The RGS Gazette The Arts 28 Issue 12 July 2024 The Clever Reader’s Guide: How to Read Effectively and Steadily Do you ever find yourself struggling to keep up with your reading assignments or wanting to enjoy a book but getting easily distracted? You're not alone! Here are some top tips and tricks to help you not only read more effectively but also maintain a steady reading habit. Grab your bookmarks and let’s dive in! 1. Set Clear Goals Knowing what you want to achieve keeps you motivated. How to do it: Set specific reading goals, like reading a certain number of pages each day or finishing a book by a certain date. I once really struggled with big books, and finishing them on time, but then I set clear goals, which led to me becoming excited to complete the goal, because when I did, I felt very proud of myself. 2. Create a Reading Schedule Consistency is key to developing any habit. Find a time that works best for you and stick to it. Maybe it’s right after dinner or during the quiet morning hours. With reading, sometimes it clashed with some of my other activities, and I ended up not reading nowhere near enough. But then, I looked at my schedule and managed to create time to read, and in the end, I was reading with enough time to get ready for my activities. 3. Find a Comfortable Spot A cosy, distractionfree environment helps you focus. Choose a quiet, welllit place with a comfortable chair. Avoid places where you’ll be tempted to check your phone or chat with others. When you have a comfortable environment, you will find that you will be reading with more ease. An example of me in this situation is that in primary school, my bedroom was much smaller than it is now, which meant that I was not comfortable reading. But now, my bedroom is bigger, so it is more comfortable when I read. 4. Eliminate Distractions Distractions can break your concentration and slow you down. Turn off your phone or put it in another room, let family members know you’re in 'do not disturb' mode, and use noisecancelling headphones if necessary. When I first got my phone, I was distracted, which ended up with me reading a lot less than normal. When I realised this, I made sure that I did things like turn it on silent, which means that I was not distracted from my reading. 5. Take Notes and Highlight Engaging with the text helps improve comprehension and retention. Use sticky notes or a highlighter to mark important parts, jot down questions, or summarise chapters. By taking down notes in a notebook, I can learn new vocabulary and phrases, which I can then use in school or even tests. 6. Join a Book Club or Find a Reading Buddy Sharing the experience with others can keep you accountable and make reading more fun. Look for book clubs at your school or local library, or pair up with a friend who loves to read. If you join a book club, you can feel included and you can learn about new and interesting books, which then can broaden your vocabulary. 7. Mix Up Your Reading Material Variety keeps reading interesting and prevents boredom. Alternate between different genres, authors, and types of books. Mix fiction with nonfiction, comics with novels and so on. My favourite genre of book is fantasy, but by reading other genres, it broadens my understanding of the world, and can help me connect with other people who also like that genre. 8. Set MiniDeadlines Smaller goals can make a big task seem more manageable. Break your reading into chunks and set deadlines for each. For example, finish three chapters by the end of the week. I set a mini deadline to finish a chapter before a set time. This helps me read faster, and it also feels like an exciting challenge! 9. Reward Yourself Rewards make the reading process enjoyable and motivating. Treat yourself after reaching a goal, like having a favourite snack or a little extra screen time. Sometimes, whenever I finish a difficult chapter, I reward myself with something like a sweet treat. This makes me feel more determined to finish the chapter. 10. Reflect on What You Read Reflection helps deepen your understanding and remember what you’ve read. After finishing a book or a chapter, take a few minutes to think about what you learned or enjoyed. Discuss it with someone or write a short review. After reading an interesting book, I like to write a short summary and my thoughts about the plot twists. It helps me appreciate the story even more. So, there you have it, young scholars! By following these tips, you can turn reading into a fun and effective habit. Remember, reading is not just about finishing a book; it’s about enjoying the journey and learning along the way. Happy reading! Jan Zambrzycki (Year 8) sets out a guide on how to read Book Club runs in the library every Thursday at first break and is open to all year groups. Make sure to also check out the Library Podcast, featuring the RGS Gazette.
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