Becoming a Good Reader

(How to becoming a good reader)

Reading is the probably smartest thing you can do for yourself. The path is rewarding and well-
traveled, but busy people must make a special effort to follow it.

Many people enjoy reading as a way to relax and enrich their minds. Reading is also an
increasingly critical skill to learn and develop to be successful in school and in the professional
world.
By gathering the right reading materials, employing a few strategies to increase your skills, and
maintaining a positive attitude, you can improve your reading or help a child become a better
reader.

Improving Your Reading Skills

To improve your reading skills, there are 3 part.

Part One of Three:

1. Start at a comfortable reading level.

You can advance to more difficult reading materials from there. If you attempt to read material
that is too challenging initially you are more likely to become discouraged. While challenging
yourself to read at a more advanced level is a wonderful goal, studies have shown that if you
allow yourself to become discouraged while reading you will be less likely to achieve that goal
in the long run.

2. Expand your vocabulary.

Building a greater vocabulary will make reading easier and more fun in the future. The more
words you are exposed to, the more your vocabulary will grow.

If you don't understand a word, first try to use context clues to figure out what it means.
Frequently, the rest of the words in a sentence will offer hints about what a particular word
means.

3. Practice, practice, practice.

Studies have shown that people who spend more time reading, and take in a greater volume of
reading material, develop a more extensive vocabulary and greater reading comprehension.
This improves their ability to take in knowledge more generally

Part Two of Three:

1. Making Reading Fun

Read materials that interest you. You are much more likely to commit to reading when it is an
enjoyable and engaging experience.

2. Create a pleasant reading environment.

The more you associate reading with comfort and relaxation the more likely you are to continue
developing your reading skills. Reading can become a treat, rather than a chore.

3. Make reading a social experience.

Reading doesn't have to be a solitary pursuit, and can be even more enjoyable when shared with
others.

4. Make reading a family affair.

If you can establish reading as a regular and normal activity in your household, all members of
your family will be encouraged to be better readers. It will also allow you to practice your
reading skills.

Part Three of Three:

Accessing Reading Materials

1. Visit your local library.

Public libraries offer free and unlimited access to remarkable collections of reading materials
and other types of media and technology. Getting a library card is easy and usually just requires
a photo ID, although some libraries may also require proof that you live in the area, such as a
utility bill.
2. Go online.

You can easily find discount books or reading material on the internet, without even leaving
home. You can also download e-books and other forms of media to take with you.

How to determine your reading level

Skim the first pages, and see if it makes sense to you. If it seems too simple or too difficult to
understand, it may not be in your target zone.

Try the 5-Finger Rule: read a few pages, putting up one finger for every word you struggle with.
If you put up 5 or more fingers in a single page, the book is probably above your comfort level.

Recall a book you’ve enjoyed and read comfortably, and look up its level specification online.

Build a pipeline of books at your level

Two good ways to find books are “leveled” book lists and grade-level recommendations. You
can find such lists online, compiled by reading or education specialists, and they are a great way
to explore a body of work in your comfort range.

Dolota, Mark Louie S.