Skills All Readers Need and Use
Skills All Readers Need and Use
All readers use skills when they read. The more they use these skills, the more automatic the skills become — just like learning to ride a bike. Learning to balance, steer, pedal and brake is hard at first. But once you have mastered these skills, you don’t have to think about how to ride a bike (putting all the separate skills together) — you just ride.
Reading can be hard at first, but the more you practice the skills that are part of reading, the easier it becomes.
Here are some things all readers can do to read better and to understand what they are reading.
When you have something you would like to read, do the following:
• Ask yourself why you are reading this material. (Purpose)
• Read the title, the headings and look at the pictures to get an idea about what you will be reading. (Scanning, prereading)
• Ask yourself what this material might be about. (Predicting)
• Stop every few paragraphs and ask yourself what you have read. See if you can put what you have read in your own words (Summarize). If you can’t, then reread the section — maybe more slowly.
• Ask yourself if your questions were answered. Was your reason for reading met?
Hint: If there are words whose meaning you can’t figure out, look them up in the dictionary. You might want to start your own personal dictionary in a small notebook that you carry with you. Include any words you don’t know as you read. Write down both the word and the definition from the dictionary and then write a sentence using the word in a way that is meaningful to you. Look through your notebook often.
If you are a "wobbly" reader (like a beginning bike rider), begin with reading materials that are not too difficult. Read books to your children. Practice the reading skills listed here with your children as you read to them. They will be learning, too.
Written by the National Center for Family Literacy
The following article is provided courtesy of the National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL). You are welcome to copy and use this information. If you have any questions regarding this document, please contact the Scholastic Book Fairs Principals Advisory Board.
