In a world where technology has taken over the interests of our youth, brain-stimulating activities such as reading have been put on the backburner. Students may argue that they read all the time – when they are texting or surfing the web. However, this is not the same as traditional reading, which incites thought-provoking questions and instills creativity.
Many students may say that their interest in reading has declined, because they do not read well or cannot remember what they read. Schools try to provide reading comprehension activities that relate to what students are interested in, but teachers say that this often does not matter, because many of their students are years behind grade level when it comes to reading proficiency. Although the rise of technology can be partially to blame, there are some strategies students can use in order to improve their reading skills, which can also re-spark their interest in reading.
Here are 5 tips students can use to help them comprehend and remember what they read:
1. Read with a purpose
This sounds simple enough; students believe their purpose for reading is to either answer questions administered by the teacher, or to get an ‘A’ in a class. These can be considered end goals for a reading assignment, but the purpose pertains to the meaning behind the reading and how the purpose is being fulfilled through the actual reading. In other words, students should ask themselves, “Why am I reading this? What should I be learning from this?” This will help students remember what they are reading if they continuously check for how the purpose is being fulfilled throughout the text, and allow them to focus on the relevant parts.
2. Skim the text
Teachers often reprimand students for skimming their reading assignments, however if used correctly, skimming does often have its benefits. It helps prime the memory, orient thinking, and create an overall sense and understanding for the material. Skimming should not be used in place of fully reading text, but rather prior to fully reading, in order for students to get a better idea of what is about to come. It also puts emphasis on headings, pictures, graphs, tables, and any other key items that will help students realize what their purpose is of reading.
3. Highlight sensibly
Highlighting a few keys words as you read the text can help provide mental pictures and reminders as you go along. Just remember, it is not necessary to highlight full sentences or focus too much on what must be highlighted – this can often be counterproductive. When students become preoccupied with marking up a book, they do not pay full attention to what they are reading, and often must go back to re-read the text. After highlighting a few key words, it is important for students to create a self-quiz or outline to make sure the material is being memorized. This will help support memory foundation and create an aid for studying in the future.
4. Read in pictures
As strange as it sounds, pictures can capture the essence of a hundred words, and are much easier to remember than words. It can be helpful to make mental images of headings and sub-heads of a story, so that students can form a reference when they go back to review material. When reviewing something such as script for a play, students should try to study the meaning of the script in depth, which will automatically produce mental images and memory. Associating words with the real meaning and context creates engagement for the reader, and allows them to become interested and connected to the material. This will greatly help students remember what they have read, if they have a genuine interest.
5. Put it all together
Students should remember that using all of these tips together will yield that best results when it comes to comprehending and remembering what they’ve read. Start off by understanding the purpose behind the reading; what is it that you are trying to learn? Try skimming the text for clues of the purpose. This will also help students familiarize themselves with the material and set the tone for what they are about to fully read. While reading, they should highlight key words that pertain to the material, while trying not to over-highlight unnecessary information. Always visualize and create mental images for what is being read; students will realize that pictures create much stronger memories than words alone.