8 Powerful Tips to Remember what you Read.

8 Powerful Tips to Remember what you Read

Despite television, cell phones, and Twitter, traditional reading is still an important skill. Whether it is school textbooks, magazines, or regular books, people still read, though not as much as they used to. One reason that many people don’t read much is that they don’t read well. For them, it is slow, hard work and they don’t remember as much as they should. Students, for example,may have to read something several times before they understand and remember what they read.

Why? You would think that schools teach kids how to read well. Schools do try. I work with middle-school teachers and they tell me that many students are 2-3 years behind grade level in reading proficiency. No doubt, television, cell phones, and the Web are major contributors to this problem, which will apparently get worse if we don’t emphasize and improve reading instruction.

Some of the blame can be placed on the fads in reading teaching, such as phonics and “whole language,” which sometimes are promoted by zealots who don’t respect the need for both approaches. Much of the blame for poor reading skills can be laid at the feet of parents who set poor examples and, of course, on the youngsters who are too lazy to learn how to read well.

For all those who missed out on good reading skills, it is not too late. I summarize below what I think it takes to read with good speed and comprehension.

1. Read with a purpose.

2. Skim first.

3. Get the reading mechanics right.

4. Be judicious in highlighting and note taking.

5. Think in pictures.

6. Rehearse as you go along.

7. Stay within your attention span and work to increase that span.

8. Rehearse again soon.

Here you have it. You too can love reading and remember everything you read.

Please, comment below if you have other useful mechanisms to read and remember.

Thank you.



Credit: Sharp Brains.