What To Do If Your Literal Reading Is Bad: Improve Reading Comprehension

Reading comprehension is a crucial skill for academic success and self-esteem. However, many individuals struggle with reading comprehension due to poor literal reading skills. 

What is Literal Reading

Literal reading involves decoding words accurately and understanding their meaning without any additional interpretation or analysis. This type of reading focuses on understanding the basic meaning of the words and sentences in the text without trying to infer or analyze the author’s intent or underlying message.

Literal reading is an essential skill typically taught in the early stages of reading development. It involves understanding basic concepts such as phonics, word recognition, and vocabulary. Literal reading is the foundation of reading comprehension. 

In this blog post, we’ll explore strategies to help improve literal reading comprehension, vocabulary development, fluency improvement, comprehension strategies, active reading, prior knowledge, and attention.  We will also explore how this impacts academic performance, self-esteem, and success.  

Improve Your Vocabulary Development

Having a robust vocabulary is crucial for adequate reading comprehension. In addition, learning new words will allow you to understand the author’s intended meaning better. Here are some ways to improve your vocabulary:

• Read more: Reading exposes you to new words and their context in sentences. Make it a habit to read challenging materials such as academic journals or classic literature.
• Use a dictionary: Look up unfamiliar words and try to use them in your writing or conversation context.
• Play word games: Games like Scrabble, crossword puzzles, and word searches can help you learn new words while having fun.

Enhance Your Fluency

Fluency refers to the ability to read quickly, accurately, and with expression. Improving your fluency will help you understand the text better and retain information longer. Here are some tips to enhance fluency:

• Read aloud: Read aloud to practice your pronunciation, intonation, and expression.
• Use a timer: Set a timer for a specific time and read as many words as possible. Then, gradually increase the amount of time to improve your reading speed.
• Practice regularly: Practice reading every day to build fluency and confidence.

Utilize Comprehension Strategies

Comprehension strategies involve techniques used to understand and retain the information in the text. Here are some strategies you can use:

• Preview the text: Before reading, skim through the text to get an idea of the main topics, subheadings, and keywords.
• Ask questions: Ask yourself questions about what you’re reading to focus your attention and activate prior knowledge.
• Make connections: Connect the text to your personal experiences, other texts, or the real world to make it more meaningful.
• Summarize: After reading, summarize the main points to consolidate your understanding.

Engage in Active Reading:

Active reading involves actively engaging with the text to understand and retain the information better. Here are some tips for practicing active reading:

• Take notes: Write down key points, questions, or connections in a notebook or on the margins of the text.
• Highlight or underline: Highlight or underline important information to help you remember it later.
• Reread: Reread challenging parts of the text to ensure understanding.
• Engage with the text: Talk back to the text by making comments or asking questions as you read.

Activate Prior Knowledge

Activating prior knowledge involves using your existing knowledge to understand new information. Here are some ways to activate your prior knowledge:

• Connect to personal experiences: Connect the text to your experiences or memories to make it more relatable.
• Recall previous knowledge: Recall your prior knowledge on the topic to better understand the new information.
• Use graphic organizers: Use graphic organizers such as mind maps, flowcharts, or diagrams to organize and connect information.

Improve Your Attention

Attention is essential for effective reading comprehension. Here are some ways to improve your attention:

• Minimize distractions: Find a quiet place to read and eliminate distractions such as phone notifications or TV noise.
• Take breaks: Take short breaks after reading for an extended period to refocus your attention.
• Use a reading tracker: Use a bookmark or tracker to keep track of your progress and maintain focus.
• Practice mindfulness: Practice mindfulness techniques such as meditation or deep breathing to improve focus and reduce distractions.

Benefits of Improved Literal Reading

Boost Your Academic Performance and Self-Esteem

Improving your reading comprehension can significantly impact your academic performance and self-esteem. Here are some tips to boost your performance and self-esteem:

• Set realistic goals: Set achievable goals for your reading and track your progress to stay motivated.
• Celebrate small successes: Celebrate small successes, such as reading a challenging book or understanding a difficult passage, to boost your confidence.
• Seek help: If you’re struggling with reading comprehension, seek help from a tutor or teacher for additional support.

The above are various strategies to help improve literal reading skills, including vocabulary development, fluency enhancement, comprehension strategies, active reading, activating prior knowledge, and improving attention. While these strategies may seem basic, they are fundamental to improving reading comprehension.

Individuals can better understand the text’s intended meaning by developing a robust vocabulary and enhancing fluency. Utilizing comprehension strategies and active reading techniques can improve retention. Activating prior knowledge and improving attention can help individuals stay engaged and comprehend the text better.

Improved literal reading skills can positively impact academic performance and self-esteem. In addition, individuals can boost their confidence and motivation by setting achievable goals, celebrating small successes, and seeking help when needed. 

It is essential to prioritize developing and improving literal reading skills, especially in the early stages of reading development, to ensure academic success and self-esteem. These strategies may take time and practice, but with consistency and dedication, students can significantly improve their literal reading skills and reap the rewards in all aspects of their lives.