It can feel overwhelming to struggle with reading comprehension.Improving your reading comprehension can be fun.By changing where and how you read, you can improve your comprehension and make reading more enjoyable.
Step 1: Distractions from your environment.
If you want to improve your reading comprehension, you have to read in a place where you can concentrate.Turn off electronics and remove distraction from your environment.Turn off the TV and music in the room you are in.If you have a phone with you, turn it off or silent and place it somewhere that won't distract you from your reading.If you can't eliminate distraction from your environment, move.If you need to have peace and quiet, move to the library, study room, or even the bathroom.Try to listen to classical or ambient music without lyrics.
Step 2: If you are reading something that is above your level, you should use a helper.
If you're comfortable talking to someone above your level, read with that person.If you have any issues, they can help you talk through the text with someone else.If you want to be able to answer after you finish, you should have your helpers draw up some key comprehension questions that you can preview before you start reading.After you finish your reading, have your helpers ask you questions about the content to see if you understand it.If you can't answer a question, look in the book for the answer.If you are reading a difficult piece of writing, use online resources to find summaries and comprehension questions.
Step 3: You should read aloud.
Reading aloud is a great way to slow down and give yourself more time to process what you're reading.An added benefit of slow reading is that you can see the words on the page and hear them spoken aloud.Don't be afraid to get narrated books if you decide that hearing spoken words improves your comprehension.If you want to improve comprehension, you should read the books and hear them spoken.It is best to not have children read aloud in front of other people.Rather than having them read to themselves, just have them do it.To follow along with the words you read aloud, use your finger, pencil, or notecard.You can get a better understanding of the reading if you stay focused.
Step 4: If you want to improve your comprehension, read the text again.
Sometimes when we finish a paragraph or page, we realize that we don't remember what we read.This is normal.Re-reading what you have just read will refresh your memory and improve your comprehension.If you don't understand something the first time around, read slowly the second time and make sure you understand what you read.You may have a harder time understanding what comes later if you don't remember what came earlier in the book.
Step 5: At or below your level is where you should start.
It's important that your reading level is comfortable but also challenging.Instead of starting with books that are very difficult, read books you are comfortable with first and develop a baseline of reading comprehension to build off of.You shouldn't be trying to figure out what words mean when reading books at your level.You may be reading at a higher level if you experience this kind of difficulty.The Oxford Bookworms test can be used to determine your reading level.If you're reading for a class and the book is above your level, read it as best you can, but continue to read other books.The harder books will help you understand them.
Step 6: Get better at understanding what you read by improving your vocabulary.
It's going to be hard to improve your reading comprehension if you don't know what a word means.If you want to study word definitions 2 to 3 times a week, you should have a rough idea of your vocabulary level.You should have a dictionary or computer with you.Write the definition down in your notes when you find a word you don't know.It may take more time to read.Read a lot of books.The context of the sentence can give a clear definition of a word.The more you read, the better you will be at guessing the meaning of a word.Start with books that you fully understand and work your way up if you're below your level.If you want to improve your vocabulary, read books that are above your level.
Step 7: If you read books over and over again, you'll gain fluency.
It's the ability to read and comprehend words at a certain speed.If you want to improve your ability to read, read books twice or three times.
Step 8: Take some paper with you to keep notes in.
Taking notes is a good way to boost comprehension.You can use a notebook if you're reading for a class.If you're reading for fun, grab as many pieces of paper as you need.If possible, take notes on paper instead of using a laptop or other electronic device.A deeper and richer understanding of the material under study has been linked with the writing of physical notes.Take notes in the margins if you own the book.Take a picture of what you remember about the chapter, section, or paragraph.If your reading comprehension is good, you don't need to take notes.Don't change the novel.You can't follow what was going on chronologically in the story at a given point if you write so few notes.Whenever a major event happens, or a new character is introduced, write it down in your notes.You can refer to your notes later if you keep them together.Put loose-leaf paper into a binder with tabs for each different story.
Step 9: Questions about the theme or the author's intentions can be asked.
Asking questions will help you improve your comprehension by getting you involved in the story.In order to figure out what's going on, you need to ask some questions and get some answers.Write down your questions and answers in your notes.Did the main character let the cat out the back door for a reason or was the author just trying to fill space?The author starts the book in a cemetery.Does the setting of the book say anything about the main character?What is the relationship between these two people?They seem like enemies, but could it be that they like each other?After you finish a section or a chapter, try to make sense of the story by posing these sorts of questions.Predict what the answer will be.When the answer is revealed, ask yourself what supporting details in the book make the best explanation for the story.
Step 10: The 2-column method can be used to take notes.
To organize your notes when reading, divide your paper into 2 columns.In the left column, write down information and material that comes out of the reading, including page number, summaries and quotations, and in the right column for your own comments on what you read.If you want to refer back to something you read, you need to know where it was, and you have to include this information in any citations.The main point of what you read should be summarized in most of the notes you make in the left column.If you write down any quotes from the book, make sure to use quotation marks.The notes you make in the right column should reflect how you find what you are reading to relate to your own ideas.
Step 11: Don't read a book linearly, look at the important sections first.
Use the organization of the piece to guide you if you are reading factual information.Get a better sense of where important information is by reading summaries, introductions, and conclusions first.Look for the main idea in each section and then read around it.It comes very early in the section.To determine where to read first, you should use the table of contents, section headings, and titles.
Step 12: Class guidelines are in mind when you read them.
If you are reading for a class, read for information that is relevant to the class.Pay less attention to the rest of the reading and focus on what you need to learn from it.To get a sense of class guidelines, look over the syllabus or outline for the class and pay attention to what the instructor emphasizes in class.You should look over your homework assignments and quizzes to see what information comes from your reading.
Step 13: You can use the digital information to your advantage.
To find the relevant passages in the book, use the words or phrases that you have selected.It is a good idea to only read useful material and not waste time on irrelevant parts.If you don't have the ability to electronically search the book, you can look for phrases in the index and find where they are.