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If you want to understand a book, connect what you’re reading to what you already know. Brain researchers remind us of the importance of these connections. You can make them in a variety of ways. Let’s start with fiction. Here’s the most important thing to do when reading fiction: Put yourself in the position ofRead More

As you read, make mental images. When you are reading fiction, these images will help you understand the action of the story. More importantly, though, they will help you understand the emotions of the characters. That’s because in your images you’ll need to picture facial expressions and responses to other characters. I’ve written more aboutRead More

Do your reading in a calm environment. If you need quiet, find a quiet space, or use noise-canceling headphones. Some people prefer the white noise of a coffee shop, which you can now access online. But avoid working in any location where you can hear the distinct words of a conversation. However, if you reallyRead More

Every skilled reader spends a fair amount of time rereading favorite books. What makes experienced teachers so effective? Rereading the books they teach—often. Naturally, rereading benefits young readers too. Research shows that children learn more vocabulary from rereading old books than they do from reading a new one. Reading a book a second time alsoRead More

We read what we love with ease. But we struggle to read what we dislike. So, want to improve your reading ability? Grab the books that really interest you. Some people believe that only difficult books improve reading. Wrong! Consider exercise. Think about all the physical benefits people get from: A game of tag ARead More

How much more? Start by aiming for just 15 minutes a day― every day. Just 15 minutes a day adds up to a lot of words over the course of the year. Consider the case of a third grader reading at a typical pace for his age. Reading 15 minutes a day, in just oneRead More