I just started teacher's college in September (and I'm lucky to be here because I still don't know how I managed to get through my undergrad!) and I have a million textbooks to read all the time. I did my undergrad in music which didn't require a lot of reading, but now I've been thrown into a program where every class requires reading.

I know I have to get my reading done but it's so hard. I've tried taking breaks after a few minutes which doesn't really help. One of these scenarios usually happens when I'm trying to read:

1. I start reading and then I think of something else to do so the reading is abandoned once again.
2. I read a few lines, stop, don't remember what I've read so end up reading those lines over and over again.
3. I try to concentrate on reading every word and suddenly my eyes are at the bottom of the page because I've merely skimmed over the whole page...which means I haven't really read anything except for the first few words.

Does anyone out there have any tips that you've used to get you through several chapters of reading? Please tell me about your experiences with reading long passages and anything that you've found works for you.

I usually use something to block everything else on the page but the paragraph that I'm reading...index cards work well.

Also, take short breaks between chapters...get up and stretch :)

Start with a book that is about something that you have always wanted to know about. Dont rush, dont worry about forgeting things, just let what sticks stick and the heck with the details. Hell I went to college for literature, you think i remember even close to half of what i have read? No way. Just try not to dwell on missing something because we all do.
Pith

Go somewhere to read where you don't do anything else. Don't read on the couch or armchair where you relax, definatley don't read on your bed, and don't read next to a computer that is on. If you find that your mind is drifting off get up and walk away for a minute. The idea is to train yourself to associate that place with focusing on reading. I used to do a similar thing with a hat where I'd wear the hat when I was studying and take it off whenever I found myself drifting off or getting up to do something, and put iit back on again when I got focused on studying again. Then when I'd write the exam for the class I'd put the hat on and really zone into the test.

Another thing you can try is skim through the chapter first before you really read it. Then when you go back and read it more thoroughly, ask yourself questions about what you are reading, and or try to relate what you are reading to your own experiences or other things you have learned. Engaging yourself in the material will help you keep focused.

You can also try setting a timer for a specific length of time that you are going to read for before taking a break. I havn't used a timer myself but I have said to myself "I'm not stoping before 2:15" or something like that, so that everytime I think of something I want to get up and do, I tell myself to wait untill that time.

I'm not sure if this is really a good tip, but I'd sometimes wait till about 2am to read chapters that I had trouble getting through. For me it was like my brain shut down enough that I could read without getting distracted by my own thoughts.

I also found it helpful to read in the same room as a friend who is really good at studying. Seeiing them still going would motivate me to keep going. Also, it makes you feel like you can't start doing somethiing else because you'll interupt them.

Coffee helped alot sometimes if it didn't put me to sleep.

I've also read chapters outload to keep myself focused. Sometimes using different accents to keep myself entertained if it was a particularly boring chapter.

Making notes on the main points helps sometimes because you get to go back and forth between reading and writing.


wow I wrote more than I was planning to. Anyways, good luck with teachers college.

Thanks so much for the replies! I'm going to take what each of you said in consideration....Hope all your ideas work for me. If anyone else has any ideas, I'm incredibly open to them.:)

Thanks again!

I took the number of pages I had to read, the amount of time I had to reasonably complete them, and divided them. That was how many pages I had to read in order to finish. In between those mini goals, I had predetermined rewards that would stimulate me to get from one step to the next.

I had to also read outloud, sometimes. Pace. Listen to classical music to distract myself while I focused...

And with the teaching courses, it made a lot more sense to me when I saw put into practice the theories that were in the text books. I had to do a minimum of 25 hours of field study for every education course taken, beginning w. the 100 level courses.

Good luck with your studies. :)

Hi - I often have the same problem when studying. I use a kitchen timer and set it for 5-10 minute intervals. I also use active reading techniques - e.g. highlight things in the book and also write little notes to yourself on sticky notes & put them in the book. When I take a more active approach to the reading instead of passive one I seem to remember more. I also read chapter summaries out loud on cassette and play them back while driving. These all seem to help me.

Good luck!

Highlighters are fun, as well as underlining/making notes in pen or pencil. Other than that, try breaking up your readings into smaller chunks.

Also, an environment change might help. My room is unconducive to reading, but the nearby coffeeshop is great. it's a 10 minute walk, then I get a decaf cappuccino and just sit there for 2 hours and read read read. So far, I've gone through 1/2 of my semester's readings...and I'm a month into it. The 10 minute walk is nice to get my mind off things, then the environment change, then I get to stop reading and walk home...beautiful!

Well, I had to read a lot of text books, but some I was interested in and some I was not. Back in University I never learned this trick, so I would almost fall asleep repeatedly while trying to read a boring book, and my eyes would lose focus even, what a battle.

Try this instead: For each chapter, and therefore topic, ask yourself what are the key things that make that important, when will they occur and how should one react to them (this is just a smaple, depends on what your book/chapter is about).

