Many people enjoy reading as a way to relax and enrich the mind. Reading is also an important skill that needs to be learned and developed as a means to achieve success both in school and in the professional world. By gathering the right reading material, implementing some skill-building strategies, and maintaining a positive attitude, you can improve reading skills or help a child become a better reader.
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Part 1 of 3: Improving Reading Skills
Step 1. Start with a comfortable reading level
After that you can move on to more difficult reading material. If that's okay, you've already started with reading material that's too difficult, chances are your interest will soon subside. You may want to challenge yourself to read at an advanced level, that's a great goal, but research shows that if your passion fades away while reading, it will be more difficult for you to reach that goal in the long run.
- Read the first few pages quickly. If you have trouble understanding what the author is trying to convey, chances are you won't enjoy the book.
- Before you choose a book with a very narrow focus, such as a particular scientific paper or historical treatise, it may be a good idea to familiarize yourself with books that cover more general topics first.
- Use the five finger rule. Choose a book, and read the first two or three pages. Hold up one finger for each word you can't pronounce or don't understand. If you hold up five or more fingers, the book may be too hard. Educators have used this method for years, and it can be applied to both children and adults.
Step 2. Expand your vocabulary
A wider vocabulary will make reading easier and make it more fun in the future. The more words you know, the more your vocabulary will grow.
- If you don't understand a word, first try using context to guess what it means. Often, other words in the sentence will give clues as to what the word means.
- Open a dictionary to look up the meaning of a word you don't recognize or understand. Write these words down so you can review them later so they can stick in your memory and make them part of your vocabulary. Keep this collection of words for personal reference.
- Use the new words you learn in everyday conversation. Actively using new words in everyday life will ensure that you remember them.
Step 3. Practice often
Research shows that people who spend more time reading, and devour large amounts of reading material, develop a wider vocabulary and have greater reading comprehension skills. Thus, their ability to understand general knowledge also increases.
- Developing reading skills takes hard work, just like any other skill. Take time to read every day. There is no agreement among literacy experts on exactly how much time should be dedicated to reading as it varies by age, skill level and ability. However, the rule of the game that should be remembered is consistency. If you have to take frequent breaks while reading, that's fine. Even if you're practicing, reading should be a fun experience.
- Bring a book with you to read on the bus or on the train ride, or to read on your lunch break. Having reading material that you can easily pick up during your breaks will allow you to read regularly.
- Read the words in a book or other reading aloud. Reading aloud, to yourself or to others, can improve reading and spelling skills. However, don't force nervous readers to read aloud, especially in front of a group. The fear of being humiliated or humiliated can make it a terrible experience for an insecure reader.
- Visualize the story you are reading, paying attention to the introduction of characters and places. Try to see each one in mind. “Seeing” the story will make it more real and easier to remember.
Part 2 of 3: Making Reading Fun
Step 1. Read the literature that interests you
If reading becomes a fun and engaging experience, it will likely make it easier for you to commit. If you're bored while reading, you're more likely to put down your book and keep yourself busy with other activities.
- Look for books that relate to a hobby, career, goal, or topic that piques your interest. There are books covering any imaginable topic, and they are available at local libraries, bookstores and the internet so you can access them very easily.
- Don't limit yourself to monographs. Comic books and graphic novels can be a powerful way to get children and young adults addicted to reading. A collection of short stories can also be a great option for those who don't want to read too long.
- Read magazines that cover your area of interest. Whether you're interested in motorcycle maintenance, gardening, bird watching, or a 19th-century architect, there's sure to be a magazine to meet your needs. These magazines usually contain long articles with trusted sources.
Step 2. Create a fun reading environment
The more you associate reading with comfort and relaxation, the more likely you are to continue developing your reading skills. Reading can be a gift, not a chore.
- Find a quiet place to read so you won't be distracted. Avoid distractions such as TV or radio, or people who have the potential to disturb you. Make sure the place is well lit and you can relax there. Hold the book about 35 cm from your face (approximately the distance from your elbow to your wrist).
- Create a comfortable and enjoyable reading area. The corner of the house with good lighting plus comfortable pillows creates a fun atmosphere for reading.
- If you are helping someone read, be positive. Negative feedback will only discourage a novice reader. So, keep the mood optimistic.
Step 3. Make reading a social experience
Reading does not need to be done alone, sharing with others will make the activity more enjoyable.
- Form a book club with friends. Making reading a social experience can inspire you to continue to hone your skills. Friends can also provide encouragement to one another.
- Start an online blog with reviews of the latest books you've read. Invite others to share their opinion about the work.
- Go to a coffee shop or cafe frequented by people who love to read. Watching other people read can inspire you, or introduce you to interesting book titles. Invite one of the visitors to talk about the literature they have read.
- Consider taking a course organized by your local campus, or at a community center. You can learn new skills, research topics that interest you, and practice your reading skills.
- Read an interesting paragraph to family or friends. You can encourage them to improve their reading skills too.
Step 4. Make reading a family event
If you can make reading a regular activity at home, the whole family will feel motivated to become better readers. You will also get the opportunity to practice your reading skills.
- Parents can help their children become good readers by reading books from an early age. Reading books helps children develop language and listening skills, which will prepare them to understand the written word.
