HOW TO IMPROVE LEARNING AND READING SKILLS

HOW TO IMPROVE LEARNING AND READING SKILLS

 Learning is the activity or process of gaining knowledge or skill by studying, practicing, being taught, or experiencing something. Learning could also be described as the act or experience of one that learns. It is also knowledge or skill acquired by instruction or study. Reading on the other hand is intellectual process involving letter identification, word identification, mentally and simultaneously. Reading can also be seen as a complex cognitive process of decoding symbols in order to construct or derive meaning. Reading experts have discovered that there is a correlation between comprehension and reading speed, since improving physical aspect of reading is crucial to improving speed and comprehension, the reader needs to learn new Motor Skill in developing visual activity and perception. Such include increasing the recognition span, developing rhythmic eye movement and avoiding regression and vocalization. God almighty has deposited in us everything needed to succeed in life. Ours is just to “give “attendance to reading to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee” (1 Timothy 4:13, 14).

However, as a student, there are many things expected of you. Below are some: 

 

APPROACH TO A BETTER LEARNING SKILL

Many people recognize that each person prefers different learning styles and techniques. Learning styles refers to common ways that people learn. Everyone has a mix of learning styles. Some people may find that they have a dominant style of learning, with far less use of the other styles. Others may find that they use different styles in different circumstances. There is no right mix. Nor are your styles fixed. You can develop ability in less dominant styles as well as further develop styles that you already use well.

If you have a solitary style of learning, you are more private, introspective and independent. You can concentrate well, focusing your thoughts and feelings on your current topic. You are aware of your own thinking, and you may analyze the different ways you think and feel. You spend time on self-analysis, and often reflect on past events and the way you approached them. You take time to ponder and assess your own accomplishments or challenges. You may keep a journal, diary or personal log to record your personal thoughts and events. It should be noted however that distractions must be avoided completely during learning irrespective of the learning method.\

 

Let's consider three things briefly....

 

1. APPROACH TO A BETTER READING SKILL

The basic strategy for a successful reading is the SQ 3R formula. This technique involves five (5) steps: S – Survey Q- Question R- Reading R- Recall R- Review

v  Survey: Before the commencement of reading or studying, it is expected that one looks through the whole of the material to be read e.g. the title, preface, table of contents

v  Question: The reader will be expected to formulate some specific questions that will relate the heading and sub-heading of the materials

v  Read: This means reading carefully, actively and critically applying the techniques that enable one to read with increased eye span and mastery of objects

v  Recall: study reading involves more than simply reading very carefully and with concentration. It includes testing, organizing, relating concepts and facts, mastery technical terms and formula, outlining, summarizing and reviewing.

v  Review: This aspect includes surveying the whole materials again, making sure of the structure and organization of the materials it involves re-identifying of the major ideas and important details, re-reading sections that have been noted or underlined, recalling materials in a sequence and reviewing note.

If all these steps are strictly adhered to, there will be improvement in the student’s leaning and reading skills

 

2. ADAPTING A GOOD STUDYING SKILLS

Many youths’ problem of learning and reading have been attributed to lack of understanding and adapting good learning and reading skills. Below are some tips on developing a good and reading skill:

I      Prepare for reading

(i)      Be specific on what you want to read

(ii)      Find a place where you can concentrate

(iii)    Schedule a routine time to read

II   Implement the basics of reading in point 2 above

(i)      Survey -

(ii)      Question -

(iii)      Read – read the pages carefully. Do not rush, take your time

(iv)      Recall – go through the details to comprehend the text as you read it

(v)       Review – glance through the book (material) again to ensure you have full understanding of its content

 

III     Advance your reading skills

(i)      Read as much as you are able to each time you read. Take a break when you are bored or need a break. Reading should be fun and enjoyable. After your break, return where you stopped and continue

(ii)   Re-read the material if required. It is not wrong to re-read if you do not understand it fully the first time

(iii)      Keep reading. Try to read as much as you can on your reading and free time. Reading will help you in lots of ways; your understanding will be improved, your vocabulary will become better and more standard, above all you will notice your grades change for better in school, that is; better academic performance.

Students are encouraged to cultivate a consistent habit of learning and reading ahead of tests, examinations, etc. to achieve improved academic performance.

4 MATHEMATICIAL Ds TO GLAMOROUS LIVING

4 MATHEMATICIAL Ds TO GLAMOROUS LIVING

Imagine living the life of your desired dreams. Imagine doing what you’ve always dreamed of for a living. Imagine having the time to do the things you love to do with your family and friends. Now, here’s the formula to make that happen: Desire + Decision X Determination = Destiny!

