Reading practice

Ten practical reading habits

These habits work for independent practice, shared reading or study. Choose a pace and a text that let you understand what you read.

Start with a short introduction. Learn the exercise or reading task before adding a time limit.
Choose something worth reading. A familiar interest or a useful topic gives practice a clear purpose.
Match the difficulty to the reader. If too many words are unfamiliar, start with a shorter or simpler passage.
Set a manageable routine. Short, regular sessions are easier to sustain than an occasional long session.
Read for meaning. Decide whether you need an overview, a particular fact or a detailed understanding.
Check understanding. Close the passage and explain its main point in your own words.
Ask a few useful questions. Include a main-idea question, a detail question and a question about what the text implies.
Review unfamiliar vocabulary in context. Write a short example sentence rather than memorising an isolated definition.
Adjust the pace. Slow down for an unfamiliar argument, a difficult sentence or a passage you need to remember.
Track your own progress. Note what you read and what you could recall. Compare understanding as well as reading speed.