Understanding Material

When we read, we do so with the expectation that we will both understand and remember what we have read.

Have you ever had the experience of reading something, only to realize after a few moments that you have absolutely no idea what you just read? The truth is that we have all had this experience, and you must take a moment to try to understand why you didn't understand the material.

Are you tired, fatigued, or stressed?

Do you know much about the topic you're reading?

Have you done any pre-reading preparation?

Are you reading in a noisy, distracting environment?

Is your mind prepared to read for comprehension?

When you are tired, you don't read as well, nor understand as fully as you do when you are fully rested. Try reading the material after you have had an opportunity to rest. Many people find that they cannot study very difficult material when they are tired. Rather, they must approach it after they are fully rested.

Have you any experience with the topic that you're reading about? In order to understand something that we're reading, we have to have something to connect it to. Some people find it very helpful to read a simpler book on the same topic or subject so they can begin to find places to anchor new ideas, terms, and concepts. This can take longer than most other types of reading, but with practice, and within three weeks, you will see a significant improvement.

It is also a good idea to choose your reading environment with great care. While the dorm study might be convenient, it is likely to be noisy and have a lot of distractions. Even the library could be more of a social gathering arena than a study environment. Consider finding an unused classroom to do your reading for your class. The light is good, it is quiet, no distractions, and you are actually in a physical location and position that signals your body that it is time to learn.

Pre-reading preparation: This will be covered in great detail in a future lesson. This can be summed up as looking ahead through the reading material. If it is for a class, have you read through the syllabus? Do you look ahead and see what you will be covering? Do you evaluate what you already know about the topic? Pre-reading is not a waste of time. Instead, it prepares you for a more complete understanding of the material that you are reading.

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