If you’re already an avid reader and are just working on further increasing your reading speed and comprehension, congratulations! You know how much better you’re able to get through your workday in an efficient manner, and you enjoy being able to read a variety of fiction and nonfiction books from the wealth of resources from your local library or e-book store. But if you’re not someone who finds reading easy, or if you’re a parent who’s concerned about making sure that your child has the reading skills they need to succeed, then these five factors for reading success are important things to keep in mind.
1. Read what you like. When you’re struggling to read, having to deal with uninteresting topics makes the process even harder. This is especially important for children, but it’s also very easy to let kids choose what they want to read in the beginning. Adults will also benefit from starting with familiar, enjoyable material. If you’re working on basic reading skills, make it as fun as possible – there will be time later to work on handling more difficult texts.
2. Make sure you understand what you read. A book that you picked because it’s about your favorite sport fits the “what you like” factor, but if it’s written using unfamiliar words, it might still be difficult. Take the time to look up words and make sure that you comprehend one section before moving on to the next one. Parents and teachers can help children by asking questions about the material in a non-judgmental way, and without putting pressure on the child to read faster. Like any skill, reading ability will grow stronger over time.
3. Review vocabulary and information by writing about what you read. Good reading skills are built on a good vocabulary and a good grasp of facts on a variety of topics. The more you know, the better and faster you’ll be at reading texts. One of the best ways to make sure that the words and facts stay in your memory is by writing a short summary after you’re done with the text, using the new words you’ve learned.
4. Talk about what you read with other people. Like a written review, conversation about a book you’ve read will help keep it in your memory. What’s more, you’ll find that it’s fun to talk about books with other people. Look for book groups in your area and expand your social life as well as your speed reading skills.
5. Read aloud to children. When you read to a child, and have a conversation about the book with them, you’ll encourage good reading habits at an early age. You can also have an older child read aloud to you, giving you the opportunity to help with pronunciation. The earlier a child begins to work on their reading skills, the better chances they’ll have in school, which will give them the advantage in higher education and careers down the road.
