A READING TECHNIQUE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED
FOR ADHD AND BIPOLAR COLLEGE STUDENTS
By James Witt, PhD
The following technique is divided into two parts. Part I is an overview of the five components of the reading process. Part II demonstrates a simple reading technique.
PART I-AN OVERVIEW OF READING
The key to effective reading is concentration, which entails using the mind fully at all times. Have you ever read a passage, only to realize a few minutes later that you did not retain anything, as if your mind had drifted away? The technique below was designed to help you train your mind to stay focused, and to become aware of when you are concentrating and when you are not. Think of reading as if you are juggling five balls in the air simultaneously. If you drop one of those balls, then you will not be able to fully comprehend the subject matter.
The first juggling ball of reading is the main idea of the passage, which can usually be found in the title, on page headings, or in the first few sentences of the first paragraph. It is essential that you understand the main idea before reading the entire passage. The main idea is the glue that holds all the other ideas together. You need to be continually cognizant of the main idea while reading the passage. It will induce pertinent details and supporting information to “stick” to your mind. If you are reading a textbook that contains subtitles above each section, read those as well before reading the passage from the very beginning. Those headings will serve to reinforce your understanding of the main idea.
The second ball to be juggled is to review in your mind or aloud any knowledge you already possess that pertains to the main idea. It will make your reading more relevant and familiar.
The third ball is the topic sentence of each paragraph. Just like the main idea of the passage, each topic sentence will help you to discern the important details from each paragraph. Also, it supports and reinforces the main idea of the entire reading passage. So, make the connection in your mind between each topic sentence, the knowledge you already have about the material, and the main idea of the passage.
The fourth ball is making certain you understand each sentence. Pause briefly after reading each sentence and think how it relates to all the other balls of reading you are juggling in the air.
Finally, the fifth ball in your juggling act is decoding each word, while still not dropping any of the other balls. If a word looks unfamiliar, enunciate it aloud. Many students find that by reading aloud they can identify a word by hearing it. If the word still is not familiar than try to understand it’s meaning within the context of the sentence, with the topic sentence of its paragraph, or with the main idea of the passage. If the unfamiliarity of a particular word continues to prevent you from comprehending the passage, then you may need to look it up in a dictionary or on your computer thesaurus.
The trick of being an exceptional reader is keeping all five balls in the air or in this case, sustaining them in your mind as you read. Let’s summarize. Before reading the passage, read the title and any page headings. Make certain you understand the main idea. Interpret it aloud if it helps you to comprehend the material more effectively. Try pretending you are teaching the information you have just gleaned to someone else. Next, think about any information you already know that relates to the main idea. Then while keeping those two balls in the air, begin reading, paying particular attention to the topic sentences (ball three) and actively connecting each sentence and word with it.
After practicing this technique for a short time it will become second nature for you to keep all five balls of reading constantly in the air. Below is a bullet point summary of the mechanics of this technique.
PART II- A SPECIFIC TECHNIQUE
STEP 1: Determine the Main idea.
STEP 2: Think about any information you already know about the main idea.
STEP 3: Read a line out loud.
STEP 4: Pause at the end of that line and then think about what you read.
STEP 5: Explain out loud your interpretation of the line you read.
STEP 6: Continue this process for several lines.
AN ADDITIONAL STEP FOR INCREASING YOUR READING SPEED:
Using your finger as a pointer, slide it over a page quickly and skim for every instance of the word “the”. Each time you see “the” say it out loud.
Now, while remembering the feeling of speed you had when you were skimming for the word “the”, continue reading while using the following truncated version of the technique above:
* Read a line out loud.
* Pause at the end of that line and think about what you read.
* Continue this process reading as quickly as possible but pausing very briefly at the end of each line to ensure that you understand what you just read.
It will take practice, but if you utilize this technique for about five minutes during every reading assignment in each of your classes, your concentration will improve considerably. It will train your mind to pay attention and to concentrate while reading. If you find that this technique of reading a line and pausing at the end of it improves your comprehension, don’t limit yourself to five minutes at a time; use it as often as possible.
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