Introduction

Painless Reading Comprehension - Darolyn “Lyn” Jones Ed.D. 2016


Introduction

This book is written for you, the student. Each of you has a toolbox in your brain. Every time you come across something that works for you, you add that tool to your toolbox.

Tools for your toolbox

From experience and practice, I have learned what tools to use when I read. I know that I need some background noise like classical music. I know that I need a pen and a packet of sticky notes because I like to underline key passages and write my thoughts down on the sticky notes. I can only read about twenty pages in one sitting, so I have to break up large reading selections into smaller parts. I know that I need to go back and reread the passages I underlined and reread my reactions and try to answer my questions. My husband, on the other hand, brings a highlighter and ink pen to the text. He retires to a quiet room, prefers to read hundreds of pages at one sitting, highlights passages, and writes notes in the margins of his book. We use different tools to read. We had to learn what those tools are from failing and practicing until we got it right.

Each one of us uses a different collection of tools to do what we need to do to learn. The trick is figuring out what tools work.

In this book, I am providing you with many tools. Try them all out, and see which ones work for you! If they work, add them to your toolbox, and use them when you read.