great quantity and at a very rapid rate (thanks to the Internet), there is also a burning need to be able to take in information in the shortest possible time. There is as a result a great demand for people who have a superior trained speed reading eye as this is a quality that helps in increasing productivity and so, is highly valued.

If you are on the lookout for some means to develop the speed at which you read, there are a number of solutions that can help to train you in developing a better speed reading eye. There are in fact, numerous choices when it concerns diversity of speed reading courses as well as software that will help you read faster, and so it becomes essential that you choose one that will work to develop your proficiency in the most effective manner.

Retention and comprehension are essential.

When you develop a proficient speed reading eye you will then be able to use your newly acquired skills in many diverse ways and thus enjoy a more fruitful life. According to experts, there are just a small number of techniques that need to be learned to develop a good and sharp speed reading eye which will help you to enjoy the benefits of rapid reading and also comprehending and retaining the material that you have read.

Improving your reading speed will be of little use to you if you fail to absorb what it is you are reading.Learning to read at breakneck speeds without comprehension is not very useful, you must be able to understand what you have read and retain the information as well.

Also, one can always train to have a razor-sharp speed reading eye if one simply practices regularly as this is perhaps the most important facet to gaining the necessary speed at reading. In fact, though you can also practice by using your hand, or use cards to improve your speed reading eye, there is nothing quite as effective as constant practice in developing the art of speed reading.

It also pays to get some speed reading techniques because present day technology is so advanced that you can make dramatic improvements in speed reading by making this technology work for you. By improving your speed reading eye, you will be able to read faster as well as read better and by constantly practicing to even achieve your ultimate goal which should be to read at about hundred words per minute.

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About the Author:

Want to learn how to speed read? Let me help.

http://speedreadreview.com

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Overcoming Reading Difficulties is Crucial for Success

Research shows that approximately 20 percent of children in the United States have substantial difficulties learning to read. As these boys and girls grow up, the problematic effects of their reading difficulties are abundant and clear. During the early grades when they should be learning to read, they are embarrassed by their difficulties. This early humiliation leads to a decrease in self-esteem and motivation for school. A child can be easily frustrated and ashamed of poor reading skills once they notice that many of their classmates read fluently. Many of us can probably remember that the slow readers in our elementary school class were the "stupid" kids. During the later grades, when students are finished learning to read and should be reading to learn, their knowledge and interests in other academic areas are severely limited because they can not readily read information and texts about a given subject.

The consequences of reading failure go far beyond academic success or failure. A significant percent of children with reading disabilities drop out of school prior to high school graduation. Of those who do graduate, less than 2 percent attend college, despite the fact that many are above average in intelligence. It is recognized that half of the young adults with histories of criminal conduct have reading difficulties, and similar rates of reading failure are seen among children with alcohol and drug abuse problems. Literacy failure is not only an educational problem, it is a public health and economic concern.

THE PROBLEM

Most reading disabilities can be observed as a person attempts to read. The basic signs of disability are:

• Struggling to decode or "sounding out" unknown words.
  




• Repeated misidentification of known words.
  




• Hesitant reading characterized by frequent starts and stops and mispronunciations.





• Lack of reading comprehension because all effort is in sounding out and not in understanding the text.

Even individuals with mild difficulties in reading will tell you that they do not read much. This is because it takes too much effort and reading is not enjoyable for them. Unfortunately, there is no way to skip the decoding and word recognition stage of reading. A deficiency in these skills cannot be overcome by using context to figure out the meaning of the misread words.

HELPING CHILDREN WITH READING DISABILITIES

Many children that struggle to learn to read can learn to read well if the appropriate instruction is provided early enough. Early intervention is critical because it unless children are identified and provided with appropriate interventions by second or third grade, their chances of catching up in reading are reduced . It is also posssible to succeed with older students but the cost in both time and money is much higher.

A balanced instructional program composed of direct instruction in phonological awareness, phonics and contextual reading is necessary for gains in reading skills to be achieved. No matter how bright the child and how interesting the reading material, a child will not learn to read unless he or she understands how print is translated into sound. Likewise, no matter how much phonological awareness and phonics knowledge a youngster has, the child will not want to engage in reading and writing unless it is meaningful and taught in an interesting way.

Many teachers are trained in a "one size fits all" reading instruction method, which leads to reading failure for many students. Further, it often takes at least two years of failure in reading for students to be identified in schools as having difficulties learning to read. This is too late.

WHAT CAN PARENTS DO
A lot! It's not enough to encourage your child to read, although that is also important. As a parent, no one cares about your child's well-being more than you do. Make sure that you are aware of how they are learning to read and take note if you see any signs of a struggle. Many parents don't wait for schools to teach their children to read and do so at home. That can be a bit intimidating for some and finding an effective reading program or phonics software can provide a structured reading course for you to follow. Even if it involves an investment, it can be worthwhile to ensure that your child is a good reader.

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About the Author:

Reading programs for dyslexic children and good phonics software are available on the Internet and can help ensure that a child gets off to the right start in school. They even can have fun while learning to read!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/learning-disabilities-articles/overcoming-reading-difficulties-is-crucial-for-success-739029.html

10 Tips for Helping Your Child Learn to Read

Leading child development authorities often report that much of a child's early reading success depends on the level of support given at home. Children who are given the opportunities and tools for learning to read both at home and at school have a better chance of success. The following are ten tips that can help parents know when they are on track helping their children prepare for reading success.

Tip #1: Read with and to Children Regularly

Reading at home with children is one of the best ways to ensure that they are ready for reading. It also sends the message that reading activities are fun and enjoyable. Parents should read with their children at least five times a week.

Tip #2: Let Children Explore Books Alone

Many parents often make the mistake of strictly controlling the reading opportunities that their children have. They may let their child select the book, but then completely take over from there. All children should be given the time to explore a book before and/or after they read it with a parent or other adult. When the child reaches the point where he or she can read alone, it's still a good idea to not rush into reading, but to encourage exploration first.

Tip #3: Show Confidence in the Child's Abilities

Children need to believe that they can do something. And, if a child becomes discouraged, it is often a parent's expressed belief in his or her abilities that helps the child over a rough patch. Displaying a lack of confidence can make the child question his or her abilities.

