Adult and Children’s Literacy Resource

One of the most important aspects to building reading skill is to recognize that there is more than one way to read.  The way you choose to read should depend on the *type* of reading you are doing.

First, you should look at the *level* at which you are being asked to read.  Is it an advanced scholarly work, or just a simple blog entry such as this.  Learning to spot the differences is essential in determining the level of concentration and sophistication you will need to bring to your reading.

Next, if the material you are reading is of a subject that is new to you, start out with a short reading session, then take some time to reflect on what you have just read.  This will give your brain time to assimilate and understand the new material.  As you progress in the new field of study, you will be able to devote longer stretches of time to reading as you become more familiar with the material.

Another helpful tip, especially if the subject matter of the material is new to you, is to take notes.  For serious reading, as apposed to pleasure reading, you should always have a pen and notepad handy for taking notes.  Note items that you find interesting, or that you feel may be important for later consideration.

As you go along, ask yourself questions about the material.  How did the author reach this conclusion?  How would I react in that situation given the same facts?  This type of “self talk” will greatly help your comprehension and reading skills.

To avoid losing track on the page and re-reading material, use you finger or some other guide to track your position on the page.  This will help make you a more efficient reader.

Additionally, having the proper lighting on your reading space is essential.  It is very hard to build reading skills and comprehension when you cannot see the text!  Also, dimly lit rooms encourage drowsiness.

Lastly, here are a few tips for tackling large texts:  First, skim the book, taking no more than a couple of minutes per chapter.  Make notes of areas you feel will deserve more attention.  Second, Read the most important areas of the text first.  This will be very helpful if you are facing a deadline with our reading.  If you find yourself running out of time, you will at least have a basic understanding of the material instead of a deep understanding of only a portion.

There are many reasons to read aloud to a child:  to entertain, to pass along knowledge, and to promote educational development.  Perhaps the most important reason to read aloud to a child is to encourage the child’s metal connection between happiness and reading.

Reading aloud can also improve a child’s vocabulary, as they are likely to hear words that would not occur in everyday conversation.  In fact, as the child grows, it is important to pick books with an increasingly challenging vocabulary.  In the beginning, stick with simple nursery rhyme books.

It is important to discuss the story with the child once it is completed.  This aids in their understanding of the material.  Also, vary the topics of the books read to maintain the child’s interest.  The sooner you begin a reading program, the better it will be for the child.

You can encourage development of children’s imaginations by inviting them to draw pictures about the story they were just read.  This further enforces the children’s associations between reading and happiness.

It is best for the child if you consistently set aside a particular time daily to do you reading.  If the book you are reading is long, try beginning a reading session with a short summary of the previous section.  This will assure continuity in the story.  Further, you should always finish your current book before starting another.  Attention spans are short in children.  Another idea to keep their attention would be to try and end each reading session with a “cliffhanger.”  This will also further exercise their imaginations as they attempt to guess the next twist in the plot.

Finally, do not be discouraged if your reading aloud is a little rough at the start.  A tip to improve your story telling ability is to read through the material yourself before you begin your session.  Reading aloud takes practice to keep the flow of the story interesting.  But the most important part of the exercise is to have fun reading!