So, only read through the chapter to FIND OUT THE KEY INFO you need, don't try to read the chapter from start to finish or you'll be doomed.

I've found this a very useful technique when I'm reading books that are dull but contain info I need to know.

Hope this jigs an idea for you

cs

Honey...I wish I had something to STOP ME FROM READING !!! I have this 'magickal' bookmark...it's thin...and short...unfortunately they don't sell it at Borders or Barnes and Nobles...It's just 'A Me'....
I wish I was you...most days.....I truly do..
Nova

a good idea is to take some notes while youre reading, and to read in short sessions (eg. 20 - 40 mins).

the taking notes is a good idea for a few reaosns

- it gives you purpose for reading -> youre finding out key information
- it keeps you on track and you know if youre REALLY reading or just reading in the background*
- it gives you notes to look back on, and if youve done them properly you dont have to read the chapter again!

* i know that when i'm reading a lot of the time i will read upto a few pages and ive been 'talking' them in my head and reading, but i havent been paying attention to what ive been reading-> ive actually been thinking about other stuff. i dont realise until i come to a point where i think "oh damn now i'll have to read all that again!" even though i already read it, i just wasnt paying attention! taking notes CAN HELP this.

I usually use something to block everything else on the page but the paragraph that I'm reading...index cards work well.

Also, take short breaks between chapters...get up and stretch :)
i tried this earlier on in the year, and it worked well.

i did it by taking a piece of paper and cutting a rectangle out of it, so i could only see a certain portion of text at a time.

I look like I'm reading Braille, when I read..my fingers go back and forth, under the 'line', I'm reading.
I bought these 'cheapy' magnet bookmarks, too, which I 'clip' next to the paragraph, that I last read..so I know exactly where I last was, on that page...
If I find that I read a paragraph, more than twice...and, unless it's for work or school, and/or is comprised of statistics, I give myself a break, and nix the idea of reading that book at that time...sometimes I find the interest in the near future...other times I know it will remain unappealing, chalk it up to impulsive book buying, on my end, and give it to a used bookstore...('done that plenty').
Nova

I listen to Tool while I study, and take notes in bright colors.

Get a box of foam earplugs (they're everywhere) so you focus inside and don't tune in to stray conversations, the air conditioner, muzak, traffic, etc, etc, etc... and pencil in one key word in the margin next to each paragraph, even if it's the same word as the last. you'll read the text and thumb index it, too.

There are some great ideas here. Thanks. :)

I usually like to read with a highlighter. The problem is that sometimes I think I use it almost like Nova and using her finger so she looks like she's reading braille. If a lot gets highlighted it might help me process it at the time I read it, but is not as useful when going back through material say for a paper. So I will then sometimes put an asterisk in the margin for things I thought were especially interesting or important, or will use a pen to underline a few key words or ideas that have already been highlighted, so those stand out more.

But the other problem is that while I can rip right through fictional fun reading, reading textbooks and articles for class goes slowly (because of this highlighting and mulling over), and we have a ton of reading. I do try to skim a chapter first, reading intro, summary, and headings to get an idea of what it is I'm reading and what the author imagines to be important. But sometimes the things we read aren't organized in a way that facillitates that (no summary, no real headings). Some self-questioning might be useful then (what seems important to the author?), and I liked the idea of writing a keyword next to each paragraph to kind of sum it up - might also help me skim better. Maybe I can try using my finger and then only highlight the things I would normally asterisk - this might increase speed. A friend of mine uses earplugs and has suggested I try that.

One night I was working at the library and people were carrying on a conversation nearby (it's allowed in the front-desk area) and I couldn't concentrate. Fortunately I'd brought my CD player and headphones with me. I put on the headphones and cranked the volume until it drowned out the voices of the people talking. The music was louder than I normally care for, but I was able to focus on the article I was reading. Maybe earplugs would have been better (at least for my long-term hearing ;) ).

~~bythesea

Did I mention that when I do use a highlighter...the entire page IS almost highlighted..and earmarked..because 'it has something pertinent on it' !!!
Don't, ever borrow a book from me, is all I have to say..Unless you want to keep rolling your eyes up during the entire read..
Nova

:D Wow...thanks for all the responses! I haven't had a lot of time lately to get on here but now that I have, I'll be here all the time using these great ideas! I just started my first practice teaching placement so I'm really busy doing lesson plans and making all kinds of music resources for kids. I'll be back to the textbook reading for the whole month of November so I'll be able to really apply all of them. Thanks again!

While you're reading, speak it back to yourself subvocally. That way other thoguths entering your mind have competition with your thinking. It helps block out distracting thoughts.
Its not food proof but thats how I do it and I usually only have to read back lines a time or two to catch eveything without being distracted.
I also visualize even things that are pictureless to help jam it in. I tend to be a visual learner and I think Ive heard a lot of ADDers are that way too.