Tip #4: Avoid Expressing Worry About the Child's Progress

Parents who are worried about a child's reading progress should avoid discussing this with the child. Discussing concerns with the child's teacher or other homeschooling educator is a far better option than risking compounding any reading problems the child is having by bringing them to his or her attention.

Tip #5: Encourage Children to Read to Others

Parents are built-in audiences for young readers. Parents should encourage their children to read to them often. Older siblings and cousins, neighbors, aunts and uncles, and grandparents are also great audiences.

Tip #6: Have Realistic Expectations

Parents have been reading for so long that they have understandably forgotten how long it took them to learn to read. Children learn to read at different paces and they begin to learn to read at different ages. Parents need to be sure to accommodate different learning styles to avoid rushing a child into reading or expecting too much from a struggling reader.

Tip #7: Avoid Rushing a Reading Session

Children should not feel rushed during a reading session. And, parents should avoid feeling conflicted between spending time reading with children and getting something else done. Schedule time for reading when nothing else will interfere.

Tip #8: Provide Reading and Writing Opportunities

Encourage children to read and write by putting them in charge of the shopping list and sharing letters from friends and relatives. Parents can also help teach children to learn to write by helping them write their own name on letters to friends and relatives. Opportunities for reading and writing development can be found in simple, everyday activities.

Tip #9: Provide Appropriate Reading Materials

Parents should make sure that their young readers have a wealth of age-appropriate reading material. Be sure to stock the home with books that interest the child. Take the child to the library that has a good children's program as well. Encourage children to choose their own books from the library and to participate in the library's story time.

Tip #10: Nip Problems in the Bud

A child who is having trouble reading might have issues that need attention. A child that has trouble might have a learning disorder, hearing problems, or poor vision. Parents should be vigilant enough to address problems as early as possible but not be so concerned that they help create problems where none exist.
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About the Author:

Michael Levy has published more than 250 articles and books on learning and memory. Recently, he developed Reading Buddy 2.0 to teach children to learn to read English using a remarkably easy and effective syllabics method. Would you like a free copy of this innovative computer program to teach your child to read using this modern method? Claim your free copy of Reading Buddy 2.0.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/education-articles/10-tips-for-helping-your-child-learn-to-read-766112.html

Get Used To Reading

Reading is being able to study a subject or a matter. According to one typical dictionary, reading is being able to discover or find out about something or somebody. The wider you read, the deeper the level of your knowledge. Through reading you ascertain the contents of something. I define reading as the ability to use one's eyes and hands and or eyes and brain with effort to acquire knowledge and gain understanding. You as an individual must develop the habit of reading extensively. Reading introduces you to information and enables you garner knowledge. The knowledge obtained is power which fosters progress. Get information and acquire knowledge. Through reading, you discover the truth and know it. Reading will furthermore mentally update you by keeping you abreast of current developments, ideas and news. Read your books especially the holy bible. Research and consult so that what you realise and know through your efforts will liberate or set you free from the wrath of ignorance and also be of benefit to you as well as the nation now and in the future. If you can't read, go back to school and learn. It is never too late.

Extensive reading disperses a whirlwind of unsubstantiated rumours and ignorance of information because it helps you seek out the truth and learn the facts. The world as it is now requires that you are able to read. Reading requires mental power or physical strength in order to carry it out. Simply said, reading is work. It demands commitment, consistence, focus and effort. The bible declares in Proverbs 14:23 that all hard work brings a profit. It further says in Proverbs 28:19 and I quote,' he who works his land shall have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies will have his or her fill of poverty. The same principle can apply to reading. To the students, let me say this that he who works his books shall have more than enough good grades or marks, but he who chases fantasies and plays out only words will have his fill of failure. If success in examinations is your target, then one fundamental objective of yours must be to study hard. The bible says you reap what you sow (Galatians 6:7). If you sow careful hard work by way of schoolwork, you will harvest success in your schoolwork. But if you sow sheer playfulness or laziness, then you will yield failure. You see lack of knowledge will deter your progress and even destroy you. There are things that have not been able to come to you because you simply did not read or notice. For example, a job advert may have by passed you. Reading gives clearance to your judgement when you are able to read (i.e. read the situation or instructions) and understand and it may just keep you from the folly of venturing into making haste decisions and committing harmful acts. Train yourself also to read, to interact and mingle with those who read.

Nothing plus nothing is equal to nothing (zero). You cannot reap what or where you did not sow as there is no such thing as nothing for something or something from nothing. It is about putting in something. Hard-working and meticulous hands will raise you to the top, but indolent (lazy or slothful) and careless hands will make a tail of you and keep you trailing (see Proverbs 12:24). Your friends end up knowing more than you because of the effort they make to acquire knowledge. Put in effort as well and stay on the course to progress. When it is time to read or study, firmly fix your mind on it (Be focused). Ensure that whatever you set out to do in addition to reading must be done with your entire mind in a state of significant concentration. Avoid distractions such as sleep and friends who aimlessly meander about and go where the wind blows (Proverbs 6:4). If anyone desires to properly and rightfully handle and articulate the Word of God, the key is to learn to study or to read the Holy bible thoughtfully and sincerely. Be careful what you see and read. If you swallow rubbish through your eyes, then it is rubbish that you expect to come out through your deeds.

The Lord Jesus Christ himself being human like us when on earth, used to read and search the scriptures. When he said in Mathew 4:4, that it is written, he simply was quoting what is written in Deuteronomy 8:3. This means that he definitely had set his eyes and mind on the scrolls of the time. He did not dream or depend on the Holy Spirit to read the scriptures for him. He in his human form did what he could, i.e. pick up the scroll, read and then seek for more revelation from the Holy Spirit who came in to do that which Jesus in his human form could not do i.e. provide revelation. Whatever you do in life, you've got to enjoy doing it. People rarely succeed at anything unless they have fun doing it. Though reading is hard work, it should be cool and something you should take great delight in doing. When you enjoy something, you will do it more often and focus less on the hitches. A student, whose goal is to get a better grade, must put in his/her doable best. He/She surely will obtain success. Be assured that the Lord will support the works of your hands including reading. You have to do all the feasible (possible) no matter how difficult and God will do the unattainable-that which you cannot do. When Jesus Christ turned water into wine as narrated by the book of John in chapter 2:7, he deliberately ordered the people at the scene to fill the jars with water. Jesus had the power to order the water to fill the jars by itself, but he realised this was something the people were capable of doing. It was a possibility to be done by the people. He did what they could not do, that is, turn water into wine. Do not pray expecting God to read for you and to do any other possible thing that could be done by you. God has given you legs, hands, and five senses including the sense of sight. Use these gifts to do the possible and let God do the impractical. If you can't see but have hands, you can still read with your mind, thanks to technology. And God can still heal you if need be.

