How to improve understanding of a text

underlining a text

To be able to study in good conditions and to be able to have good content retention capacity, it is necessary to be able to understand the text. Without a proper understanding of what is being studied, it would only be studied at a rote level so without understanding it, If you forget a single word of what you have memorized, you will forget everything else. This is why it is essential to learn to have a good reading comprehension from an early age.

What is reading comprehension?

WOMAN READING a book at home

Therefore, when studying it implies really understanding what is being read, in such a way that after the study it would be possible to be able to make a summary in one's own words without having to constantly look at the text or copy it due to the inability to be able to explain what has been previously studied. Getting used to memorizing data without understanding it is a waste of time and also, an ineffective way of studying.

When you study understanding the text, it will be much easier to remember the information and much more difficult to forget what you have learned.

Reading comprehension: tips for assimilating information
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Reading comprehension: tips for assimilating information

The importance of understanding in study techniques

In the study techniques it is essential to understand well in the previous readings the rest of the techniques to be able to advance correctly. For example, in study techniques, common and effective are in the following order:

  1. Pre-reading or speed reading
  1. Speed ​​reading again
  1. Comprehensive reading
  1. Underline of main ideas
  1. Scheme
  1. Memorization
  1. Summary
  1. Review

In the first three points it will be essential to also work on understanding the text, it is the only way that the following points of the study techniques can be effective. When the underline is reached, it will be easier to underline the main ideas when the text is well understood and the outline will be much faster to carry out. Thus, upon reaching memorization, it will be easier to remember the things that have been well understood and in the summary you will be able to explain what you have learned in your own words. This way you can also do the review more quickly, saving time and energy.

How to understand a text and be a good student

girl studying in library

In order to be a good student, it is very necessary to be able to give priority to understanding the text. To do this, follow the following points (taking into account the study techniques):

  • Dedicate at least three readings to the text before starting to underline the text. The first reading will be quick, then you will read the text to resolve doubts and finally you will dedicate a reading to understand the text in the best possible way.
  • When you have to read and understand long texts it will be important that you divide the information into small sections to be able to carry out the study techniques in each of them. It is best to study by text points.
  • After understanding the reading, underline the main ideas.
  • You can underline by combining colors to make it stay better in your memory and highlighting the most important parts of the text. Don't underline too much or later it won't do you any good.
  • Repeat aloud what you are studying and understanding to take advantage of auditory memory.

Where to find reading comprehension cards

Sometimes both children and adults may need a little help to improve reading comprehension. To do this, it is a good idea to use reading comprehension cards, where, after reading a text, a series of activities must be carried out in order to know if what has been read has really been understood. These types of simple activities are great so that later, with practice, understanding the text of the study is much more effective.

In bookstores you can find books and reading comprehension cards, but online you also have endless resources that you can use in order to improve reading comprehension, since it is the prelude to a good study.

For example in Amazon you can find different reading comprehension books for different levels. But in some pages with educational resources as well, such as in Orientation Andújar or in classroom PT.

The importance of developing reading comprehension from elementary school

children studying

In order to be a good student, it is always necessary to be able to work on good habits from when children are young. Good habits are instilled by working with reading and the pleasure of reading from a young age. For example, creating a corner at home for reading, that parents are a good example of reading pleasure, that adult references read to children stories regularly so that they can feel the pleasure of reading from a young age, etc.

For children to become good students it is necessary that they feel that pleasure in reading, that they feel that reading is an active part of their imagination and of course, that they enjoy reading of their interest in their leisure time. In this way, children can have a good bond with the reading habit and when they have to study for an exam or to learn new learning they will not feel like a tedious task.

Developing good reading comprehension from primary school is essential so that children do not get frustrated in studying and trust in your possibilities when learning new content. Having good reading comprehension will give them greater self-esteem and they will feel capable of being able to tackle any topic.

Reading comprehension is one of the basic competences that all children must develop. This competence is not only demonstrated in the language subject but also in the other subjects. When you understand a text you are able to reflect on something that has been read or studied. In addition, critical thinking and reasoning are worked on. Pre-reading, reading, and post-reading are important in any reading (study or not).

If children have difficulties in understanding a text, the necessary tools must be found so that children can enhance better learning thanks to a good understanding of the text. It will be necessary to know why a boy or girl has reading difficulties and to work on it so that he can improve his reading ability.


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  1.   fernanda said

    The truth is I had a culture test yesterday and I was nervous and played against it even though I told him everything. but by heart I would like to learn to understand the text and say it with my words. That is where my problem is that I understand the text but I do not know how to explain it with my words

  2.   Javier said

    Hey.
    Excellent article, the sentence that you mention about young people diminishing their interest in reading is very true. I consider that there are several factors that allude to this; but that's another interesting topic to talk about.
    My intention of this comment is to contribute another point that has personally helped me and that is to make a ´´paraphrase´´: it consists of explaining in your own words the content of a text; This makes it possible to know if the text has been understood, of course, although over time if the lexicon is increased it is no longer necessary to do so.
    I leave it to your decision.
    regards

    1.    Angela said

      Very good idea Javier. It happens to me that I tend what I read but when it came to using it, as I did not have the word, the river or the lexicon, it frustrated me. I will take it into account now to study. Thanks!!!!

  3.   agustin toledo pokemon said

    I really liked this article, since it frustrated me a lot and it was not casual in my head, to memorize it and do everything a little wrong.

  4.   Massiel said

    Every time I try to memorize something, she always memorized it but I don't understand anything, it's very difficult for me and the only thing I need to be a good student is to participate, my nerves get out of control and that's why I can't express myself: C