Communications Unit Reading Notes

Improving Your Reading Skills Read with a purpose Know why you are reading Focus on that content Look over the material that you are reading Try to read for meaning, concentrate. Don’t let your mind wander Try to improve your vocabulary when you come across a word you don’t know. Look up definitions or ask. Graphic organizers can help you visualize what you have read

Guidelines for Reading to Learn Before you read… Understand your assignment Gather all the materials you need to read and take notes Decide how much time and when and where Try and avoid reading when you are hungry or tired Take short breaks to stretch and rest your eyes

Guidelines for Reading to Learn cont. As you read… Get to know your textbook and what it contains Look over the whole chapter before you begin Read the titles and headings and use them to ask yourself questions Notice words or phrases that are in italics or boldfaced Look closely at maps, charts, graphs, and other illustrations to help you understand and remember important information Take good notes – summarize, outline, star, underline, or highlight important information Use all of your senses – imagine what it looks, feels, and tastes like Adjust your reading speed – difficult material slowly; reread if necessary

Guidelines for Reading to Learn cont. After you read… Review your notes at the end of the reading session, again the next day and as needed after that Always summarize difficult material out loud Make notecards or and outline to use later Keep a list of things you want to check on or ask someone about

Six Strategies Used By Good Readers They use existing knowledge to make sense of new information. They ask questions about the text before, during, and after reading. They draw inferences from the text. They monitor their comprehension. They determine what is important. They synthesize information to create new thinking

Using Context Clues/Types of Context Clues Clues supplied through synonyms: These counselors serve as advisers to assist entrepreneurs and new business owners in setting up and running their business. Clues contained in comparisons and contrasts: Since everyone wants new businesses to succeed and not fall into insolvency because of poor decisions or lack of knowledge, business counselors are looked upon more and more as a good investment. Clues contained in a definition or description: Their help in the establishment of personnel systems, those all important procedures for working successfully with employees, is also worth a great deal.

Using Context Clues/Types of Context Clues cont. Clues that appear in a series: In some ways, business counselors are similar to attorneys, accountants, and computer consultants, in that they help owners of small business by being there to answer questions when they arise. Clues provided by the cause and effect: Everyday business dealings can quickly become unmanageable without proper stratagem laid out by experts like business counselors. Clues derived from examples: Most business agencies, including the Better Business Bureau often recommend business counselors to people interested in starting a new business.

SQ3R A popular technique for reading and remembering. 1. Survey- Get the big picture, look briefly at each page paying special attention to headings, titles, illustrations and boldfaced type. 2. Question- As you survey asks questions about the reading material by changing the headings into questions. 3. Read-Be an active reader by looking for main ideas and taking notes as your read. If you can underline, highlight, and summarize.

SQ3R A popular technique for reading and remembering. 4. Recite- Recite out loud or whisper what you have learned from your reading. At the end of each page answer aloud who, what, when, where, why, and how. 5. Review- Review as soon as you finish reading- answer questions, and summarize.

Strategies for Remembering Association - this is a memory strategy in which each idea being studied is associated with a more memorable word, picture, or idea. i.e. If you had to remember Shirley Temple’s name, your might ingrain the name in memory by noticing that she has “curly” (rhymes with Shirley) hair around her temples. Acronym – a “word” created by using the first letter(s) of several related words. i.e. V.I.S.T.A. for Volunteers In Service To America or P.E.M.D.A.S. stands for "Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division, and Addition and Subtraction".

Strategies for Remembering cont. Strange Sentences – A slightly different version of the acronym technique is to compose a silly/strange sentence that you will have no trouble remembering. i.e. Countries of Central America from top to bottom. Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. “My brother George has extremely noisy car pipes.”

Strategies for Remembering cont. Rhymes, Songs, Jingles, and Raps – Anything that has a rhyme or rhythm is easier to remember than a straight list of facts. Put your imagination to work to compose a song, jingle, or rap to help you remember ideas and facts. You’ll be surprised and pleased with the results. i.e. “I before e, except after…” “In Columbus sailed ….”