There is no point in reading anything if you are not understanding what it says. Many people still struggle with reading comprehension. Whether they are kids or adults. Understanding what you are reading is important for your growth and knowledge. If you like reading blogs, articles, or any kind of novels then you should understand that just reading does not mean only understanding the meaning of the word.

In actuality, it means to read between the lines and grab the whole scenario. You have to engage with the word, understand the situation, and keep that information in your mind. If you want to read effectively then here are some skills which I’m going to share with you in this article. These processing reading skills will not only help you think critically but also improve your vocabulary. Using these skills will make it enjoyable for you to read anything you want to. 

Components of processing skill in readings

When you are reading something you need to make sense of the word. you need to use the processing reading skills that help you to decode, understand, and engage with the text. These are called cognitive skills which I’m going to explain below.

1.      Decoding

Decoding is the first step in reading. It means translating the words. You have to understand the words, their sounds, and word patterns. If you are a beginner and want to read fluently then decoding is important to practice. 

To practice decoding you need to read the whole word very slowly. If the word is long you can divide it into parts. Then identify the sound in the word. For example, the word “cat” when decoding it you will find three sounds  /k/ /a/ /t/  which makes the word cat. 

2.      Fluency         

It means to read effortlessly while understanding the meaning of the word. Fluency makes the reader read smoothly with average speed. To read fluently you need to understand the whole sentence not just be stuck at one word. 

To practice fluency to have to read in a louder voice. When you hear your voice then it will help you to improve your speed and expression. Or you can also read standing in front of a mirror which will help you build confidence. 

3.      Comprehension 

Comprehension means reading the word while understanding the meaning between the lines. It helps you to interpret the idea, concept, and meaning of the text. Comprehension allows readers to make sense of what they are reading. Grabbing the whole idea out of the sentence. It will help you to connect with what you have read before and what you are reading now, making the whole idea understandable

You can practice it by reading the whole paragraph and in your mind summarize what you have just read. Ask questions to yourself and answer the text you have read. 

4.      Visualization 

You have noticed that when you are reading something your brain automatically pictures it in your mind. This thing is called visualization. It helps you to understand the paragraph by making it visual in your mind’s eye. By visualization, you can improve the comprehension by making the text easy to remember. It keeps you interested in what you are reading and engages you on a deeper level. 

Skills For Reading Comprehension 

If you really want to understand what you are reading then these processing reading skills are going to help you understand the meaning of the text more effectively and in less time. These are some of the essential skills that you can use in your everyday life whether you are a student or an adult, you can improve your reading skills in no time. 

1.      Improving Vocabulary 

Vocabulary improvement means understanding the meaning of the word. Every language has a vocabulary that you need to learn if you want to have a good grasp of that language. Improving your vocabulary will help you understand the meaning of the text faster and more effectively. 

You can improve your vocabulary by using these strategies. When you come across some difficult word read Its surrounding text and try to understand what the possible meaning could be. You can grab an idea of the sentence. But still, if you can’t understand, google it. Write it somewhere which will help you remember it in the long term. Keep reading difficult text and Learn new words. 

2.      Background knowledge 

It means to understand the prior knowledge about the text. Having background knowledge about the text helps you understand the meaning easily. When you are going to read something first gain its background knowledge. What idea does the subject matter want to give? Readers who have prior information can grab complex ideas and the meaning of the text. 

You can gain background information by spending some time researching what you are going to read. When you gain the idea then you can relate to the text on a deeper level. Watching documentaries, reading informative articles, and listening to podcasts can increase your little bit knowledge of everything. 

3.      Questioning

When you are reading the text try to ask yourself questions. It can be who, where, what, when, why and how. answer these questions will help you engage with the text and think deeper. It will improve your critical thinking and help reader clarify the meaning of text. Questioning will also allows you to see the sentence from different angles. 

You can question yourself like “what happened in the story?” or @ why did the character act this way?”. Make your opinion about the text and change the way you read 

Conclusion  

Reading is such a good habit. It helps you increase your knowledge and improves critical thinking. Everyone needs to develop strong processing reading skills. It helps you in life long run in absorbing and analyzing the information. In this blog, I’ve discussed some of the best reading techniques. By using these techniques in your daily life you can also become a fluent reader who can understand the text as fast as he reads.

But this doesn’t happen over the night. You have to practice, show some patience, and be curious to learn new things. Start taking small steps and stay consistent. Build your background knowledge by exploring new topics, listening to podcasts and some research. Now get up pick up any book or any other article from my website and start reading and implement those strategies. 

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