How to Read a Text Book

1. How to Read a Text Book Reading Strategies for Students

2. How is a Text book different from a novel? • Heavier & larger • Pages are larger & more colorful • Contains pictures, charts, graphs • Each page has bold, highlighted & colored text to point out key words & topics • Chapters end with reflection questions, study guides, & activities • Contains a glossary & index

3. Reading a Novel Let’s first think about a novel… • What is your purpose for reading a novel? • Entertainment • How do you read a novel? • Start to finish • How is a novel organized? • Into chapters • Sequence with a beginning, middle, & end

4. Reading a Textbook Now let’s compare that to textbook… • What is your purpose for reading a textbook? • Information • How do you read a textbook? • Skimming by topic • How is a novel organized? • Into sections • Not sequential- by topics

5. How is reading a textbook different from reading a novel? With a textbook you think conceptually With a novel you think sequentially

6. How is reading a text book different from reading a novel? • Do not read from start to finish! • Do not read word for word! • Skim text • Look at charts & pictures • Look ahead to questions at the end • Read bold print • Take notes • Stop to think/reflect/question/summarize

7. Parts of a Textbook • Table of Contents • Chapters • Headings & Sub headings • Charts/Graphs/Pictures • Captions • Chapter Study Guides/Review • Resources • Glossary • Index

8. Find out how your textbook Chapters are organized • Cover page • Chapter is broken down into lessons • Key concepts & Vocabulary given for each lesson • Lessons are broken down into sections (red text) • Sections broken down into subsections (blue text) • Lesson Review & Connection at the end of each lesson • Chapter Review at the end

9. Textbook Tips • Know what the symbols & icons mean • Get familiar with the student resources • Look for the ‘BIG IDEA’ icon • Look for the ‘Key Concepts’ icon • Look at & read the pictures & graphs first • Pay attention to bold & highlighted words

10. So How Do you Read a textbook? • Silent reading is most effective • Textbook reading strategies: • Survey • Skim • Connect to what you’ve learned in class • Reread parts that confuse you • Summarize key points • Take notes in outline format • Lecture to the wall- verbalize what you read

11. Define your purpose • The way you read your textbook depends upon your purpose for reading • What is your purpose for reading? • Answer questions at the end • Assigned Reading • Look for information • Study for a test

12. Reading to Answer Questions • Look ahead to the question • Skim through the headings to find the section where that topic is discussed • Skim the section looking for key words in your question • Once you find the key words slow down & read carefully for the answer • Repeat for the next question • (Hint…Usually questions go in order of the chapter) • Let’s look at Chapter 5 Review- question 5 (pg. 176)

13. Reading to Find Information • Use the Index or the Table of Contents to find where your topic can be found • Skim until you find key words related to your topic • Slow down & read carefully once your find the information you are looking for • Find this information: How did Aristotle’s & Democritus’s view on matter differ?

14. Assigned Readings Introductory Reading • 1. Survey text looking at key concepts, vocabulary, pictures & graphs • 2. Skim the section quickly pausing at section headings, subheadings, bold, & highlighted words then speed up again • 3. Close your book, stop & think about what you read- jot down an overview of what the section is about from what you remember • 4. Now go back & reread the section for comprehension. Skim parts you already know, slow down on parts that confuse you. • 5. Take notes on items you want to review or seemed unclear about • Let’s try it together: Chapter 1 Lesson 1

15. Reading to Review Information Mastery Reading • First read your lecture notes • (anything found in both lecture notes & chapter is extra important) • Go the chapter & read the summary and review questions at the end • Skim through each section reading the key concepts & vocabulary- • Slow down on sections that confuse you • Skim each section & summarize key points verbally (lecture to the wall) • Keep doing this in 15 min. chunks until you feel comfortably with the entire passage • Review one more time right before bed

16. Let’s Recap what we learned about reading Textbooks… • Survey first • Look for pictures, charts, and graphic organizers. These items are most important. • Read the headings and all subheadings. These are the chapter's main ideas and give you a map for reading • Pay attention to key concepts & vocabulary words • Think about your purpose for reading & adjust your reading strategies for that purpose • Summarize main ideas either verbally or in writing • Take notes to help you remember difficult concepts • Read in short chunks

17. Don’t let this happen to you… Learn textbook reading strategies!