Reading for Speed

When you have four classes, a job, and a social or family life, finding time for reading can be difficult. But reading critically--and well and fast!--is possibly the most important skill you can develop to be successful in college. Every class, whether it be science, math, psychology, English, or even an elective course, will require that you read and understand what you read. But what if you're a slow reader? What if you struggle with reading? Are you doomed to suffer--slowly--all semester?

There are strategies to help you read more quickly so you can fit in all of your responsibilities--and perhaps leave time for some fun reading too!  You should note, however, that there are times when you'll want to read fast so your brain can simply collect information for recall, but there are also times when reading carefully, slowly, and with an eye for comprehension will be required of you. Setting reading goals will help you know whether to speed up or slow down.

Resources to Help You Become a Stronger and Faster Reader

• DSPS: If you are truly struggling with reading and are worried about how hard it is, or if you have previously dealt with reading difficulties, consider getting in touch with our DSPS office so you can receive the services and accommodations you need
• RAW Center: If you want to get some one-on-one help with reading from an instructor, stop by the RAW Center during open hours
• Tutorial Center: If you'd like to seek out reading help from a peer tutor, check out our Tutorial Center for regular, weekly tutoring or drop-in hours
• Smart Shops: Our campus holds regular Smart Shops, some of them focused on reading strategies, but we also offer SSR (Silent Sustained Reading) Smart Shops where you can put your reading skills to use or simply practice reading speed and comprehension

Tips for Reading Faster:

Focus Your Mind

• Put away all distractions, like phones, tempting websites, television
• Use noise-canceling headphones, a sound machine, or white noise instead of music with lyrics
• Take a few deep breaths or meditate quietly before you begin reading to help your brain focus
• Write down your reading goals on a piece of paper; put the paper in front of you so you can remind yourself of your purpose if you get distracted
• Skim and scan a text quickly before you read so you can get a feel for what to expect; this should give you about 30%-40% of the information you'll need to know ahead of time!
• Let friends, roommates, and family members know not to bother you while you read
• Use the Pomodoro reading technique or set a timer for 25 minutes of intense, distraction-free reading; after that time, take a 5-minute break, and every four cycles, take a longer, 10-minute break

Focus Your Body

• Sit in a place where you are comfortable but can read easily
• Make sure you won't be quickly distracted by your own body's needs, like food or drink
• If you need to take notes, don't rest on your bed; instead, sit at a desk so you have a flat writing surface
• Use your finger to follow the words in your book since this will help you stay focused; start slowly at first, then increase your speed
• Take 5-minute breaks every 25 minutes and stretch your muscles or go on a short walk

Speed up!

• Determine your current reading speed and see how fast you can move that number higher
  
  • First count the number of words in 5 lines of text
  • Divide that number by 5 to find an average of words-per-line
  • Count the number of text lines on 5 pages
  • Divide that number by 5 to get the average number of lines-per-page
  • Multiply that by the average number of words-per-line to give you an average of words-per-page
  • Example: 180 lines/5 pages = 36 x 10 words-per-line = 360 words-per-page
  • Read these lines for one minute exactly; set a timer and read at your normal speed, aiming for comprehension this time (later you'll aim for speed)
  • Multiply the number of lines you achieved by the average words-per-line to get your average words-per-minute (wpm) rate
• Use something to track the words as you read, like a pen or your finger
• Cut down on subvocalization; instead of mouthing the words as you read, read silently since this can increase your reading speed dramatically
• Practice your speed: For the first round of reading, allow yourself only one second per line; move up to a half-second per line; keep increasing your speed
• Practice expanding your peripheral vision: We spend a great deal of time moving our eyes from word to word, but our brain actually fills in the gaps for us if we read groups of words together
• Use "speed reading" settings on your e-reader to stream lines of text at faster and faster speeds
• Keep working your way up until you've doubled your reading speed

Don't forget: Reduce your speed if comprehension or annotation is your primary goal for your reading assignment

Page created by H. McMichael