Painless Reading Comprehension - Darolyn “Lyn” Jones Ed.D. 2021

Becoming a better reader
Reading attitudes and patterns

How can you make reading easier and more enjoyable?

✵ Know what kind of reader you are and what kind of reader you want to be.

✵ Have a positive attitude.

✵ Make a choice to practice.

✵ Set goals for yourself.

In the words of one of my favorite school leaders, Dr. Beresford, “The choices you make today shape your world tomorrow.” Attitude and choice are as important as skill. Attitude is the first step to becoming a better reader, and practice is the second step. You have to make a choice to become a better reader and set the bar high; then you need to practice to reach your goal. In the movie Rudy, the true story of Rudy Ruettiger and his dream of playing Notre Dame football is told. He was told he was not smart enough to get into Notre Dame, and he was too small to play football. And he didn’t get any help from his family or his teachers. Instead of giving up on his dream of playing football and getting a college degree, he decided he would do anything to reach his goal and made a choice. He asked his boss and friends to help him study and practice. Instead of giving up on his goal and despite all the obstacles he faced, he made a choice to practice. And guess what? He was admitted to Notre Dame and was a walk-on for the football team!

Here are some final thoughts for you to consider:

✵ Writers write about what they love and know, and they write for you, the reader.

✵ Readers write as much of the story as a writer does by reading and responding to the story. It takes both of you to tell the story. Reading is reciprocal; the writer gives you words, and you give the words meaning.

✵ If you have had trouble with reading in the past, identify what kind of reader you are and think about how you got there.

✵ Use this book and the strategies it offers and learn to become a better reader with patience and practice.

CAUTION—Major Mistake Territory!

Please note that Web addresses do change. At press time, the Web addresses included in this book were accurate; however, they may have changed by the time you use this book.

Surfing the Web

Simply go to your preferred search engine (mine is Google), and type in a keyword search on the topic you want to know more about. Note that the use of phrases is important to successfully surf. Phrases should include two or more words that clearly explain what you want to find. For example, if you are looking for the best-selling young adult books and top fashion blogs to check out, try “best-seller young adult books” and “top fashion blogs,” and you will see the most visited and often the most credible source sites. If you want to find out how to read a textbook, which is harder than reading a story, try “how to read a textbook.”

HELPFUL HINTS

Warning! Not every response to your keyword search will match exactly what you want, and some sites may contain adult material.

If you are ever in doubt, ask an adult to help you.