Accelerated reading, or speed reading, describes the process of reading faster. The goal here is not to increase comprehension, but to find the information that you need quicker than you would typically. According to HealthStatus, speed reading can lower comprehension. However, it remains a useful tool when you are trying to locate information.
There are many courses online that offer help with accelerated reading for help with researching for schoolwork. However, many of their courses do not improve comprehension while speed reading. Instead of relying on them, this article will teach you ten proven techniques to increase your accelerated reading capabilities.
Technique 1: Increasing Focus
One of the benefits of speed reading is that it increases focus. To be successful with accelerated reading, however, you need to be focused. To keep your eyes from wandering, use your index finger or a ruler to help keep track as you read the page. Focus on the words (or the group of words) that you are trying to read and follow the guidance of your tool. Once you are comfortable, push yourself by moving your tool faster along the page and keeping pace with it. As you do this, you will notice yourself reading with increased speed.
Technique 2: Do Not Read All the Words
The goal of speed reading is to absorb information quicker. This can be useful as a student or in a career, especially when you need to do research. To do this, read the most meaningful words in the passage skip over those that do not add to the text, like ‘and’ or ‘this’.
Technique 3: Track Yourself
You cannot succeed at anything if you have no means to track your success. Imagine that you were trying to become a faster runner, but you never had a timer to measure yourself. How would you know if you were getting better? There are many tools you can use to test your speed reading capabilities and comprehension. Test yourself regularly, being sure to do so at a time when your mind is awake and focused. Peak performance makes a difference in your level of success.
Technique 4: Practice
Whether you need to fine-tune your writing abilities for a college paper or want to hone in on your accelerated reading skills, practice does make perfect. Consider this: the average college student who regularly reads and studies information at school reads at a rate of 450 words per minute (wpm), while the average adult reads just 300 wpm. This is likely because of the endless hours that college students spend reading information, both for studying and research during their schoolwork.
Technique 5: Set a Goal
Many people say that you cannot be successful without first having a goal that you are working toward. Measure your current level of reading and then decide how much you want to improve. Remember that speed reading is something that takes time—do not become discouraged if you are not accelerating as fast as you want to. Continue to practice and with time, you will meet your goals.
Technique 6: Make Reading Fun
You want to set yourself up for success with accelerated reading, but what about speed reading for kids? If you have children, you owe it to them to encourage them to learn this technique. According to Forbes magazine, it is nearly impossible to keep up in the business world and become successful without spending hours each day reading. Learning how to speed read at a young age helps with studying, can help with academic writing, and will improve your child’s chance at reading success.
The first thing that you must do to get your child speed reading is to get them interested in reading. You can use these fun techniques for reading at a young age, which will spark your child’s interest.
Technique 7: Don't 'Say' the Words in your Head
What are you doing as you read this sentence? Do you hear the word as your eyes read them, in your head? It is not uncommon for people to 'speak' in their heads as they read. To become a speed reader, however, one of the first things you should do is stop 'speaking' as you read.
To do this, try thinking of a song in your head (preferably a tune, without words). Read along, following the tune. Do not expect this to happen quickly at first. In fact, you will probably be reading slower than you do normally. Then, do it again and notice how you are a little quicker. Keep doing this until you are reading quickly. You are successful when you no longer say the words in your head. Then, you can do away with the tune and focus on speed reading. This skill can be used whether you are reading an article or a fiction novel.
Technique 8: Hone in on Your Other Literacy Skills
Practicing reading is not the only way to excel as a speed reader. You can also improve your abilities by writing more. Like reading a variety of styles can improve your writing abilities, writing in a variety of styles can improve how you read. You will find yourself comprehending more, but having to read less of the non-important words in each passage.
Technique 9: Read Groups of Words
When you are taught to read in school, it is first by sounding out the letters of words and then by identifying words by sight. Did you know, though, that it is possible to read entire groups of words? Start to focus more on groups of words, rather than individual words as you read. Eventually, it will become natural.
Technique 10: Set Yourself Up for Success by Understanding Your Zone of Proximal Development(ZPD)
The term ZPD is simply used to describe the level of readability that a student is capable of. There are many ways to test this using app or online tests. Understanding this is important because it can help set your goal. Additionally, it allows you the opportunity to set your limits. This means that you can practice within a reasonable range, without pushing yourself too hard and setting yourself up for frustration and failure.
Conclusion
Speed reading is an incredibly useful tool, whether you are a student trying to research for a paper or a well-established business person, looking to find information on the latest data from your niche. By using the techniques above, you can reap all the benefits of accelerated reading without paying for a course.
