Richard Davenport

Prioritization

realreading — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 21:00:08 +0000

I found a great article on prioritization called “Prioritization – How to Find Your Focus“

Check it out!

The Best Way to Learn Speed Reading

realreading — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 20:40:35 +0000

In the current society it is not enough to learn “how to speed read” Being an effective speed reader is more important.

In the current society it is not enough to learn just “how to speed read” – what you should be aiming for is being an effective speed reader. A person should read books regularly to increase his knowledge and reading speed. It is difficult to learn how to speed read by following the normal learning methods so the learning methods should be interesting to make the learning process exciting. There are many tips that can make the learning process easy and interesting.

The first tip in order to improve reading speed is to know the language well. Increase your vocabulary, word recognition and pronunciation. It will improve the reading skill of a reader. The awareness with the sounds of the words and letters leads a reader to spend less time in pronouncing them. A reader can face problems in order to learn and remember these sounds but continuous practice can make it easier for the reader to attain the necessary skill for speed reading. Memorize and visualize the pronunciation of words and letters with the help of some visual aids or words having strong visual effects.

A reader can learn how to speed read by playing some games. These games are especially designed to help reader in learning how to speed read. These games have different levels and a reader can play it according to his own choice. In these games a reader has to read or hit a word in a specific time or he or she will loose the game. In this way the word recognition, understanding and time spent on reading words is improved greatly. As a reader moves to higher levels the speed of words moving across the screen is increased which forces the reader to read or hit the word more quickly. So the speed of reading is increased with the passage of time if a reader practices it daily. In these games similar words are displayed to differentiate between them and in this way the recognition and pronunciation of the reader is improved

Develop your practice sessions containing 10 to 15 minutes daily. In this way a reader has to read a passage or text in a certain amount of time. He hastens to read the passage in minimum time and hence with regular practice his speed of reading increases to a certain level. It not only increases his speed of reading but the level of comprehension also increases to a greater extent. There are many software programs and online sources from which a reader can get help. These software programs help you to learn how to speed read. These programs provide exercises, lessons and tests to determine the speed of reading. Online resources offer the latest techniques, strategies and tests, which are interesting and help a learner to read fast. So a combination of all these techniques make a reader good and effective reader. His speed of reading and level of comprehension level is increased reasonably. But in spite of all these tips a reader has to keep his attitude of learning and zeal to learn. His own effort helps a lot in learning how to speed read.

RESOURCE BOX:
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Bad Reading Habits

realreading — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 11:28:02 +0000

Speed reading has become very important in the learning environment. People have to read large texts and books to extract their required information…

Speed reading has become very important in the learning environment. People have to read large texts and books to extract their required information. A reader who is not good at reading faces many problems in getting his required information. Moreover there are many techniques that can help a reader for speed reading. Here I am providing some bad reading habits which prevent a reader from being a fast reader. These are most common bad reading habits found in readers so if a reader wants to be a fast reader he or she should eliminate these habits.

It is seen that most of the readers especially students read their books late night. This time is the least effective and the reader remains unable to understand it. Reading time should be proper but if a reader reads at such awkward times then he will face lack of reading comprehension, slow reading and poor concentration. A reader should have a specific purpose of reading in his mind. Reading without any purpose leads toward lack of concentration and lack of reading comprehension. A reader should read in a proper environment and location. Some people / students read in bed so they don’t know when they fall asleep. If the room is warm in winter or there is soft background music then the readers’ concentration will be affected. The concentration of the reader will not be developed toward reading and comprehending the text.

A reader should avoid regression because in this way he will spend a lot of time in moving his eyes back and forth. In this way reading becomes an unpleasant and time consuming activity. Readers should not read words aloud or by pronouncing them in the head. Paying more attention on pronunciation reduces the speed and reading comprehension of a reader. The importance of material varies so they should read accordingly. Some materials should be read faster and some slower but most of the readers try to read material at the same speed. This creates problems for them and their reading comprehension is affected. Another bad habit of readers is to read passages in detail which consumes a lot of time. A reader should read main ideas or theme first which saves a lot of time. If a reader don’t read main idea but read a passage by using skimming and scanning techniques then he would be unable to find out main idea or theme of the passage.

