There are a number of activities you can do to increase your comprehension while working on building your Speed and Comprehension. This article will cover three of them in the following paragraphs.
Speed and Comprehension: How To Improve Your Vocabulary
Here is the first activity to help you with your comprehension of your selected subject, you need to improve your vocabulary regarding that subject. When you find a word you don't understand you should look it up IMMEDIATELY, then commit it to memory by using a funny visual mnemonic. For example, the way I learned the word Cnidarian (the scientific name for a jellyfish) was by picturing a jellyfish sitting on my younger cousin Darian's head. Also there are flashcards you can get online, for free, that have words and definitions on them for pretty much any subject you can name, using them will improve your vocabulary and that of course improves your comprehension. The simplest way maybe just to read a dictionary, however that lacks a certain focus.
Speed and Comprehension: Stop Skimming
Skimming is the process of running your eyes over the text you're trying to read and hoping that some of it sticks, it's not a very effective way to boost speed and comprehension. You need to stop skimming to improve your comprehension, to do this you read every word and try to visualize the words in your head, sort of like watching an internal movie.
Speed and Comprehension: Change Your Brainwaves
Your brain operates in states of physiological arousal called brainwave states, changing them is an important activity to boosting speed and comprehension. Generally when we are up and about our minds are in Beta state, focusing on the here and now, and what is preying on our minds. For many parts of your life this is wonderful, but not when you are trying to understand something you are reading. If you want to have a real impact on improving your comprehension you need to be able to have your brain reach the Alpha state. This can be accomplished by sitting quietly, closing your eyes, and taking deep and slow breaths. If you meditate and use a mantra such as "oooooohmmmm" you will be able to reach an alpha state much like many eastern monks do. When you feel you have reached a light trance, then begin your reading. While in this state, studies have shown that you can triple your reading speed and your comprehension. For those who don't want to meditate or practice getting into Alpha by feeling it, you can always get an EEG machine to monitor your brainwaves in real-time so you'll know when you're in Alpha. The trans-dermal electro-brain stimulator is another option to reach an alpha state, it clips on your ears and delivers a weak electrical signal that tricks your brain into an Alpha state. Finally you can also use stereo headphones and get sound mp3s or CDs that have tracks called binaural beats, that when you play them through headphones, will also eventually trick your brain into going (and staying) in Alpha. Watch your comprehension soar when you give these ideas a try!
For more information about how to boost your reading speed and comprehension, check out the Good Grades Guide Review. I'm sure you'll like it!
