Reading, just like any other skill, is a learned one. It doesn’t come easy or overnight. However, by following a few simple steps as

Reading, just like any other skill, is a learned one. It doesn’t come easy or overnight. However, by following a few simple steps as highlighted below, it will go a long way to really help you read better.

1. Understand why you’re reading (find information, enjoy the story or to follow in-class instructions). If it’s just for school or uni, then focus on the work set for you as your teacher/tutor is likely to request you simply recite that text by heart rather than for meaning or context. If you’re reading for pleasure – then find books on subjects.

2. Read for gist. If time is yours – quickly read the title and think about what you’re about to read and of any words that come to mind. Write any words down if you can on some paper to check back later. Consider how the story may develop and why. Captions, titles and headlines really help to stimulate thinking.

3. So, you’ve got your time set – you’re going to set aside 30 minutes a day. Now think about what you’re going to do with that reading time – do you want to learn more vocabulary or simply to enrich your contextual understanding of words so you can develop your own perspective and connections?

4. Have that pen and paper to hand as you read so you can write down new vocabulary. Think about or write a sentence of how it could be used in the world around you. This way, you learn to use the new word while it’s still fresh in your mind.

5. Remember to think about what’s going on in the text or the story – is it a story about information, to persuade you or simply to give you some helpful information? Once you’ve got this, think about the central them, maybe some problems or solutions or comparing ideas. This will accelerate your reading comprehension skills.

6. Don’t forget to write a paragraph or two of what you’ve just read from your own perspective, in your own words and at your own pace.

7. Finally, talk about what you’ve just read. Talk to a friend, a parent, or a plant