1. IMPROVE YOUR READING RATE
And MAXIMIZE YOUR COMPREHENSION
Presentation provided by UTPB West Texas Literacy Center an HSI funded program. HSI is a federally funded program granted by the Department of Education Title V programs.
Developed by: Ana Miller, M.A.. Ed., Reading Specialist

2. WHY SHOULD I IMPROVE MY READING RATE?
In college, you have more to read and less time
Reading too slowly reduces comprehension
Reading too slowly does not stimulate your brain and decreases interest in the text
You have the capability-1 trillion brain cells and the visual capacity to take in a full page of text in 1/20 of a second
Reading 500+ wpm is attainable

3. WHAT FACTORS REDUCE READING RATE AND COMPREHENSION?
Limited perceptual span or excessive fixation: Word-by-word reading, pointing
Regression: Needless or unconscious rereading, habitual and signals lack of concentration
Vocalization: Moving your lips while reading
Subvocalization: Talking to yourself in your head as you read silently
Physical habits: Tapping foot, pencil
Distractors: Watching TV, eating, interruptions, etc.
Lack of reading practice
THESE FACTORS REDUCE READING SPEED, COMPREHENSION AND RECALL

4. WHAT FACTORS INCREASE READING RATE AND COMPREHENSION?
Set yourself up to succeed – read in a quiet distraction free environment
Do not read on your bed
Read actively: Set your purpose for reading and self-monitor
Increase your eye-span - Chunking
PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE READING!!!

5. AVERAGE READING RATES
Adult – 250 WPM with 70% comprehension (Smith, 2005)
College Student – 300 WPM
Slow Readers – 150 WPM or less or 250 WPM with limited comprehension

6. Speed Reading Test!

7. INCREASE EYE SPAN - CHUNKING
Eye span is the number of words that you read at one time
Chunking 2 words doubles rate, 3 words triples, 4 words quadruples…
Increases comprehension
Focus is on how the words fit together to make meaning, rather than on each individual word in isolation
PEN AS A PACER TECHNIQUE
Goal – To increase the number of words within a chunk

8. SPEED READING IS NOT MAGIC IT REQUIRES:
The desire to improve your reading skills
The willingness to try new techniques in reading
The motivation to practice reading

9. STOP!

10. TYPES OF READING Scanning – Telephone book, dictionary
Skimming – Surveying, previewing, checking relevance of text
Light Reading – Reading for leisure, novels, wpm
Word by word – Scientific information, unfamiliar terms
Study Reading – SQ4R (Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Rite, Review) Goal: In depth comprehension
ADJUST YOUR SPEED ACCORDING TO YOUR PURPOSE FOR READING AND THE DIFFICULTY OF THE TEXT

11. Research Based Reading Study Method: SQ4R
SURVEY – Skim title, subheadings, graphics, captions, boldface terms, first one to two paragraphs, summary
As you skim, ask yourself, “What do I know about these topics?”
Bring in your background knowledge and your prior experiences
Take no more than 5 minutes for an average chapter

12. SQ4R
QUESTION - Turn the first subheading into a question using how, why, what, when, where, who?
This technique creates reading for a purpose – you are now seeking an answer
Improves focus and concentration

13. SQ4R
READ – Quickly and selectively-remember that you are searching for an answer to your question
Read only one section or a few paragraphs, depending on the difficulty of the text
RECITE – Answer your question ALOUD
If you can’t say it, you don’t know it.

14. SQ4R RITE – This is the note-taking step
Writing the answer to your question and other relevant information doubles retention
Cornell Method, Outline, Double and Triple Column Journal, Graphics, Post-it-Notes
This step creates an ongoing study guide
REPEAT THE CYCLE: Question, Read, Recite, Rite as you read the next section of text. Repeat this cycle until you have completed the reading assignment or the chapter

15. QUESTION, READ, RECITE, RITE CYCLE

16. SQ4R
REVIEW – When you have completed the reading assignment, following the Question, Read, Recite, and Rite cycle, survey again, answering your questions as you skim
One week later, review the information again
Review each week until you are tested, creating a cumulative weekly review
This step transfers information from short-term memory to long-term memory
Take 5 minutes to Review

17. ELIMINATE SUBVOCALIZATION
The inner voice experienced as a slight movement in the tongue or throat region
Slows down reading to about 250 wpm, the speed of normal speech
REMEDY
Decrease eye fixation: Word-for-word reading

18. References http://www.studyhall.com
Rood, S. (2000). Improving Reading Speed and Comprehension. Longwood University.
Smith, B. (2004). Breaking through college reading. 7E. NY: Longman.