Reading skills are abilities that pertain to a person capacity to

read and comprehend interpret and decode written language and

texts. exceptional reading skills can be high beneficial to assimilating
and responding to written communication like emails, messages,
letters and other written messages;
With views of different scholars, reading skills is explained in different
way according to their ideas. The following are some of the scholars
that explain the meaning of reading skills;
 According Urquhart and weir in grabe: reading skills are the
abilities of receiving and interpret information encoded in
languages form via the medium of print.
 According to Johnson: reading skills are the ability of using text
to create the meaning.it means when someone reads text, the
person should put forward the main ideas of text to create
conclusion or understanding as a result.
 According to William (1984), Reading skills, Is the abilities where
by one looks at and understand what has been written.
 According to Harmer, Reading skills, the ability to exercise
dominated by the eyes and the brain. It means that readers not
only read the text but also understand the meaning of written
text being read.
 According to Nunan, Reading skills, Is the ability to read at an
appropriate rate with adequate comprehension. The process of
readers combining information from a text and their background
knowledge to build meaning. The text reader fluency and
strategies combine together define the art of reading.

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 There are several techniques that individual can employ too enhance their
reading skills. Here are some commonly recognized techniques;
Skimming: skimming involves quickly glancing through a text to get a
general idea of the content. It help in previewing the material and identifying
the main points without into overview also skimming techniques include;
reading the headings and subheadings, scanning for the keyword or phrases,
paying attention to the first and last sentences of the paragraphs, no getting
caught up in every detail, moreover using peripheral vision When scanning, the
reader has a specific objective in mind and is looking for particular information.
This could include searching for a specific name, date, number, or any other
specific detail mentioned within the text.

Scanning: Scanning is used to locate specific information within a

text. It involves quickly moving the eyes over the text to find
keywords, phrases, or numbers that are relevant to the reader's
purpose.
Some techniques for effective scanning include:
1 Knowing what you're looking for: Before starting to scan, it's important to
clearly identify what information you are searching for. This helps to focus your
attention and makes the scanning process more efficient.
2. Using visual aids: Use your eyes to quickly move down the text, looking for
visual clues such as bolded or highlighted text, capital letters, or distinctive
formatting that might help you locate the desired information.
3. Ignoring irrelevant words: While scanning, it's crucial to ignore words or
phrases that do not align with the information you're searching for. By not getting
distracted by unrelated details, you can stay focused on finding the specific
answer you need.
4. Moving quickly but efficiently: Scanning involves rapidly moving your eyes over
the text, but it doesn't mean you should rush through it haphazardly. Train
yourself to maintain a quick pace while still effectively absorbing the information.
5. Prioritizing key locations: Depending on the type of text, certain areas may be
more likely to contain the information you're looking for, such as headings, tables,
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or bullet points. Pay attention to these sections first before scanning the rest of
the text.
Active Reading: Active reading involves engaging with the text by
highlighting key points, underlining important information, and taking notes. It
helps to increase focus and comprehension.
Here are some strategies to practice active reading:
1. Preview the text: Before diving into the text, take a few minutes to preview it. Skim the
headings, subheadings, and any highlighted or bolded text. This helps to activate your prior
knowledge and gives you an overview of what to expect from the text.
2. Set a purpose: Have a clear purpose in mind while reading. Ask yourself what you want to
achieve or learn from the text. This helps to focus your attention and keeps you actively
searching for relevant information.
3. Take notes: Jot down key points, summaries, or your own thoughts and reactions as you
read. This helps to reinforce understanding and retention of the material. You can also
annotate the text by underlining or highlighting important passages.
4. Ask questions: Engage with the text by asking questions as you read. This encourages critical
thinking and deepens your understanding. Consider questions like "Why is the author making
this argument?" or "How does this information connect to what I already know?"
5. Make connections: Relate the text to your own experiences, prior knowledge, or other texts
you have read. Look for similarities, differences, or patterns. This helps to make the material
more relatable and aids in retention.
6. Visualize: Create mental images or visual representations of the concepts presented in the
text. This technique can make abstract ideas more concrete and memorable.
7. Reflect and summarize: Take a moment after reading a section or the entire text to reflect on
what you have learned. Summarize the main points or write a brief summary. This solidifies
your understanding and facilitates the transfer of information into long-term memory

Previewing: Previewing is the act of examining titles, headings,

subheadings, and any visual elements before reading the text. It
provides a framework of what to expect and helps in setting reading
goals.

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 Annotating: Annotating involves making notes or marks directly on
the text. This technique helps to identify and remember important
ideas, make connections, and ask questions while reading.
Annotations can include underlining or circling important words or
phrases, writing margin notes using symbols or abbreviations to
indicate meaning, and connect ideas through arrows or lines. By
annotating, readers can better understand the content, make
connections and engage in critical thinking.

Summarizing: Summarizing is the process of condensing the main

ideas and important details of a text into a shorter form. It helps in
reinforcing understanding and retention of information. This helps
readers to understand and remember the main information without
getting overwhelmed by unnecessary details. Summarizing also help to
identify the important details and the overall structure of a text. It
requires careful reading, analysis, and the ability to distinguish between
main ideas and supporting details.

Questioning: Questioning involves asking meaningful questions

before, during, and after reading. This technique helps to engage with
the text, stimulate curiosity, and promote critical thinking. Before
reading you can ask yourself questions based on the title, heading or
picture in order to activate your prior knowledge and set a purpose
for reading. During reading, you can ask question to clarify confusing
parts, make connections, or identify main ideas and supporting details.
This helps to keep your mind engagedand actively process the
information presented in the text. After reading, asking question helps
to reflect on what you have learned, evaluate the authors messages for
arguments, and make inferences or draw conclusion from the text.
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 Making Connections: Making connections involves relating the
information in the text to personal experiences, prior knowledge, or
other texts. It aids in understanding and retention of information.
There are three types of connections;
1. Text to self; This involves connecting the text to our person
experiences or emotions. For example, if a story a character dealing
with bullying, we might connect it to our own experiences with bullying
or empathy toward other who have been bullied.
2. Text to text; This involves connect text to other text we have read.
For example if we are reading a historical fiction on the novel about
world war II, we might connect to another book we have read or to
historical event learn about
3. Text to word; This involves connect the text to events or issues
happening in the world. For example, if we are reading article about
climate change, we might connect to current environmental issues or
initiatives happening global. By making connections while reading, we
depend our on understand of the text and make it more to us.
Visualizing: Visualizing involves creating mental images or visual
representations of the text. It helps in enhancing comprehension and
retention by making the content more vivid and memorable.
Visualizing can involve imaging the setting, character, and events in a
story, as well any sensory detail like sounds, smells, your imagination
and creating a visual representation of what your reading, can enhance
your comprehension and make the reading experience more vivid and
massive.

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 Rereading: Rereading is the practice of going back and reading a
section or entire text again. It can help to clarify understanding,
reinforce memory, and identify nuances missed in the initial reading.
Re-reading can be particularly helpful when reading complex or
challenging texts, and the information more carefully. By going back
and re-reading specific sections, reader can identify key points, make
connections and reflect on the content more deeply. It also helps in
retaining and recalling important details and concepts.

Different techniques may be more effective for different types of texts

or purposes of reading. Employing a combination of these techniques
can improve overall reading skills and comprehension.
REFERENCEE
How to read book by Mortimer Adler
Reading in the wild by Donalyn miller
Reading mind by Daniel T
Reading for understanding by RAND
Power of reading by Stephen D. Krashen

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