Improve Reading Efficiency and Comprehension

Reading To Remember

Get the mechanics right

○ Make eye contact with all the text not being deliberately skimmed
○ See multiple words in each eye fixation
○ Strive to expand the width of each eye fixation (on an 8.5" width, strive
for three fixations or less per line)
○ Snap eyes from one fixation point to another (horizontal snaps on long
lines, vertical snap if whole line can be seen with one fixation)
○ Get formal training from a reading center if needed

Strategy

○ Know what you are looking for. Identify the material that satisfies the purpose for which you are reading.
○ Skim the reading material first

• primes the memory
  
• orients the thinking
  
• think about the headings: they identify what can be skimmed rapidly, what needs more thoughtful reading
  

Tactics

○ Read with a purpose.
○ THINK about what you read. The more you think about it, the more you will remember. Ask yourself questions about what you read, as you are reading and afterward.

• Is it satisfying your purpose?
  
• How does it relate to what you already know? ... and need to know?
  
• What is not said that should be?
  
• What is said that you think is wrong or needs elaboration?
  
• What do you not understand?
  
• What needs special effort to remember?
  
• How can you use this understanding and information?
  

○ Pause and rehearse (after every minute or so, for example)
○ For each new reading segment, ask “How does this build on what I just read?”
○ Reading sessions should be limited (15 to 30 minutes)
○ At the session end, rehearse what you learned - right away, without distractions. Answer again the questions mentioned above.
○ Think about and rehearse what you read at least twice later that day.
○ Rehearse again at least once for the next 2-3 days.