Though every one is encouraged to read widely for the purpose of progress and knowledge may I take the pleasure of emphasising reading mainly to the students because I am certain that they are the ones who need it the most. Let people be assured that God is able to do that which they in their limited power and wisdom could not. In this regard, students should also be assured that the things they cannot determine, God will do and he is very much able. A student may be unable to put a stop to a teacher or lecturer from dozing off while marking his answer script, because he is not physically there, but God can. He is everywhere at the same time and he is all-powerful. He may not be able to determine what the teacher will deliver for the examinations or tests, but God can, and he can guide the student in his study. By her own strength, a student cannot prevent acts of Satanism among fellow students from upsetting her study, but God can, because he sees in the spirit and acts in the spirit. God will do and go beyond the student's limitations. Develop a culture of reading. Read hard and wide, consult and discuss as far as possible and as best as you can. Proverbs 21:31 declares, ‘the horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord'. Do what you can and may victory be your portion.

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Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/self-improvement-articles/get-used-to-reading-810168.html

Why Would People Want To Read Faster?

A question often asked is why people would want to read faster? Without wishing to be flippant, the answer to this question is essentially two-fold:

(a) because they want to; and

(b) because they need to.

Below we will examine some of the reasons why someone may want to read faster and, more pertinently, why they may need to read faster. To conclude, we'll also look at some of the practices that can be adopted so that you can actually read faster.

(a) Why you would want to read faster

When we are children, adults try to relay to us that reading is a pleasure that we should take care and time over. We might also be told that in order to fully understand what we are reading, we need to take time over the written word - save we may misconstrue what the author intended. When we reach adolescence, however, we find we're in for a rude awakening!

Reading is for educational purposes: and if we want to improve our minds, we had better be prepared to do a lot of it!

The need to read lots of information and data is probably the biggest reason why we want to have the skills to read faster. There are simply not enough hours in a day for us to have the luxury of reading everything at a leisurely pace; we must push the frontiers of our reading speed and ever increase this as we get older. To do otherwise means that we have to spend copious amounts of time reading text that could have been utilized in ways (possibly) more enjoyable than reading - such as spending time with the family, or watching television.

(b) Why people need to read faster

The reason why people need to read faster is actually tied-up with the reason why people want to read faster - the sheer amount of information that we need to read these days.

Although sales of novels have fallen year-on-year for over a generation now, the various different mediums we have for reading have increased. Indeed, the Internet alone provides us with a reading medium that we would unlikely be able to complete even if we spend the rest of our life trying to do it!

Moreover, today, more and more of us are required to read very in-depth, complex, reports as part of our day-to-day work: for which we simply do not have the luxury of a couple of days. Work related reading material generally means having to turnaround the reading time as quickly as possible. It is usually for this reason that those of us who have not undertaken a speed reading course by the time we enter the workforce rush out shortly thereafter to do so.

(c) Methods of reading faster

If you find that you are one of those people who would like to be able to read faster, the following are some useful tips that you can adopt in your pursuit of speed reading:

(i) Preparation:

A large part of being able to read faster lies on your preparation. Here, before you start to read that thick business report, give it the once over (i.e., skim read it), see how long the report is, try to grasp the main points being conveyed in the report - you can usually do this by looking at the headings, subheadings and index - then take a deep breath and plunge into your speed reading mode. When you adopt some of the other methods listed below, you'll usually find that knowing a little of what to expect next will greatly enhance your ability to read faster.

(ii) Avoid any distraction:

A lot of us can read in rooms with loud music. Some of us can read on busy trains. However, if you want to read anything quickly and accurately, try to approximate how long it will take you to read it, find and appropriate a period in your day when you'll have such time, then go to a quiet room/place and put up the "do not disturb sign". You'll find reading in an atmosphere of silence will greatly enhance your ability to read faster. Of course, this is sometimes easier said than done, especially if you have a family with young children. If this applies to you, see if you can postpone reading the material until such time as you can devote 100% of your time to your reading.

(iii) Try to read in daylight hours:

Although many of us enjoy reading the odd novel in bed, for the purposes of reading fast, research has shown that we are much more likely (biologically) to read fast during daylight hours.

(iv) Take a break:

No one can read continuously for hours on end. Then again, each of us has different thresholds when we have been reading too long. Finding equilibrium between spending too long reading, which will slow down your reading pace, and taking too many breaks from reading, which will likewise slow down your reading pace, is very important. In most cases, the medium time for fast reading is a period of 1 hour reading followed by a 10 to 15 minute break.

(v) Motivation:

Finally, one of the most important aspects of reading fast is being able to motivate yourself to read the material in the first place! If you enjoy reading something, you'll want to take your time over it. Reading fast, therefore, usually needs to be adopted with reading material we are not overly enthusiastic about reading in the first place! But you should not look at it this way; otherwise your reading speed is going to deteriorate. You need to motivate yourself.

Here, prudent practice is to set yourself goals - like you would with anything else in life: "I want to read Chapter 1 in 5 minutes", etc.

So, whatever the reason may be as to why you want or need to read faster, if you utilize some of the above practices in your reading, in no time at all you'll be reading much faster!

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About the Author:
Melvin Ng teaches speed reading through his 16-Minute Speed Reading Audio Program
which Guarantees to Double your reading speed in just 16 minutes! http://www.best-speed-reading-course.com

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/motivational-articles/why-would-people-want-to-read-faster-38712.html

Which Is More Important, Reading Faster Or Comprehension?

It is an almost instinctive reaction to think that reading faster equates with comprehending less. Empirical evidence, however, seems to indicate otherwise – individuals who read at slower rates are just as likely not to fully comprehend what they have read as those who read too fast.

Consequently, trying to find an optimum between the speed you read at and the overall comprehension you have of the material is the key to good reading skills. What follows is a brief look at how you can try to optimize your speed reading and comprehension at the same time.