What does this mean? Let us look at the three components of the formula:

Desire

In a book titled The Road to Arrival, the writer describes desire as a state of being an unsatisfied longing (p. 105). Dreams are the product of desire. The starting point of all accomplishment is desire. The fact that you can imagine a certain kind of lifestyle from your self is a good indicator that you have a desire. A dream is simply a strongly desired goal. Desire is the key to motivation because it develops within us a passion to pursue that which we long for. Your desires, however, must be backed by good decision making.

Decision

Decision is the ignition key of progress because the instant one makes a solid decision, change will be automatic. It’s one thing to have good desires but it’s quite another to make a quality decision of getting up and pursuing those desires. Many people falter in this area because they do not want to make a commitment. Making a quality decision enables you to find the power of being committed towards your desires. Nothing ever changes until a man or woman makes a decision. Decision should lead to determination.

Determination

In a book titled Battling for your Prophetic Destiny, the writer wrote about Abraham Lincoln and how he had many failures yet remained determined to pursue the dream of becoming America’s president. Lincoln himself said, “Always remember that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other thing”. Once you make a decision to pursue a dream, there will be many obstacles and challenges to keep you from working towards your dream. You must be persistent.

So, a positive Desire + Decision X Determination = Positive DESTINY

The key to realizing your desired destiny is to make a decision to be determined as you pursue it. You can live the life of your dreams. You can reach all your goals and surpass them. Stay focused!

6Ds TO ACCOMPLISH YOUR GOALS

6Ds TO ACCOMPLISH YOUR GOALS

Don't let your goals and resolutions fall by the wayside. Chances are that to achieve your dreams and live a life you love, those goals and resolutions are crucial. Goal setting and goal achievement are easier if you follow these six steps for effective and successful goal setting and resolution accomplishment.

ü  Deeply desire the goal. Napoleon Hill, in one of his landmark books titled “Think and Grow Rich” he said, "the starting point of all achievement is desire. Keep this constantly in mind. Weak             desires bring weak results, just as a small amount of fire makes a small amount of heat." In a nut shell, I would say that the very first step in setting and achieving your dreams or goals is to have the DESIRE!

ü  Determine to achieve the goal. Lee Iacocca said, "The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind." If the goal is a thing, how will it feel together with your living? Some genius of goal setting or some good goal setter recommends that you keep a picture of the item where you can see them and be reminded of them daily. If you can’t picture yourself achieving the goal, you won’t!

ü  Draft a plan for the conduit you need to follow to accomplish the goal. Schedule a procedure to follow by identifying the critical and most difficult path. The critical or most difficult path defines the key accomplishments along the way, the most important steps that must happen for the goal to become a reality. Stephen Covey said, "All things are created twice. There's a mental or first creation, and a physical or second creation of all things. You have to make sure that the blueprint, the first creation, is really what you want, that you've thought everything through. Then you put it into bricks and mortar. Each day you go to the construction shed and pull out the blueprint to get marching orders for the day. You begin with the end in mind." I think He's right, but the question is how dedicated are you?

ü  Dedicate yourself to achieving the goal by writing down the goal. Lee Iacocca said, "The discipline of writing something down is the first step toward making it happen." I agree completely. Write down the plan, the action steps and the critical path. Somehow, writing down the goal, the plan and a timeline sets events in motion that may not have happened otherwise. In my own life, it is as if I am making a deeper commitment to goal accomplishment. I can’t fool myself later. The written objective really was the goal.

ü  Devote times for checking your progress in your calendar system, whatever it is: a day planner, a PDA, a PDA phone or a hand written list. If you’re not making progress or feel stymied, don't let your optimism keep you from accomplishing your goals. No matter how positively you are thinking, you need to assess your lack of progress. Adopt a pessimist’s viewpoint; something will and probably is, going to go wrong. Take a look at all of the factors that are keeping you from accomplishing your goal and develop a plan to overcome them. Add these plan steps to your calendar system as part of your goal achievement plan.

ü  Develop your overall progress regularly. Make sure you are making progress. If you are not making progress, hire a coach, tap into the support of loved ones, analyze why the goal is not being met. Don’t allow the goal to just fade away. Figure out what you need to do to accomplish it. Check the prior five steps starting with an assessment of how deeply you actually want to achieve the goal.

These six steps to goal setting and achieving techniques or system seem simple, but it is the most powerful technique or system you will ever find for achieving your goals. You, just give it a try!

Best wishes and good luck.