Online Resources

   Improving your study skills can facilitate your daily reading activities.
   The following are some websites that can help you to improve your study skills:  

    How to Study

    Online Study Skill Course

     Reading Speed

                                                   Students Guidance Checklist

   In my daily instructional designs, I incorporate differentiated instructions, cooperative learning, and blended     
   learning.  All students who took 102 and 104 English with me are familiar with my reading guidance checklist.  
   They have found it very helpful in increasing their intrinsic motivation and improving their reading comprehension
   skills. It is true that many students find it time consuming to read each passage five times, but the more
    you practice, the less time it takes to finish the five readings. Please check the following list:  

Read loudly every day for 15-20 minutes.
Use the Natural Reader software (download available online) to practice
       pronunciation.
Read silently every day for 20 -30 minutes to enhance your reading comprehension skills.
Read the passage  5 times:  

         The first time with focus on the general topic of the text.
         The second reading with focus on the ideas of each paragraph and
             underline the topic and supporting sentences. 
         The third reading with focus on small details using contextual references. 
          The fourth reading with focus on word study using guessing and prediction to understand the 
              meaning of the difficult word within the context; then use a dictionary  and make your own word
              archive.  
         The fifth reading with focus on taking notes to write the key points in your outline or summary.

Read each time and try to guess the meaning of the difficult words.
Use the prefix and suffix lessons of this course to guess the meaning of the words.
Use your dictionaries to check the meaning of the difficult words.
Use Microsoft Word Document to create a database of the word study.
Use the textbook’s Glossary to check the meaning of the technical words.
Use online Thesaurus while you are reading the passages of the textbook
       (The textbook can be downloaded and you can open two windows to read and
        look up the difficult words.
Use my Color Codes and Geometric Shapes to underline and circle the difficult
       words and the grammatical rules (I will provide the lists in the first week of the
       semester).
Use flashcards to study the new words or make lists of the new words and post them on your 
       refrigerator or in your study room as it is important to have access to these lists on a daily basis.
Read a daily newspaper (reading is a habit and you can develop a lot of reading
       skills if you acquire this habit).
Make a list of questions on each paragraph you read and try to answer these
       questions. 
Create a diagram to display the main ideas of the passage you are reading.
Report what you read either through writing a summary or an outline or using a
       PowerPoint Presentation.
Discuss what you read with your family members or your peers and teachers at  
       College.
Use Wh Questions (Why, Who, Where, When, What , Which, and How-- to think
       critically).
Use concept maps to analyze what you read and you will be able to develop your cognitive
      skills.
Remember that comparing, contrasting, and classifying the information can enhance your analytical
       thinking.
Participate in my class brainstorming sessions to synthesize what you read.
Remember that reading is the main skill through which you can develop other language skills such
       as writing, speaking, and listening.
While learning grammar is important to understand the syntactic and semantic structure of the texts,
       memorizing grammar rules alone will not help you to develop your language skills without applying
       these rules when you read.
Punctuation rules are used not only in writing but also in reading as they help you to make the right 
        pauses when you read and remember that making the right pauses will facilitate your
        understanding of the passage.    
Link your prior writing course knowledge ( e.g. what you studied in English 102) to your current
       course; the previous lessons on linking words, punctuation rules, capitalization, cause and effect,
       and outlining will help you to improve your reading skills.
Read a book and write a book review for class discussion.
Use my Think Sheet while you are reading (check my Courses Files).
Enjoy your team project and report the implications of this project for your
       academic and social skills.
Reading can help you become creative and innovative. 
Reflect on what you read as reflection will enhance your metacognitive abilities.
Use modern technology to enhance your reading skills (e.g.  The Accelerated Reading Program is 
      a computerized reading program that is based on a point system and it provides books to read, 
      quizzes, and reading activities)

Reading is an enjoyable activity.
 
                              Why should we read?

Some Clues to answer this question:

  Reading Rockets

  A Community of Readers

 About Books, Reading, and Libraries

 Reading Quotes

  Good Books
                                  

                                      

                   Links:   Speed Reading Test Online

                        
                                              Read- Read- Read- Read- Read