Learn to read
BETTER
By Lowell Anderson
In order to learn really well, we first need to learn how to learn. Although we all have some learning ability, with a modest amount of effort we can develop our skills, and with that investment we can learn a lot more effectively. One of those areas that most of us could improve is our reading skills. It’s hard to overestimate the importance of reading. No matter how and where you learn, chances are there is a reading component. READ FASTER The first thing many people think of when it comes to improving their reading skills is increasing reading speed. Obviously, the faster you can effectively read, the more you can learn in a limited time. There are a wide
variety of books, apps and online courses for improving reading speed. Just remember that the goal is not only to read faster, but to still have good comprehension at an increased speed. The ability to read very quickly can also be great when you want to get a quick overview of the material or find a specific piece of information. It’s also important to note that there are times where we need to read slowly and carefully.
LEARN WORDS Nothing slows down reading and comprehension faster than running into unfamiliar terms or words that are unclear to you. Sometimes learning the vocabulary of a certain subject is just part of the learning process. However, if you often run into words that you may have seen before,
The Learning Life but which you’re not quite sure of, it may pay to work on improving your vocabulary. Each specific word has an idea associated with it, so the more words you know, the more ideas you can absorb. HAVE A PLAN Reading for the purpose of learning is usually a lot more than the simple process of reading from beginning to end. If you really want to learn, you need a strategy. Although some people may be able to remember everything they read, most of us need some way to retain, review and organize the material. This may involve taking notes, highlighting or underlining. Stopping occasionally to
review and organize the information in your mind can also be helpful. You may also need to read something more than once to really learn it. Skimming, or reading very quickly, can be a great way to get a general idea of the subject before going back and studying it in depth. When it comes time to review, the skill of scanning, or looking over the material very quickly to find specific information, can be helpful. The key is to find a strategy that works for you. Remember, effective learning is hard work and is not usually easy. Have a plan and work your plan.
May/June 2022 Chicz
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