Reading Strategies
There are 2 main things to focus on when you are reading: Comprehension Retention
Reading to Understand (Comprehension) You need to understand what you read You need to be motivated to find out what the author has to say You need to take the time to learn and use reading strategies Practice, practice, practice Fast reading does not mean better reading If you are fast or slow that is fine as long as you understand the text
Strategies to help you understand what you read: Review, reread and think about what you are reading as you go along. Take notes of the main ideas as you read, but do not copy material from your textbook, put notes into your own words. Test yourself with questions to see if you understand the text. If you are having trouble, take a break and try again later. Try reading small sections of the text and make sure you understand each part before moving on.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkBm-Ik5x1Y
Task : Read the below paragraph… “It was on the corner of the street that he noticed the first sign of something peculiar -- a cat reading a map. For a second, Mr. Dursley didn't realize what he had seen -- then he jerked his head around to look again. There was a tabby cat standing on the corner of Privet Drive, but there wasn't a map in sight. What could he have been thinking of? It must have been a trick of the light. Mr. Dursley blinked and stared at the cat. It stared back. As Mr. Dursley drove around the corner and up the road, he watched the cat in his mirror. It was now reading the sign that said Privet Drive -- no, looking at the sign; cats couldn't read maps or signs. Mr. Dursley gave himself a little shake and put the cat out of his mind. As he drove toward town he thought of nothing except a large order of drills he was hoping to get that day.” Now tell a partner the ‘gist’ of the paragraph
Reading to Remember (Retention) Remembering and holding onto what you have read You need to read a passage and then be able to summarize what you have read. You need to grasp the main ideas and then you can start to understand the supporting details. The more you practice reading and understanding the more you will retain what you have read.
Strategies to help you retain what you read: Gather the main facts. Write down those facts in your own words. Understand the main idea first. Look for the big picture. Grasp the sequence of events or storyline. Put your mind into the story. Draw a conclusion. Attempt to see how it all fits in with what else you know or have read before.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W24RyhtX1qA
In Conclusion… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXM5dkWDo4c&feature=related