Reading Strategies for Students How to Read a Text Book Reading Strategies for Students

How is a Text book different from a novel? Heavier & larger Pages are larger & more colorful Contains pictures, charts, graphs Each page has bold, highlighted & colored text to point out key words & topics Chapters end with reflection questions, study guides, & activities Contains a glossary & index

Reading a Novel Let’s first think about a novel… What is your purpose for reading a novel? Entertainment How do you read a novel? Start to finish How is a novel organized? Into chapters Sequence with a beginning, middle, & end

Reading a Textbook Now let’s compare that to textbook… What is your purpose for reading a textbook? Information How do you read a textbook? Skimming by topic How is a novel organized? Into sections Not sequential- by topics

How is reading a textbook different from reading a novel? With a novel you think sequentially With a textbook you think conceptually Beginning Middle End Topic Subtopic Details subtopic

How is reading a text book different from reading a novel? Do not read from start to finish! Do not read word for word! Skim text Look at charts & pictures Look ahead to questions at the end Read bold print Take notes Stop to think/reflect/question/summarize

Parts of a Textbook Table of Contents Chapters Headings & Sub headings Charts/Graphs/Pictures Captions Chapter Study Guides/Review Resources Glossary Index

Find out how your textbook Chapters are organized Cover page Chapter is broken down into lessons Key concepts & Vocabulary given for each lesson Lessons are broken down into sections (red text) Sections broken down into subsections (blue text) Lesson Review & Connection at the end of each lesson Chapter Review at the end

Textbook Tips Know what the symbols & icons mean Get familiar with the student resources Look for the ‘BIG IDEA’ icon Look for the ‘Key Concepts’ icon Look at & read the pictures & graphs first Pay attention to bold & highlighted words

So How Do you Read a textbook? Silent reading is most effective Textbook reading strategies: Survey Skim Connect to what you’ve learned in class Reread parts that confuse you Summarize key points Take notes in outline format Lecture to the wall- verbalize what you read

Define your purpose The way you read your textbook depends upon your purpose for reading What is your purpose for reading? Answer questions at the end Assigned Reading Look for information Study for a test

Reading to Answer Questions Look ahead to the question Skim through the headings to find the section where that topic is discussed Skim the section looking for key words in your question Once you find the key words slow down & read carefully for the answer Repeat for the next question (Hint…Usually questions go in order of the chapter) Let’s look at Chapter 5 Review- question 5 (pg. 176)

Reading to Find Information Use the Index or the Table of Contents to find where your topic can be found Skim until you find key words related to your topic Slow down & read carefully once your find the information you are looking for Find this information: How did Aristotle’s & Democritus’s view on matter differ?

Assigned Readings Introductory Reading 1. Survey text looking at key concepts, vocabulary, pictures & graphs 2. Skim the section quickly pausing at section headings, subheadings, bold, & highlighted words then speed up again 3. Close your book, stop & think about what you read- jot down an overview of what the section is about from what you remember 4. Now go back & reread the section for comprehension. Skim parts you already know, slow down on parts that confuse you. 5. Take notes on items you want to review or seemed unclear about Let’s try it together: Chapter 1 Lesson 1

Reading to Review Information Mastery Reading First read your lecture notes (anything found in both lecture notes & chapter is extra important) Go the chapter & read the summary and review questions at the end Skim through each section reading the key concepts & vocabulary- Slow down on sections that confuse you Skim each section & summarize key points verbally (lecture to the wall) Keep doing this in 15 min. chunks until you feel comfortably with the entire passage Review one more time right before bed

Let’s Recap what we learned about reading Textbooks… Survey first Look for pictures, charts, and graphic organizers. These items are most important. Read the headings and all subheadings. These are the chapter's main ideas and give you a map for reading Pay attention to key concepts & vocabulary words Think about your purpose for reading & adjust your reading strategies for that purpose Summarize main ideas either verbally or in writing Take notes to help you remember difficult concepts Read in short chunks

Don’t let this happen to you… Learn textbook reading strategies!