Speed and comprehension

It should be the goal of every individual who wishes to read efficiently to understand what they are reading, learn from it, and then move on. Reading should not be an activity which we linger over. In this regard, it is generally accepted that someone who can read between 250 and 300 words per minute is an average reader. Those who read less than 250 words per minute are slow readers. And those who read more than 500 words per minute are speed readers. However, there comes a point when reading too fast would make you lose your comprehension.

If that's the case, what should be the optimum speed? Only you can tell because you'll need to test it out yourself and try to stretch it as much as possible. Different people will have varying levels.

If we accept that these reading rates are fairly standard, it should be the aim of every reader to be reading more than 500 words per minute but at the same time, not to lose comprehension.

Why is reading faster important anyhow?

The reason why it is generally considered important to read with at least some modicum of speed is because it is clear that, as is the case with a reader who reads too fast, a person who is reading slowly most probably does not understanding what it is that they have read. Here, it is generally accepted that a slow reader is unable to retain the information that /he has just read in his/her memory. In other words, by the time they have completed the sentence they have read, they've forgotten what the beginning of the sentence was about!

Improving your speed: Improve your comprehension

Having read the above, if you believe that you need to increase the rate you read at, with the aim of furthering both your speed reading and comprehension skills, the following are 5 brief tips to help you further your reading skills:

1. Check your eye:

One of the most commonly cited (no pun intended) reasons why people have problems reading at high speed is because they either cannot see clearly what it is they are reading, or that they suffer from headaches if they read too much, for too long. If you feel these symptoms may be affecting your reading abilities, it may well be worth having your eyes checked, as there is a chance you may be suffering from some form of eye defect.

2. Read in comfort:

Reading should be a pleasure, not a chore. If you make reading a chore, you will have problems comprehending what it is you are reading. On the other hand, don't make your reading environment too laid back – you may find then that you just want to go to sleep! Adapt your environment (for example, chair, lighting, etc.) to maximize your reading pleasure.

3. Reading material:

It is very important that you keep in mind what the material is that you are reading. If you are reading the latest blockbuster novel, there's every chance you can read faster, and comprehend more, than would be the case if you are reading the text book for your next exam. As such, it is always useful if you keep the old adage "horses for courses" in mind.

4. Try to avoid talking (vocalization):

Many of us enjoy [lip] talking (vocalizing) out the words of our reading material as we read it. This actually causes an obvious problem: we can read faster than we can talk! So, if you find that you have the habit of talking when you read, try to cure this habit and you may well find that you increase the speed at which you read.

5. Block-reading and re-reading:

As we grow older, we should be able to develop the skill of "block-reading". Essentially "block-reading" means that you have the ability to read more than one word at a time; for example, you can read whole paragraphs in one go. This skill is enhanced by training your eye to broaden its span so as to take in more. Likewise, re-reading, or regressed reading as it is also known, is a habit you should try to eliminate.

Generally, studies indicate that readers who read 250 words per minute (the 'average' reader) regress/reread material on a page up to 20 times. Essentially this regress/rereading has two major faults:

(i) it means you are not comprehending what you have read the first time; and

(ii) it is utilizing valuable time you could be using to read more.

As such, eliminating both of these habits is considered good practice.

Conclusion

Developing speed reading skills at the expense of comprehension is counter-productive. Ultimately, the comprehension of what you are reading is achieved not by reading fast, nor by reading slowly, but by reading at your optimum speed.

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About the Author:
Melvin Ng teaches speed reading through his 16-Minute Speed Reading Audio Program
which Guarantees to Double your reading speed in just 16 minutes! http://www.best-speed-reading-course.com

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/motivational-articles/which-is-more-important-reading-faster-or-comprehension-60180.html

Speed Reading Simplified!

Readers are leaders and in this article you will learn several simple to implement Speed Reading Secrets that will assist you in efficiently absorbing all that information out there.

First Speed Reading Secret!

Before we begin, here's a concept that you MUST understand about speed reading: shaving just a fraction-of-a-second off every page that your read will create a HUGE difference in your reading rate.

Even if you were able to shave just 1 second off the time it takes you to read a page that would still be FIVE minutes off a normal 300-page book!

So, it's not always necessary to aim for the spectacular - just a little growth here and there will make a world of difference.

Even when it comes to something as basic as paging and pacing techniques...

When it comes to speed reading, learning to use your hands correctly and efficiently will require that you train yourself to accomplish the following 3 tasks:

1. Use your hands to guide and pace your eye movements through the text

2. Use your hands to force your eye to constantly scan through new information

3. Use your hands to prevent your eyes from repeatedly reading the same words

The Speed Reading Hand Motion:

Although it may seem uncomfortable at first, the ideal use of the hands of a right-handed person would be to use your left hand to pace your reading and your right hand to turn the pages.

To begin reading, place your hand at the start of a line. Move your hand towards the right hand margin. Make sure to focus your eyes upon the text that your hand is pointing towards.

When you reach the end of the current line, move your hand to the start of the next line. Repeat this method to the end of the page. To make paging faster, make sure that your right hand is always positioned at the top right hand corner of the book.

Go ahead and practice this movement. You don't need to worry about reading any of the text, just practice the hand motion and paging techniques for now. Make sure that you are able to rapidly move through the pages of your book.

Believe it or not, you can reach the place where your reading speed explodes to the point that your paging and pacing hands will have a hard time just trying to keep up!

In the next part of this article, I will show you how you can begin improving your comprehension of text so that when you begin reading at the higher speed you will actually have a BETTER understanding of the text that you did at your lower reading speeds!

Your Second Speed Reading Secret!

Here's something that you don't hear everyday...

You CAN comprehend details better at higher speeds!

This is not a prank. In fact, if you will spend the next few moments reading through this email I'll teach you some valuable insights into how you can begin improving your comprehension by leaps and bounds within just minutes.

The key to instantly increasing your comprehension of any book and any topic is to get familiar with the following universal publication tips. (Yes, these tips apply to almost every publication and can be applied immediately)

1. The first and last chapters of a book introduce and summarize its contents.

2. The first and last paragraph in a chapter introduce and summarize the contents of that particular chapter

3. Some books (such as text books and even most translations of the Bible) contain topic and summary sentences within their structure with introduce and summarize its contents

4. The VERBS and NOUNS of a sentence offer the *most important* information.

5. Be aware and 'sensitize' yourself (through practice) to the use of negative words. Negative words (such as 'not', 'no', 'can't'...etc) can reverse the meanings of large groups of words - so keep a lookout for them.

