How to Read Faster & Recall More

Improve your reading speed and skill.

Through fast and effective reading, you can increase your knowledge base and enjoy literary works. Improving your reading speed and recall is simple with practice and dedication to the task. While it does take time and effort, you can effectively improve your reading abilities, regardless of how much you may currently struggle with the task. By following a systematic process of reading improvement activities, you can become a rapid and fluent reader.

Instructions

1. Set the scene for reading. Your reading speed and recall will suffer if you attempt to read in an environment that is not conducive to the practice. Select a calm, quiet place to read, as you will be better able to focus upon the task at hand. Turn off the television and do not play music, as these outside noises serve only as a distraction.

2. Preview the passage. Look at the title and basic structure of the passage before you begin to acquire a basic understanding of what to expect from the text. Also, glance over any photos and charts, as well as their captions, so these added elements do not slow down your actual reading.

3. Skim the passage, focusing on the verbs and nouns within the passage. If you are only trying to glean some information from the text, you may be able to skim. To do this, move quickly through the text, skipping over any unnecessary words, like articles and conjunctions, and focusing instead on the meaning-laden words such as nouns and verbs. At the end of each paragraph, ask yourself if you understood what the paragraph said. If you did, move on. If you didn't, skim the passage again.

4. Trace the line of text with your finger. If you must read the entire passage, keep yourself on track as you read by tracing the text. This practice prevents your eyes from jumping back and forth between lines of text and helps you better focus upon the task at hand.

5. Underline complex words as you read, and return to them later. Do not stop as you read to determine meanings. Instead, underline the words so you can return to them later. You may find that they are explained further down the line, and you never have to return to them.

6. Circle key terms. By circling the key terms, you help yourself develop an understanding of the most important elements of the text. You can return to these circled words later to review the passage and ensure your understanding.

7. Compose a post-reading summary. Your summary can either be written or oral. This summary should demonstrate your understanding of the text. The summary is not intended for an outside audience, but instead is for you to use as a tool to test your understanding. If you can successfully create a summary, then you likely understood the text fully.

References

• Scholastic: New Research on an Old Problem - A Brief History of Fluency
• Scholastic: Strategies to use During and After Reading