Some readers highlight specific portions of text but after highlighting readers try to know what he has highlighted or whether he highlighted the right text. In this way he spends time in rereading which reduces his speed of reading. Readers read different types of reading materials using different strategies but some readers read every type of material line by line. It is not a good technique for speed reading so speed reading should be a combination of scanning and skimming too. If a reader doesn’t combine these techniques then his speed of reading and reading comprehension will be reduced. It is a bad habit that readers give themselves unlimited time for reading. This leads to inefficient reading, mind wandering, and slow reading and lowers reading comprehension.

How Does Focus Help in the Speed Reading Process?

realreading — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 03:24:22 +0000

Speed reading is one process where good focus and sharp wits are paramount in the successful execution of the skill. If you want to improve your reading speed and comprehension, you’ll need to use these focus tips.

Learning how to speed read is one process where good focus and concentration are extremely important in the successful execution of the skill.

All distractions end up reducing your reading speed as well as damaging your comprehension.

Even worse than that, though is that those distractions can infiltrate your mind and get your thoughts to branch out off topic. I’m sure that very often while reading you catch yourself thinking about something else, and then you skip back to a part in the text you remember reading.

Well this article may help.

Consider this: when you sit down with a book or a newspaper or whatever, you’ve obviously got a reason for doing so. Whether you’re trying to learn how to do something new, or you’re absorbing some news or something, you’ve got a good reason for reading.

Place that reason firmly in your mind. When you’re reading, try to think of nothing other than the content of the text. You have to be totally focused on what you read, otherwise your comprehension level will not nearly be as high as it could be.

This is a crucial maxim of fast reading.

If you’re unable to focus properly on what you’re reading, take a break! Try some other activity. This will prepare your mind to focus again on the text.

Also, try resting at the end of each chapter… Then, you get a chance to really think about what you read, and maybe you’ll want to take some notes, to make sure you remember. Taking notes is especially useful if you may need the specific details later on.

After a couple minutes of thinking and note-taking, you will be even more inclined to read on than you would have been if you had kept reading straight through.

Reading all the way through a book does have the “benefit of the flow”, but some rest-time between segments will drastically ameliorate your comprehension level. After all, the author in all likelihood didn’t write the entire text in one session! A lot of time and thought goes into writing books. You should treat them much the way the writer would treat it: as something that takes thought, dedication, and focus.

Tips like these and many more can be found in the Speed Reading Manual. Even if you don’t really want to speed read, this manual will greatly help you increase your reading speed and comprehension. Get it now while the price lasts!

Double Your Reading Speed ~ Continued

realreading — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 09:47:09 +0000

I had discussed three important techniques in my previous article. The remaining three will be focused in this article. The last technique I was describing was to practice reading. While practicing, it is beneficial to use a tool that would help you. My fourth technique involves the use of a pointer while practicing to speed read.

Our eyes can’t stay fixed at one position for a long time. They tend to wander off. Researches have proved that eye movements quiver constantly and are not fixated easily. Every eye movement that wanders off from the text requires are few milli-seconds to settle back and continue reading. This of course adds to the time spent during reading instead of decreasing it. To help you in achieving eye fixation a pointer can play a very useful role.

Use your index finger to mark where you are on the page at all times. It should follow along with the word you are currently reading, slowly scrolling across each line and then back down one. This may seem a little bizarre in the beginning and you may even ten to go slower than the way you read before. But once you get adjusted to this change you will read faster. Your eyes in attempt to move along with the finger will read fast and won’t wander up and down.

The fifth technique is to totally eliminate distractions while reading. At college level, I have observed students who read while watching television. These students are the one who complain most about having too much to study. The key to fast and effective reading is to eliminate all distractions you can.

I don’t deny the fact that one needs rest while studying. In fact I have stressed the importance of rest while reading in my previous articles as well. If you need to have rest, take a break. You can watch television for 10 minutes, listen to music, eat something or lay down quietly. You will re begin reading feeling energetic again.

The sixth and final technique is to get motivated. I guess I have talked so much about it already now that I don’t need to say much. The general motivation should make you want to read the book. If you don’t genuinely want to read the book, come up with more reasons it is attached to your deepest interests or it is going to be a struggle to move through.

Let me know after a week’s worth of practice whether or not you’ve managed to double your reading speed. If you do practice, and can’t double your reading speed, then send me an email! I can help!

Or, if you don’t want to send an email, just try reading the Speed Reading Manual. You can get it here.

I seriously expect everyone reading my blog to learn how to speed read.

