Boulder Valley School District

Where to Find Books

Battle of the Books

Reading Strategies

Find a quiet, cool and comfortable spot to read. 
Eliminate interruptions: turn off your phone, the television or music.

Create a mental picture of what is being read. Research shows that humans tend to remember pictures more easily than words.

Retell the what you just read. Paraphrasing or saying thing in your own word is a useful technique to make sense of the information just read.
To maximize your focus, read in short segments. For example, read only a section, or read for only 10 to 15 minutes at a time. After you read the section, go over what you just read in your mind.
Linking or associating new information with information you already know helps your brain retain what you just read.
Read out loud to yourself, sometimes hearing plus seeing the words helps us to absorb the information.

Ask yourself questions about the material while reading.

  • “Why did the author mention this?”
  • “Do I understand this concept or word?”
  • “What is the main idea of this paragraph?”
  • “Do I agree with the author's conclusions?
Take notes. As you read, write down relevant information. The tactile act of writing will help you remember the information better.
Hit pause. Reflect on the content. Excel. Repeat.