6. By the same token, you also need to keep an eye out for the conditional tense. Conditional tense words (such as 'could', 'if', 'should'...etc) can also affect or change the meanings of a large body of words.

If you've been following with me then you'll have already learned some valuable reading techniques that you can use to trim your reading time down AND improve your comprehension.

I'm going to give you just a few more tips on how you can use a book's format to further increase your comprehension.

1. Don't skip over reading the front and rear jackets of a book. These can really give anyone valuable insights into why the book was written and thus give you some insight into what you can expect.

2. By the same token, always check out the book's forward and introduction. Oftentimes these overlooked segments can remove a lot of the confusion that arises when you have no idea about the authors intended direction BEFORE you begin reading

3. ALWAYS read the table of contents. It's the author's outline and will 'prime your brain' to his writing style and thus improve your understanding of his book's structure.

4. Don't just let the words ramble on in your mind. Make an effort to *actively read" the book. This means that you should continuously be asking yourself questions about what you've just read. Attempt to summarize the information you've just read at frequent intervals. By doing this you will soon discover your current level of comprehension and recall.

5. Devour charts and diagrams. If your book contains these features make sure that you stop and take time to actually understand the drawings and diagrams. Spending a few extra moments contemplating these features will ultimately increase your overall reading speed because you will have a clear visual representation of the information you've just read.

6. Make use of the glossary and index usually found at the end of most books.

Your Fourth Speed Reading Secret!

Now I'm going to show you an *exciting* part of any speed reading program.

It's called skimming. Although it doesn't actually involve 'reading' in the traditional sense of the word, it DOES allow you to experience some of the thrill of rapidly devouring vast amounts of information at blistering speeds.

If you are able to, it is always best to 'skim' any book before you read it. (Whether you will be reading it at high speed or normal speed)

When you are skimming, what you are really looking for is the format of the book you will be reading.

It helps to give you visual clues to what you can expect and it allows you to compensate for some of those challenges.

At this point, let me take a moment to define what my definition is of skimming.

The process of skimming is nothing but the exercise of going through the ENTIRE book you plan to read (or speed read) at a rate of about TWO to THREE SECOND PER PAGE - MAXIMUM!

When you skim, here are some of the details that you are looking for...

Font and type sizes used

The presence or absence of chapters

The presence or absence of columns

The presence or absence of headings/sub-headings

Parts of the book

Diagrams and pictures

Any unusual or helpful features

Armed with the information that you acquire from skimming, you will be amazed at how DRAMATICALLY it influences your reading speed - even without using some of the other speed reading technology out there.

Your Fifth Speed Reading Secret!

How would you like to know the secret techniques to master different types of reading?

Well, that's EXACTLY what I'm here to show you right now!

Are you just reading for pleasure? Do you need to study? Are you reading to develop a new skill?

Here is a quick reference guide to how YOU can get the most out of your reading experience by using a few simple guidelines.

PLEASURE READING

Do not skim or review the materials. Simply read at a comfortable rate. :-)

HOBBY AND SPECIAL INTEREST

Perform a short skim, and review. Spend the majority of the time reading.

STUDYING

Spend about half the time reading and half the time skimming and reviewing materials Do NOT over-read. Read once though a chapter at your best comprehension speed, (highlight areas of confusion by placing a light pencil mark next to them - but do NOT stop at this point) then skim and review the materials. Lastly, return to the areas that require a more in depth analysis and work through them.

MAXIMUM POTENTIAL READING

Spend 70% of your time reviewing materials, and 10% skimming. Only read 20% of the time. Use the reading skills that you've learnt during this email course to locate key information. Place your emphasis on taking notes and studying.

Your Final Speed Reading Secret!

CONGRATULATIONS!

You've made it through the Speed Reading Simplified Article.

Now, I'm just going to recap on what we have already covered, and the best way to benefit from what you've learned!

Thus far, I've shown you:

* How to using your hands to correctly and efficiently shave a second or more off each page that you read.

* How to use your hands to guide and pace your eye movements through the text

* How to use your hands to force your eye to constantly scan through new information

* How to use your hands to prevent your eyes from repeatedly reading the same words

* That you CAN comprehend details better at higher speeds

* Keys to how you can begin improving your comprehension by leaps and bounds within just minutes.

* The secrets to instantly increasing your comprehension by making effective use of a book's, first and last chapters, its topic and summary sentences, its negative words and its conditional tense.

* How you can use a books format to further increase your comprehension

* How to experience some of the thrill of rapidly devouring vast amounts of information at blistering speeds by using skimming..

* How to use skimming to receive visual clues to what you can expect when speed reading

* What my definition of skimming is.

* What the details are that you must look for when you are skimming

* The secret techniques to master different types of reading.

* How to make the most of PLEASURE READING, HOBBY & SPECIAL INTEREST READING, STUDYING and MAXIMUM POTENTIAL READING
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About the Author:
If you would like to use these hints and tips to their greatest potential, then you really must try "The 16-Minute Speed-Reading Audio Program" where you can literally double your reading speed with just ONE 16-minute exercise. To get details, just visit: http://www.EZSpeedReading.com

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/education-articles/speed-reading-simplified-97975.html

Speed Reading: Fact or Fiction?

Monday Rush

Julie is running late. It's Monday morning and she can't miss her class. There is no time for her to relax. She rushes to the subway and takes a seat. The other passengers are starring blankly straight ahead. Suddenly, Julie remembers that she was supposed to read the first chapter in her history book. She pulls out her book opens it to the first chapter. She flips a page. Then the second, third, -- page twenty, -- two hundred. Before she realizes it, the subway doors open and she has finished an entire book.

Fact or Fiction

Is this a dream or science fiction? Can someone actually read a book in 30 minutes? First, let's ask where the idea of speed reading originated. A woman named Evelyn Wood turned in an 80 page paper to her college professor expecting him to read and return it the next day. To her surprise he read the entire paper in seconds and graded it immediately. She was stunned. How could anyone read so much so fast? Her professor was one of a select few people at the time. He was a natural speed reader. Evelyn Wood went on to study this phenomena and eventually founded a speed reading institute in Australia. That was 40 years ago. Since then, speed reading has become popular in many countries. However, the technique is almost unknown in the USA.