Things to Pay Attention to While Speed Reading

realreading — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 07:09:07 +0000

In one of my previous articles, I had discussed how useful highlighting and making notes ca be for speed reader. Those articles where specially tailored towards students. This article of mine is also very beneficial for the student readers. Marking and highlighting can only be useful is they are done correctly. Too much highlighting or incorrect marking may become a headache when you open your book again.

Today I will discuss how to use different notations while marking that will make your reading rocket speed the next time you open your book. Let’s start with underlined text. Always underline where you thing a major point is being mentioned or a big claim made. You can also underline important explanations within a block of text.

Next is the encircling option. You can encircle text that is important within sub titles and small paragraphs. The asterisk “*” can be used to enhance major explanations or points. Even statistical data can be highlighted with an asterisk.

You can write the abbreviation “conc” in the beginning of paragraphs within the chapter where major conclusions have been drawn. You can put a question mark wherever you think there is less information available and you need to search more on it.

You can put an exclamation mark wherever you strongly agree or even disagree with the writer/ author. Another useful tip could be diving long sentences into shorter understandable fragments which you can read as whole. You can use a light pencil to do the markings on your book.

The next time when you open your book you would find yourself reading more easily and will better understand the text as well. Because each marking would lead you back to when you actually made the mark and this way you will recall the entire chapter in your mind within no time.

Try out these tips. I guarantee that you would find them extremely beneficial in you reading process. These tips are not only limited to school books. Even if you read your own reference books or novels you may use these markings to help you understand better the next time.

Remember, you need to practice speed reading as often as possible if you want to succeed!

Speed Reading and Reading Comprehension Tests

realreading — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:23:24 +0000

Reading is very important human activity for getting all the latest knowledge and information in all fields of life. We can determine the speed reading and reading comprehension of a reader by taking speed reading tests and reading comprehension tests. An average reader can read around 250 words per minute with 60% comprehension. Although many readers read documents, magazines, newspapers and books daily but they remain average readers because they don’t apply speed reading techniques. On the other hands a top reader can read 1000 words per minute with 85% comprehension. There is great difference between top reader and average reader; the condition becomes worse when we compare efficiency and comprehension rate in them. In early age most of the readers remain unable to reach their full capacity and efficiency. But regular practice, techniques and exercises make them good reader.

A person who has to read a large number of documents knows the importance of speed reading. Computer typists know the importance of typing courses but if they improve their reading speed and reading comprehension they will feel a difference and efficiency in their work. If a typist types a material by listening from a reader or computer then he can type nearly 150 words on average, which is slower than typing while reading. So a typist also needs to improve his reading speed; he should take regular exercises to improve his reading and take speed reading tests to check his speed. So speed reading is important for readers, students, employees and typists as well.

There are many ways to improve your speed of reading. Speed reading seminars are very helpful due to which you can double or triple your reading speed. Useful material and presentation of a good instructor can help a lot in improving your reading comprehension as well as speed. However you can take speed reading tests and reading comprehension tests to judge your speed as well as command on learning. You can read a book on speed reading or reading comprehension to improve your speed and comprehension. Such books contain reading comprehension tests and speed reading tests along with techniques, which can improve your reading speed. Books on such topics have general information, techniques and methods that can help you in speed reading.

There are computer programs, which can be effective in learning speed reading using different techniques. These programs contain exercises, interactivity and text animations to increase your reading speed. These programs provide speed reading tests and reading comprehension tests to judge the rate of reading comprehension and speed reading. After getting sufficient reading speed a reader can easily transfer from computer screen to paper reading. There are many online and software based reading comprehension tests and speed reading tests; which a reader can take to determine his speed. It is seen as the speed of reading is increased the rate of reading comprehension also increases. When a reader takes exercises and practices daily then his speed of reading and comprehension will be improved.

Who Can Speed Read and Who Can Not?

realreading — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:38:02 +0000

Am I eligible to speed read? Speed Reading involves the eyes and the mind. As long as both these organs of yours are functioning well, as long as you can read, you can learn to speed read. There are no restrictions on who can speed read and who cannot. If I can then every one else reading this article can also speed read. Speed reading is beneficial for school going children, high school pupil, college graduates, business professionals, teachers, sales people, clerical people, scientists, researchers, journalists. Everyone!

How ever whether you need to acquire speed reading or not depends on the answers to a few questions. The questions are:

- Do you read more but seem to remember less?

- Do you catch yourself reading the same lines again and again?

- How much time do you take responding to mails and letters that are piled up on you desk daily?

