By: Dr. Sparks

“Ugh… I’ve stared at this page for 20 minutes and still don’t remember a single word I’ve read.” 

– every student ever

Sound familiar?  Let’s face it, reading can be boring.  Especially academic reading. Even the best of books can have a hard time vying for our attention these days. We’ve become so accustomed to constant stimulus that the slow process of reading can put us to sleep.  So, what can you do about it?  I’m glad you asked.  Here’s a few things you can implement that will help you stay engaged with the text in front of you so that you can avoid the dreaded re-reading. 

One: Pick an Accent to Read In

Yep… You read that right.  Pick a different accent and read the text with that one.  Be a cowboy, an African prince, an Indian philosopher, a Chinese chef, a New Yorker, Hamlet, or anything else you’d like to be.  You’ve had to listen to your own voice in your head your entire life and you’ve learned to tune yourself out.  So, change it up a bit and have some fun with it.  

Two: Dialogue or Argue with the Text

Think of reading as a conversation.  The book offers a thought, and if it were a person, you’d typically have some thought or reply to give.  Finish a few sentences and consider your response to them.  Do you agree/disagree?  Does it make you think of a story that relates to it?  Do you have an experience similar to the text?  Is there someone in your life who would like to know this information or that you can annoy by telling them about it? Every conversation, or in this case text, should leave you with thoughts.  So, make sure you participate in the conversation.  

Three: Read in Sprints

Catch yourself dosing off?  Do some sprint reading to pump up the adrenaline.  Get your phone timer out and set the clock for 45 seconds.  Read as much as you can in that time.  Not rushing through and skipping words, but actually reading.  Pause when the alarm goes off.  Think for 15 seconds, then reset and go again.  After a few times, you’ll likely find that it’s annoying and by then you’re motivated by making some headway.  This is a great starter if you just have zero motivation to get going. 

Four: Ask Questions Before You Read

Before you even being the text, ask yourself why you are reading it (apart from your teacher is making you), what you are needing to get out of it, who the author is, and when it was written. Context before you read is very important.  Reading a history book is quite different than a scientific journal or a poem from the 15^th century.  Set yourself in the right mindset for intaking the information in the way it was written.

Reading is a gift that unlocks great doors for knowledge.  I hope these tips help you wrestle with texts and come to find great treasures located in the words on each page. 

Read more about “Do Grades Really Matter?” and “Tackling Test Anxiety” to succeed this semester!