Air Force Research

A device called a tachistoscope was used during WWII to help fighter pilots identify aircraft silhouettes. The device flashed an image on a projection screen for a fraction of a second. Psychologists and educational specialists working on visual acuity created an experiment where the images were gradually reduced in size and the flash rate was increased. An average person could identify small images of different planes when flashed on the screen for only one-five-hundredth of a second.

The U.S. Air Force modified the system by changing the images to single words. Then up to four words flashed simultaneously on the screen at rates of one five-hundredth of a second. The participants were able to recognize and understand the words. This experiment demonstrated that, with some practice, words can be recognized and understood at much higher speeds than normal reading rates.

Misconceptions

Unfortunately, the term speed reading received a black eye in the 1990's when a number of unscrupulous companies made outrageous claims about their speed reading products. These were often combined with useless memory enhancement packages and sold by snake oil salesmen that exaggerated the benefits of their systems. Many of the systems promoted completely different methods which often conflicted with each other. These systems relied on pseudo-science claims that were so far out that they make crystal healing look like cutting edge technology. Some unblinkingly claimed the subconscious could extract unnoticed content from the printed page. Confusion and frustration resulted when people tried to follow their bad advice. In spite of these obstacles, speed reading is making a comeback. Today we have a better understanding of how speed reading works in the brain. New and improved teaching techniques and the ability to use computers for training have made speed reading a hot topic again.

Before we see what speed reading is, let's look at what speed reading is not. Speed reading is not skimming. Skimming is an inaccurate reading method. Imagine trying to skim the instructions for your new hair-dryer and thinking it said 'use in shower' when it actually said 'do not use in shower'. Missing that all important word, not, changes the entire meaning. Skimming simply does not work. Speed reading is not skimming. A speed reader actually reads every word.

Speed reading is not pushing harder. Anyone can push harder to read faster but this only works for a few sentences before falling back to regular speed. Speed reading is a technique that allows you to read an entire magazine or book at speeds two to ten times faster than average reading speed.

Some speed reading systems go to great lengths to teach hand motion techniques or eye movement techniques. Research conducted during the development of Speed Reader-X™ has not shown these techniques to work in themselves. Some people find hand motions distracting while others use hand motions to stay focused. The best rule about hand motion is to use it if it helps and forget it otherwise. There is no magic hand motion that will increase your reading speed. Books can spend chapters explaining eye movement patterns. You move your eyes all day every day. It is not something that requires practice. Eye motions will come naturally.

Speed Readers

Speed reading has been part of big business and government for years. It has been taught to executives of many major companies such as IBM, Microsoft, Xerox, and Hewlett Packard. Even presidents have been speed readers including John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, and Jimmy Carter. President Carter took speed reading lessons while at the white house and he read two books per week even with his Presidential duties.

Reading Speeds

According to SpeedReaderX.com, the average person reads around 250 words per minute. This is the speed of the little voice in your head that pronounces words as you read. Speed readers can read from 600 to 1500 words per minute or faster.

It is not uncommon for people to immediately double their reading speed when first learning speed reading techniques. Children eight years and older are the best candidates to learn speed reading. At this age they have a fairly large vocabulary and are familiar with reading. Speed reading becomes more difficult for adults. Just like learning a foreign language comes easy to children, so does speed reading. Adults have been reading the old fashioned way much longer so it takes longer to learn a new reading technique. Adults can still benefit from speed reading. They simply have to put a little more effort into it.

Speed reading can provide many benefits. It makes children want to read more. Speed reading fills a child's short attention span by fully immersing them in the material. They actually enjoy reading. This makes children much more likely to read for pleasure. Many studies have shown that children who read perform better in school and to have fewer behavioral problems.

ADD/ADHD/Dyslexia

Children with ADD, ADHD, and Dyslexia have trouble reading because these conditions make them right brain dominant. Most people are left brain dominant when it comes to reading. Speed reading uses the visual centers of the right side of the brain. This makes learning speed reading easier for these otherwise disadvantaged children.

George Stancliffe, founder of The American Speed Reading Project, has reported success in teaching speed reading to students that have ADD, ADHD, and Dyslexia.

Mr. Stancliffe said, "...many people with ADD or Dyslexia find speed reading easier than normal reading. Their brains take to the new, visual intake of words much more easily." He continued to say, "If you have a child who may have either ADD or Dyslexia, and you want him/her to be a better reader, one of the best things that you could do is to teach him/her to speed read."

The Secret

Now that we know speed reading reaches all the way to the Whitehouse, how does it work? The whole concept is actually quite simple. We learn to read in the first grade. By the second grade we recognize whole words. We learn more words and some grammar but that is the end of the teaching process. From this point on, we are effectively reading at a first or second grade level for the rest of our lives.

The human brain can take in information much faster than this. When you read this page, you are likely seeing one or two words at a time. But when you look at a friends face you do not look at individual features to determine who you are looking at. You see their entire face and you immediately recognize them. The brain processes images much faster than it can process words. When you watch a movie, you take in massive amounts of visual information. When a car zooms by on the big screen, do you say to yourself 'C-A-R, car'? Of course not. You see it and you know what it is. You do not have to sound it out or hear it in your head to know what you are seeing. But, when you see the word 'car', the little voice in your head says 'C-A-R, car'. This sub-vocalization slows reading to a snails pace. To speed read, you must learn to see words as images. You must re-learn to process what you read with the right side of your brain instead of the left side.

Speed reading is a technique that allows you to take in the printed word just like you take in images while watching a movie. You learn to change how you view words so they are seen as images by the right side of the brain instead of using the voice in your head with the left side. This completely changes how your brain processes information.

Bored Brains

How many times have you read a page and by the end realized you had no idea what you just read? This happens because the brain becomes bored with the slow reading pace and tunes out that little voice. Your brain wants to go faster than the voice in your head can read. This sub-vocalization is creating a reading speed limit.