- Keep books in easy-to-reach places at home and have age-appropriate books available so they can read them on their own. Even if your child can't read on his own yet, developing early reading skills, such as holding a book properly and turning the page, is an important step towards becoming a reader.
- Reading time with family can be used as moments to establish closeness with children. You may live a busy life, and it is often difficult to spend quality time with your family. Try to schedule daily reading with your children as part of your routine.
- Be patient if your child starts to like one book and wants to read it many times. Favorite stories can provide comfort to the child or according to a particular interest that is currently attracting their attention. In addition, rereading the same words and sentences over and over again helps children to begin to recognize words by looking at them.
Part 3 of 3: Accessing Reading Materials
Step 1. Visit your local library
Public libraries offer free and unrestricted access to an incredible collection of literature and other types of media and technology. Getting a library card is easy and usually only requires an ID with a photo, although some libraries may ask for proof that you live in the area, such as a phone bill.
- The library is a great place to find books and the librarian is there to help you. As well as being trained to help visitors as effectively as possible to provide a memorable experience, librarians are a source of information you shouldn't miss. Ask the librarian for books they can suggest for a specific topic, or a more general genre, or help find a specific title.
- Finding reading material that interests you is the first step in improving your reading skills. Read the back cover of the book or the inside of the book jacket for a summary of the plot. Usually, you can tell right away if a book will continue to interest you.
- Most libraries allow you to borrow more than one title at a time. Bringing home a few books gives you a varied range of reading.
Step 2. Visit a bookstore in the area where you live
Decide what kind of bookstore will suit your needs before leaving the house. You can visit various bookstores that are usually scattered in the area around campus or urban areas.
- A large chain of bookstores with branches everywhere stocking all kinds of books from self-improvement books to novels to textbooks. If you're not sure what book you're looking for, these types of large bookstores can provide a wide variety of reading material to help you narrow down your choices.
- If the book you're looking for is more specific, look for a bookstore that has the type of book that interests you. Children's bookstores are designed to provide a more relaxed and fun atmosphere for young readers.
- Buying books from your local small bookstore is a great way to support local businesses in your neighborhood. You can find unique books in small shops like these, such as books by local authors that have not been shown nationally.
- Ask for a recommendation from a bookstore salesperson. Usually, people who work in bookstores or bookstore owners are there because they love to read. You can get various recommendations from them.
Step 3. Visit a garage sale or thrift store
You don't have to go to the library or spend a fortune to find a good book. You can get used books at low prices, sometimes with small change in your pocket.
Step 4. Visit a sales or thrift store
Stores of this kind allow you to browse reading materials for interesting titles or collections. Sometimes, people sell their entire personal collection in one set.
- Be careful when buying used books. Don't forget to check the book carefully before buying to make sure there are no missing or damaged pages. Turn the entire page of the book to make sure that nothing is badly torn or damaged by water.
- You can haggle for the price of books or other reading materials that interest you when you visit a garage sale. Sometimes, the person selling the book doesn't realize the damage in the book can lower the price of the item.
Step 5. Buy a book on the internet
You can find books or other literature at a discount on the internet, without leaving your home. You can also download e-books and other forms of media at your disposal.
- Used books are available in many online stores. Used books are basically much cheaper than new books. Most sellers also give an assessment of the condition of the book in terms of eligibility as well as showcase quotes from inside the book or other interesting things.
- Nowadays more and more information is available for free on the internet. Look for websites or blogs that interest you and become a follower. You can easily find online blogs with book reviews. That way, you can explore other books or authors.
- Consider purchasing a portable reading device to make it easier for you to access your reading in digital format. While there's nothing quite like the experience of holding a book in your hand, digital reading devices make it very easy to carry several different e-books with you wherever you go in one small device so you don't have to carry around heavy books and magazines.
- Many public libraries now allow you to “borrow” e-books for free for a certain period, say two weeks.
Tips
- Don't miss the kids section! Many books written for children turn out to be extraordinary stories.
- Don't give up if you feel frustrated or have a headache. If you're not used to reading regularly, the activity can be difficult at first. Just keep going and you will get rewarded later.
- Don't be upset when you come across a book you don't understand at all. As you read, your personal vocabulary will expand, but if a book contains too many unclear and/or difficult words, take another.
- If you're a fan of a popular movie or TV show, look for a database of fan-written fiction featuring characters or settings from the movie or show that's freely accessible. Famous writers often contribute to these “fanfiction” sites for fun. Visiting these kinds of sites can be a fun way to enjoy reading.
Warning
- Difficulty reading may be caused by vision. If you have blurred vision and have trouble seeing the writing on the pages of a book, visit an ophthalmologist to have your eyes checked.
- If you are an adult who has difficulty reading, remember that you are not alone. In the United States alone, fourteen percent of the adult population has difficulty reading printed adult literature, while nearly 29% of adults struggle to understand reading material with difficulty above the most basic level.
- However, if after following the steps above, you or your child is still struggling to read, you may have a reading disability problem. Reading disabilities and reading difficulties may be difficult to distinguish, even though they have different root causes. The inability to read is largely due to the brain's difficulty processing speech sounds. Reading difficulties usually stem from a lack of exposure to reading education.
