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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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)

13. 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?

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

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