Simply silencing this voice can dramatically increase reading speed. You are switching the reading responsibility from the left side of your brain to the right side. You must switch from using the reading and cognition centers to visual centers of the brain

Sub-vocalization is still important in the understanding of complex concepts but, it is not necessary and is undesirable for most of what we read. E-mail, magazine articles, and news articles simply do not require deep comprehension to understand. Subjects like mathematics, philosophy and complex concepts are not suited to speed reading techniques. Speed reading techniques are still useful in covering reviews and summaries of these topics.

Novels are read for enjoyment and are usually read in real time as if the events are happening in the reader's head. The voice in your head becomes the narrator. Zooming through lengthy descriptions that would otherwise cause the story to drag makes the overall novel reading experience more enjoyable. The reader can then return to normal reading speeds for the interesting parts of the novel.

Speed reading is always a useful tool for any type of reading. It is used when appropriate and gives way to normal reading when deeper understanding is needed.

Skeptics

There are some people that are still anti-speed-reading. It is important to be wary of skeptics who claim they have tried some or all speed reading programs and have failed. These people often make claims without going into details or citing methods they have tried. They do not reveal how long they tried the programs or if they followed the recommended practice sessions seriously. They frequently misapply speed reading techniques then claim failure without mentioning the fact they are reading the book upside down. They claim they cannot remember what they read at 2,500 words per minute but, forget to mention they have not developed the skill to read at that speed. They try to use maximum speed techniques on complex material which is contrary to the teachings of modern speed reading methods. Most of these people will be extremely negative towards speed reading and try to convince others it is a fake or a scam. These people often refer to the older snake oil systems from the 90's which provide a rich source for skeptics.

Comprehension rates determine how much we understand of what we read. It is easy to have 100% comprehension of one sentence. Longer articles or books may have unfamiliar words or concepts. This results in less than full comprehension by any reading method.

Comprehension levels of under 50%* are generally cited by skeptics as a failure in speed reading yet, this level is not uncommon in normal reading tests of high school and junior high children when reading adult level materials. Low comprehension for extremely high reading speeds is often cited as a reason for its failure but, this assertion ignores how modern speed reading works. Reading speed varies depending on the material. Maximum reading speed is not used constantly. This is no different than normal reading. You read faster when you need less comprehension and slower when you need more understanding.

Speed reading is a structured process which calls for some materials, such as text books, to be read at high speed, then a lower speed, and then reviewed at a highest possible speed. A 50% comprehension rate when reading 2500 words per minute is excellent. At this reading rate the reader can read an entire book twice in less time than they could read one chapter at a normal rate. On the second reading the comprehension rate can increase to 75% or 90%. A rate of 80% comprehension is common at normal reading speeds. With practice, comprehension at lower speeds, 600 to 1000 words per minute, can meet or exceed regular comprehension rates.

Skeptics often target systems that claim 10,000 words per minute. Such outrageous numbers do make easy targets. Those making 10,000 word per minute claims often fail to mention that comprehension at that speed is 0% to 5%, which is no different than skimming. This rate may be perfectly acceptable if you are looking for some specific information in a long report but, not if you want to remember what you are reading. Rates of 600 to 1500 words per minute are more common and provide the best speed/comprehension balance.

Retention is important. There would be no point in speed reading if you could not remember what you read. This is where many of the products from the snake oil salesmen fell short. People learned basic speed reading techniques but could not remember what they read. Retention and comprehension are actually improved by speed reading but, only after the reader becomes comfortable with speed reading. It takes practice to reach this level. You can easily recall dialog free action sequences of a movie after the movie is over. This information was taken in visually and very rapidly. Your brain is already trained to take in the information from a movie. After the brain is re-trained to take in written words visually, it actually becomes easier to recall and understand what is being read.

Training Products

New research has updated speed reading techniques since Evelyn Wood's discovery of speed reading in the 1950's. Computers now make it easier to learn and practice speed reading. The original books or audio programs on speed reading required you to time yourself while reading passages, write down the results, and repeat this process many times. Research during the development of the Speed Reader-X speed reading software showed that most people skipped over these sections which negated the effectiveness of these early speed reading books. With computer training software, the computer takes care of the timing and keeps track of your progress. The computer training programs show charts and statistics of your reading speed so you can see your progress. They also increase the difficulty as you progress and your skills improve. These new techniques and improvements in teaching methods make learning speed reading much easier and more reliable. There are new products that use the latest techniques such as Speed Reader-X speedreaderx.com and Eye-Q eyeq.tv which are among the leaders in the field of computer training software.

Mastering the Skill

Speed reading is a skill. It is a skill that takes practice. It is also a skill that can make a profound difference in someone's life. Very few people are natural speed readers but, almost anyone can learn the skills needed. Speed reading may not be for everyone, just as learning a foreign language is not for everyone. Today there are inexpensive software programs that make it easy and fun to practice speed reading. Speed reading results vary from person to person and can depend on many factors, not the least of which is the amount of effort put into it. Children stand to benefit the most, especially those with certain learning disabilities. Adults willing to learn a new skill can also benefit. Speed reading is more than simply reading fast. When proper techniques are ignored or remain unpracticed, the results can be disappointing. When the techniques of modern speed reading are applied and used correctly, the results can be astonishing.

For more information visit www(dot)speedreaderx(dot)com
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About the Author:

Michael Ford pioneered the development of the Speed Reader-X software which is used to teach speed reading techniques in many schools. Michael has authored several books and is currently developing additional educational software.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/college-and-university-articles/speed-reading-fact-or-fiction-222920.html

How to Develop Reading Skills?

BY PROF.M.S.RAO, ACADEMIC GUIDE, ICFAI UNIVERSITY

“The writer creates half the text, the reader creates the other half”, Author unknown.

Man learns by various sources and means such as by observation, conversation, experience and reading. Right from the stage of Stone Age to space age the man has evolved himself by reading the scripts which he himself has created and passed on the baton to his next generation. No one knows how one reads with in himself because he feels himself and understands with in himself. Everyone has unique way of reading and yet a few styles which are common among all human beings. Let us look at the different dimensions of reading skills.

According to the National Reading Panel (NRP), “The ability to read requires proficiency in a number of domains such as ‘phonemic awareness’, ‘phonics’, ‘fluency’, ‘vocabulary’ and ‘comprehension or reading comprehension’”. It indicates connectivity of many things during reading and also all the concepts mentioned will help for effective reading.

