Back when you were at school, was there ever a time when you found yourself reaching the last page of a textbook chapter but then you really couldn’t quite remember how you got there or quite what you had just read? Chances are you’re quietly nodding, as most of us did at one point. It didn’t mean you were stupid or incapable of learning, but rather that at some point you just ‘zoned out’.

This actually happens a great deal, with even the smartest kids. And most make the same confession when asked why they thought it happened; they had been told to read the chapter in x amount of time and completing that task was foremost in their mind, rather than actually comprehending the real meanings behind the text they were reading. They kept turning the pages and reading, racing to meet that 7pm (or whatever) deadline. It’s sometimes called reading for completion, not comprehension and it can be a real grade killer.

With the amount of reading students do have to do, in class, for homework and in test situations, speed is important, but not at the cost of comprehension. Therefore if you want to help your student excel helping them strengthen their reading comprehension skills is a must. Here are some simple tips for doing just that.

 

Suggest Your Student Start a Textbook From the Back

OK, that sounds a little crazy and certainly counterproductive. But hear us out. Basically the idea is to review the material at the end before actually reading a chapter. It’s a pre-reading strategy that primes the brain to take in the information the student will then go back and read and it is a proven retention and comprehension booster that actually often improves both the student’s comprehension of the material they are studying and the speed at which they read it.

 

Have Your Student Read with a Note Card

This is another ‘old-fashioned’ study trick that although not very sophisticated really works. Again, the idea is simple. As they read the student covers up what they have already read with a note card. The human brain will often get a little lazy and skip reading too closely as we know we can always go back and pick up any information we missed later. Taking away that option trains the mind to read things properly the first time around.

 

Notes, Notes and More Notes

Study after study has proven that simple note taking improves reading retention by 25-30% in older children and teenagers. It’s really that easy, take more notes and they’ll remember more later on.

However, as we all know, most students hate wasting time taking notes and are likely to just not want to do it. That is where you have to come in and explain that a little extra work now really will pay off big down the line, whether that means getting a better test score or simply being able to provide the right answer when called upon to do so in class.

If your student really struggles with note taking while reading have them start small, noting down one comment for each heading and sub-heading after their first read through of a section. That alone is a great start and your student will likely quickly find that note taking isn’t actually that hard after all and begin to make greater, and better, use of the practice over time.

 

Allow Breaks and Breathers

Sometimes a student will zone out while reading because either the piece is so dry and boring they simply can’t pay attention – it’s fair to say that many textbooks were not written for reader enjoyment – or they are struggling with the concepts presented to the point where they just ‘can’t’ keep trying to take them in.

In these cases, allow your student to take a brief break to regroup and focus on what is tripping them up. If it is because the book is boring breaking up sessions into smaller chunks can be a big help. If they are struggling to grasp certain concepts, they can take the time to define which ones those are so that they can ask for the extra help they might need from their teachers or even from you!