- Have you ever wished that you could read fast, still remember everything you read?

If the answer to all of the above questions is in a Yes then probably you need to start practicing speed reading. Speed reading would help you focus your attention on a piece of text for longer time period. You will be able to process the text faster in your mind.

Another question which I guess would be wandering in your minds is that if I learn to speed read, will it ruin the enjoyment and relaxation I get out of pleasure reading? Well to everyone’s great surprise the answer to this question is a No. Speed reading will only help you to read with the speed you think. You will be able to extract the same amount of enjoyment you did earlier. In fact the amount may increase because after you start practicing speed reading you will be spending less amount of time struggling to understand hat has been written.

You can enjoy speed reading to the fullest when you practice how to…

- Reduce the strain on your eyes

- Understand the flow of the text

- Reduce the time to process the text in your mind

- Reduce the number of times you reread the words

- Reduce the amount of times you read the lines from beginning to get hold of the meaning.

- Increase the number of words you read at a time.

Check out the Speed Reading Manual for full information on learning how to speed read. You can find it at this speed reading website.

Maintain Attention While Reading

realreading — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 02:32:56 +0000

Almost every one of us faces the problem of loosing focus or getting distracted while reading. As a result we have to start reading from the very beginning again. I am no exception. I face the same problem at times. The human mind is capable to getting distracted very easily. There is so much going on around us. The traffic moves about, hooting horns, people talking, the TV playing, kids crying, colleagues gossiping. Even apart from all the physical distractions we have almost a thousand thoughts in our mind at any particular instant.

How to shed off all these distractions in order to achieve the prospect of reading? It is nearly impossible, because warding of thoughts is still possible but you can’t put a halt to the world moving around you. Nearly impossible though it is, but it is not totally impossible. A small exercise may benefit you a lot in focus your attention on the book while you are reading. Read words from back to front. This is the smallest solution to your biggest problem.

Reading words back to front will force you focus your attention on the text, because if you don’t do so you will loose lead and will be standing no where. This is not a method of reading, but is a practice to focus your attention. Do this daily for 10-15 minutes or even 30 minutes if you really are enthusiastic about reading right. Words like “done” would become “enod”, “start” would become “trast” and so on. These words even though have become weird but are still recognizable to the brain if it focuses on them.

Start your practice with small four letter words. Once you find yourself fast in interpreting the words you can slowly move to bigger and more complex words.

You will improve your focus to a large extent this way. Once you’ve learnt how to keep your attention focused you can then freely practice speed reading without the fear of losing track of words. This practice will also greatly help you in improving your spellings as well.

Nothing is impossible in this world. All you need to know is HOW to break the lock! In my next article I will come up with some really handy tips while making notes or marking text on books for speed reading.

If you need a good speed reading website, click that link!

Happy Reading till then! Cheers!

Improve Your Speed Reading Technique By Scanning

realreading — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 01:49:24 +0000

Welcome back to this new speed reading article of mine. Today I will again discuss a new technique with you which will help you achieve your speed reading goal. Today we will be talking about how to practice speed reading by scanning books.

As it is quite obvious by the title, this technique will help us read at a super high speed. Scanning means to skim through the material extremely fast. Scanning also means to search through a text for certain desired information. I would like to give you a very elementary example to make my point clear. Teaching a child the fundamentals of reading involves helping them learn the sounds each of the letters make and then joining those sounds together to form words. We then proceed by teaching them the meanings of each word.

Whenever the child would see the word he was taught he will instantly get to know the meanings. Teaching a child the fundamentals of reading involves helping them learn the sounds each of the letters make and then joining those sounds together to form words. One of the most fundamental principles of speed reading is almost identical. It teaches you to pick up words from sentences and understand the sentence as a whole. Isn’t scanning something similar? It definitely is.

While scanning a book what a reader does is that he skims over the books picking up words and phrases he term as important words or keywords and extract meaning out of them in order to understand the context of the whole paragraph. This way he tries to save time instead of trying to read each and every word and extract sense out of it.

Everyone can gain useful information by quickly scanning text before thoroughly reading the material. Although it’s a technique that aids in speed reading, it can help the average person retain more information as well. Your mind focuses in on the key phrases during the first go through and as you read through a second time you pick up and absorb even more information.

Speed reading can be quite fun if you are really into it. You may discover hidden abilities of your mind which you never even would have thought of. So happy exploring!