1. Do you understand what you’re reading? **or** How to Do Better on Reading Check Quizzes

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4. If you don’t understand what you’re reading in a language arts class: Ask yourself the following questions: – Is it because I was lazy during the reading? I’ll know my comprehension issue was lazyness because I … – Read only the Spark Notes or Shmoop or whatever summary » If so, you’re chained in Plato’s Cave » Read as I was falling asleep in bed – Read while I was also participating in the distracting world of Social Media SOLUTION: Read while sitting up, totally awake, in a chair at a table with a pen, actively annotating and making notes as you go.

7. If you don’t understand what you’re reading in a language arts class: Ask yourself the following questions: – If I’m already reading actively while awake and not distracted, is it because I don’t understand what I’m reading? SOLUTIONS: – Critically read. It works. – Look up unfamiliar vocabulary (super-easy on Kindle or iBooks) – Listen to an audiobook while you also read and scan the pages visually. – After reading the original text, read an online summary – Use FaceTime or Skype or whatever to chat about the chapter after reading with a friend for five minutes – Write a summary of what you read, and then questions about what you don’t understand will emerge (ask Matheny via email or in class) – Create a sample quiz for yourself or take one of the many online quizzes – Draw an illustration of what you read – Make an appointment during office hours to discuss your reading process

8. Revising your process for more success … How will you change your reading process to more accurately retain the text you’re reading?