Another author Chall has come out with different stages of reading which is popularly known as ‘Chall’s stages of Reading Development’. And according to her, “Each stage of reading builds on skills mastered in earlier stages; lack of mastery at any level can halt the progress beyond that level”.



She divided the reading process into various stages. The first stage being the Zero stage which symbolizes pre-reading that is usually up to the age of 6 years of the child. It is also known as reading readiness. The subsequent stage is the Stage One, where the child is in the age of 6 to 7 years and it is also known as initial reading stage or decoding stage. In the next stage i.e. Stage Two where the age of the child is approximately 8 years during which child confirms himself and it is also called as confirmation stage. Further in the Stage Three the child who is in the age of 9 years, he reads to learn. In the Stage Four, the child turns into teen age and develops multiple shades of opinions and viewpoints and ultimately in the final Stage Five the man constructs his views and opinions independently and forms his own perceptions and judgments on various things.

TECHNIQUES OF READING:

Although there are number of tools and techniques in reading there are three tools by which you can improve reading skills. In brief, they are scanning, skimming and concept mapping techniques. All these can be deployed depending upon the context and also on the purpose of reading. Initially it is better to have cursory look on the contents by scanning, and then switch over to skim the contents by skimming strategy and at last read by applying the techniques of concept mapping. Concept mapping is nothing but drawing a two dimensional picture of a concept either mentally or physically. It is very important technique for noting information and connecting ideas. Since concept maps are pictures they can be easily retained in the memory. To substantiate these three strategies let us recall what Francis Bacon said, “Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed and some few are to be chewed and digested”.

SQRRR is another popular technique which is the acronym for Survey, Question, Read, Recall and Review. According to this, while reading one has to examine and then question himself for the contents that are read. Whatever has been read is to be recalled with in the mind and ultimately the contents are to be reviewed.

The layered method of reading is yet another approach towards reading which is accepted and adopted by the majority of readers. As per this, you have to overview the entire material very fast and form an opinion on it. Subsequently focus little more on the important portions which deserve to be addressed such as introduction, headings and summary. It is a prelude to read the book and hence it is called as preview. It provides proper judgment and direction whether to go ahead with reading or not. After passing through this phase if the book or the material is worth to be read, you can go ahead with reading. It is in fact the semi final. And the final phase is the review. Whatever has been read has to be reviewed for better comprehension and for effective memory retention. Below are the tools and techniques for developing effective reading skills

TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE READING:

• Find out what you want to know and for that you need to cut through the clutter. At the same time assess what is to be skipped from reading.

• Question yourself whether you are reading for any specific purpose or for pleasure because at times intention is more important than action.

• Always lay emphasis on contents and contexts but not on the style or flow or delivery of the material.

• It is always important to stress on qualitative not quantitative reading.

• Cultivate positive attitude towards reading. The more you read and the more love you develop towards reading. Nancy Collin aptly said, “The only way to improve reading skills is to read”.

• Before you read, find out 2Ws i.e. why you are reading and what you are reading.

• Check your biological clock and read so that the degree of absorbability and assimilation of the material is higher.

• Keep the dictionary beside when you go for reading. If the meaning of a word is not known it will help you to know instantly.

• In every sentence there are key words to be focused. When the meaning of the key words is known then it becomes easier to understand and memorize the material.

• If you get boredom, give a break and restart reading so that you can grasp better.

• Surround yourself with various kinds of books.

• Learn to underline the key parts/words/concepts for further references.

• Develop the habit of paraphrasing the contents.

• Transfer the material from text book to note book so that the best part of the material is with you. By this, you can separate chaff from the grain. And when you write then the degree of retentivity is higher.

• Create your own short hand stuff from the material.

• While reading, new ideas and concepts will flash in the mind and the same may be added on the margin side of book. Failure to do will lead to missing the beautiful ideas.

• Don’t focus on filler words in the sentences. The words like is’s and the’s can be avoided while reading as these take longer time and not of much significance for understanding the contents.

• Try to recall the contents repeatedly which are in your mind and summarize the same and write down either on the margin of the text book or in the note book. If you are able to generate a few examples from the text book in a given context it will help you to enhance retentivity. And also link the contents of the material with real life events, examples and accidents.

• By using different colored pencils the importance level of the contents will be realized for further readings. You can keep your style based the degree of significance and the priority levels. Rather you can create your own mythology, style and coding as per the convenience.

• If you find it boring to read, keep the book upside down and read you will be able to apply more pressure to read with this.

• There is no fixed formula for reading and the methodology changes when you read text books, newspapers, magazines, journals and more so when you surf online content.

• Average readers read about 200 to 250 words per minute. And the speed can be enhanced without affecting the quality with faster eye ball movement and with longer breaks and pauses.

• You can make sense of sentence by omitting articles, conjunctions, prepositions etc., By this you can focus more on the contents and also you can save time.

• Try to convert the written information into pictorial format while reading for effective comprehension of contents.

• If the meaning of a key word is not clear then try to look at it from different dimensions of the origin of the word to get the closer or accurate meanings. Also if possible look at the prefix or the suffix of the key word for earlier and faster understanding.

• Daily fix some amount of time exclusively for reading and over a period of time it will become a practice.

• Train your eyes to take in words in larger gulps.

• Avoid confusing material and don’t get stuck. Such contents can be referred later on. Learn to skip unwanted and unproductive stuff. In this context, William James aptly quoted, “The art of becoming wise is the art of knowing what to overlook”.

CONCLUSION:

There are four skills that are essential for all viz speaking skills, writing skills, listening skills and reading skills. If speaking skills and writing skills become one side of the coin, then listening skills and reading skills become the other side of the coin. And the coin possesses value when it has two sides. To sum it up all four skills are like the four pillars for the development of successful all-round personality.
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About the Author:

(The author, Prof. M.S.Rao, is working as an Academic Guide in ICFAI University, India. He takes ‘Guest Lectures’ upon request. He talks over radio and is a professional Writer and Trainer in soft skills, personality development, and motivation and equity investments. Number of articles has been published in various global websites, magazines and journals. He can be reached at email: profmsr7@yahoo.com).



H.No: 6-18-188, New NGO's Colony, Nizamabad-503002, INDIA Cell: +91-9949710632

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/self-improvement-articles/how-to-develop-reading-skills-297612.html